/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26061261/20131109_mbr_ai9_003.0.jpg)
The first major domino in the NFL coaching carousel since Black Monday has fallen, as Penn State's Bill O'Brien is headed to the Houston Texans. ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen broke the news just as 2013 was coming to a close.
Filed to ESPN from me and @mortreport: Bill O'Brien has reached agreement to become the new head coach of the Houston Texans, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 1, 2014
When it became clear that the Detroit Lions needed to make a coaching change, O'Brien was at the top of my list of coaching candidates. O'Brien's got previous NFL experience from his time with the New England Patriots, and given that he's got an offensive background, he seemed like an ideal fit for the Lions.
With O'Brien no longer an option, I'm jumping on the Ken Whisenhunt bandwagon. I still think an offensive-minded coach is the best bet, and I like that Whisenhunt was able to take the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl when he was their head coach. What's more, I like what Whisenhunt has done with Philip Rivers in San Diego this season. Of all the potential candidates out there right now, he seems like the best fit.