The Houston Texans have gotten plenty of praise for adding HC DeMeco Ryans to the team. It was a good hire and one that fans can't wait to see play out. 

But the front office also deserves credit for landing one of the fastest-rising names in the coaching world on the other side of the ball: Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. 

The 35-year-old coach is a product of the Shanahan coaching tree. And I'm not just talking about Kyle but also, his father Mike. Slowik spent three years with Mike Shanahan in Washington before joining Pro Football Focus.

When Kyle Shanahan took over the San Francisco 49ers as head coach in 2017, Slowik joined his staff. He spent a couple of years on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive quality control coach.

Later, in 2019, he became part of a very special club every coach wanting to step up in the NFL wants to join: Shanahan's offensive staff. 

Slowik started as an offensive assistant, moved up to passing game analyst, and ended up as passing game coordinator in 2022.

In that role, the current Texans OC showed off. The 49ers finished as the third-best passing offense in the entire league even though they went from Trey Lance to Jimmy Garoppolo to Brock Purdy.

Whoever the QB was, the 49ers were once more masters of yards after the catch in the process. 

And yes, while it's fair to point out that 1) San Francisco has a heck of a roster and 2) Shanahan runs the offense in the Bay Area, there's no denying Slowik brings a lot to the table.

If he can implement some of that successful Shanahan philosophy in Houston, the Texans have the potential to build a quarterback-friendly offense for whoever they end up drafting in April. 

Across the NFL, many Shanahan-McVay disciples are proving the model works away from San Francisco, too.

Ryans will be the most important man in the building. But don't lose sight of the fact that the Texans front office also nailed the offensive coordinator position.

Featured image via Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports