Texans fire Bill O'Brien after 0-4 start

The Houston Texans fired head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien on Monday after an 0-4 start to the season, the team announced.

Assistant head coach Romeo Crennel, who has past experience as a defensive coordinator and head coach, will serve as the team's interim sideline boss. Executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby will run the front office, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, moving into the top role less than two years after joining the organization.

Texans owner Cal McNair announced the change hours after O'Brien told reporters he needed to "do a better job coaching." O'Brien added that he wasn't sweating his job security.

"We have a talented team and I have no doubt our players and staff will rally to make Texans fans proud as we aim to win championships and do great things for the city of Houston," McNair said in a statement.

O'Brien spent six-plus seasons as head coach of the Texans, taking Houston to the playoffs four times. He was named the club's general manager in January after spending the previous campaign unofficially leading the football operations department.

Upon gaining control of player personnel, O'Brien became one of the most fervent traders in the NFL. He swung deals to acquire Duke Johnson, Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, Carlos Hyde, David Johnson, and Brandin Cooks, but also parted with Jadeveon Clowney, DeAndre Hopkins, multiple first-round picks, and several mid-round draft choices.

O'Brien leaves the Texans with a 52-48 regular-season record and a 2-4 postseason mark. He came to Houston in 2014 as a highly coveted candidate following five seasons as a New England Patriots assistant and two seasons as Penn State's head coach.