Texans' Nick Caserio opens up about Bill Belichick

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio worked for the New England Patriots from 2001 through the 2020 season when Bill Belichick helped guide the club to six Super Bowl championships as head coach. 

Caserio spoke during the NFL combine this week about Belichick not receiving a job from any franchise after he and Patriots owner Robert Kraft "mutually" agreed to part ways in January. 

"I’d say the league is always better when people like Bill Belichick are around," Caserio said, according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "You look at this offseason, coach [Pete Carroll], coach Belichick. Coach Belichick is the best coach in the history of not only football, [but] sport in my opinion. He’s a big reason that I am where I am today, so I have a lot of respect, and appreciation, and admiration for him." 

Per reports, the Atlanta Falcons were the only club that strongly considered hiring Belichick this winter. While the living legend turns 72 years old in April, it's believed multiple team owners and executives could reach out to Belichick about head coach openings in January 2025. 

Caserio likely won't be among those in need of Belichick's services roughly 11 months from now, as first-year Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans led the 2023 Texans to the AFC South division title and a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns. Ryans finished second via tiebreaker advantage to Cleveland's Kevin Stefanski in Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year voting for this past campaign. 

As for Caserio, he served as New England's director of pro personnel from 2004 through 2006 and was named the club's director of player personnel in 2008. Houston hired Caserio in January 2021. 

"I’m appreciative of my 20 years, 20 seasons that I had in New England, but the game is better when people like Bill are around," Caserio added during his comments. "I’m sure he’ll figure out what he’s going to do in the spring, and we’re all going to benefit from it."

Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Steve Belichick recently revealed his father is "pursuing other stuff" such as an analyst role with one of the NFL's media partners. Perhaps Bill Belichick will interview Caserio this fall ahead of a Sunday "game of the week" for either CBS or Fox.