Texans GM: Flores lawsuit didn't affect Smith hire; no plan to pick McCown

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio defended the team's hiring process during Tuesday's introductory press conference for new head coach Lovie Smith.

Caserio said former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores' racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL "didn't really affect the process at all," per SportsTalk 790.

He added that the Texans had conversations with Flores after he filed his suit last week.

Flores' attorneys congratulated Smith, who is Black, on earning the role in a statement Monday but asserted that the lawsuit was "the only reason" Houston didn't hire Flores.

Caserio also said the Texans weren't planning to hire former quarterback Josh McCown before a late pivot to Smith, the team's defensive coordinator and associate head coach from last year.

McCown, Flores, and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon reportedly were the three finalists for the vacancy.

The Texans interviewed McCown last season before choosing David Culley and appeared to be trending toward hiring McCown this offseason after meeting with him again.

But Smith, previously the head coach of the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, emerged as a late-stage candidate and won the job.

Smith said he had "no hesitation at all" about accepting the role in the wake of Culley's firing after just one season.