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Jack Easterby’s departure as executive VP of football operations was made official Monday, ending a career with the Houston Texans where his handling of Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins drew broad criticism.
Owner Cal McNair said in a statement that the Texans and Easterby “mutually agreed to part ways” after reports earlier in the day stated that Easterby had been fired.
“For the remainder of the season, effective immediately, his responsibilities will be absorbed by our football operations staff,” McNair said. “We acknowledge Jack’s positive contributions and wish him and his family the best in the future.”
Easterby was hired in 2019 as the Texans’s executive VP of team development before he was promoted to football operations with a say over player personnel despite lacking such experience.
Before he joined the Texans, Easterby was a character coach for the Patriots and a chaplain with the Chiefs.
Easterby was reportedly behind the Hopkins’ trade in March 2020 to the Cardinals that was universally panned. The Texans received running back David Johnson — who is no longer on any roster — and two picks.
Watson was given a no-trade clause as part of a contract extension in 2020. When Watson wanted out of Houston before the first of the more than 20 lawsuits that allleged sexual misconduc were filedt, that clause complicated the Texans’ efforts to move Watson.
After he was paid his full salary and sat during the 2021 season, Watson waived that provision of his contract to approve a trade to the Browns in March.
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