Brady: O'Brien firing 'doesn't make a lot of sense to me'

The Houston Texans fired head coach Bill O'Brien. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady: Bill O'Brien firing 'doesn't make a lot of sense to me'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/6/20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is quite familiar with Bill O'Brien, who was relieved of his duties as Houston Texans head coach and general manager on Monday following Houston's 0-4 start to the season.

O'Brien served as Brady's quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator when the two were together with the New England Patriots before O'Brien made the move to the college game and the Penn State Nittany Lions in January 2012. The 43-year-old signal-caller spoke with Jim Gray on the Westwood One "Monday Night Football" radio broadcast about O'Brien's ouster.

(Comments begin around the 3:45 mark)

"That was really tough to see," Brady said. "I've known Billy for a long time, and I think he's a hell of a coach, and I think he does a great job. He's got great leadership ability.

"It's a very difficult part of the profession, and I thought he's done a great job at Houston over the years. Those guys really seem to love playing for him. It's always tough when you see that happen, especially four games into the year.

"Four weeks ago, everyone was so hopeful about what the season could become. You hate to see things transpire as they do. And to lose a coach four games into the season doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

O'Brien guided the Texans to five winning seasons and four playoff appearances (all division titles) from 2014 through 2019, but the club never advanced past the divisional round under his leadership. He had also come under fire for multiple questionable roster decisions, such as the trade of superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in March.

Hopkins took to Twitter on Monday evening, possibly alluding to his former coach in Houston: