BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 22: Wes Welker #19 of the St. Louis Rams carries the ball after catching a pass against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 22, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Wes Welker is reuniting with Bill O’Brien, but this time as a member of the Houston Texans head coach’s staff.
The 35-year-old former New England Patriots and Denver Broncos wide receiver has been hired by the Texans as an offensive/special teams assistant coach, the team announced on Monday.
Welker was a guest coach for Baltimore and Miami in their organized team activities before this past season.
“That’s a huge pickup, I think,” Houston linebacker Whitney Mercilus stated Monday on NFL Total Access. “Just to have his knowledge on the team, just to have somebody who played the game for so long, just to be able to teach the guys exactly what he saw out there so that they can pretty much mimic exactly their skill set as they play out on the field.”
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Welker– who was signed by the then-San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers in 2004 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech– retired with the Rams in 2015 after a twelve-year NFL career, which included six seasons with the Patriots, three seasons with the Dolphins, and two seasons with the Broncos.
O’Brien was with Welker from 2007-11 with New England, including as the wideout’s offensive coordinator in his final season with the Pats before leaving to become head coach at Penn State.
Welker made five consecutive Pro Bowls from 2008-2012, and led the league in receptions three times and finished second two others.
The Texans have a lineup of young receivers, with DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Braxton Miller and Jaelen Strong. Welker’s route-running and veteran expertise should help them improve.
This is Welker’s first-ever coaching position. He was spotted standing next to Houston coaches at the Senior Bowl in Orlando, Florida last week.
The Texans’ Romeo Crennel was promoted to assistant head coach/defense. His defense finished first in the NFL this season when Houston won the AFC South and beat Oakland in a wild-card game before being eliminated in the divisional round at New England.
Mike Vrabel was promoted from linebackers to defensive coordinator.
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