Texans become second team asking Patriots’ permission to interview Nick Caserio for vacant general manager gig

With their season now officially over, teams have started to reach out to the New England Patriots to request interviews. While potential candidates such as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels or inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo have yet to receive that level of interest, director of player personnel Nick Caserio has had not one but two clubs ask the Patriots to allow them to talk to him.

The Carolina Panthers asked for permission on Sunday, with the Houston Texans eventually joining them one day later as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. New England will have to agree to an interview in both cases.

Houston expressing interest in Caserio is nothing new. Before hiring Brian Gaine in January 2018, after all, the organization already asked if it could conduct an interview with Caserio. New England declined the request at the time, but the Texans came back after Gaine’s firing one year later. At that point, the Patriots filed tampering charges against the club leading to it eventually dropping its pursuit and Caserio staying in New England.

Back then, the language in Caserio’s contract prohibited him from leaving. While he did sign a multi-year extension during the 2020 offseason, that stipulation is no longer part of the deal. Accordingly, Houston can now hope that third time will be the charm when it comes to eventually luring the 45-year-old away from his long-time home.

Caserio first arrived in New England in 2001 and has worked his way up the organizational ladder before taking over his current role in 2008. Even though he is one of the highest-ranking members of the Patriots organization, a promotion in terms of title and responsibilities — moving from director of player personnel under de facto GM Bill Belichick to general manager with final say over the roster — might still convince him to leave.

The Texans’ general manager position has been unoccupied since the firing of head coach/GM Bill O’Brien in October, and Caserio is not the only man targeted by the team.

Houston has reportedly also interviewed its own director of player personnel, Matt Bazirgan, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick and Buffalo Bills director of pro personnel Malik Boyd. The organization has furthermore requested to speak with Baltimore Ravens director of football research Scott Cohen. It also has asked the Indianapolis Colts to interview defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus for the vacant head coaching gig.