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By Aaron Wilson
Jul 16, 2026
When the
Texans hired former NFL offensive lineman James Ferentz as their new tight ends
coach, they knew they were tapping into his extensive background and expertise
in blocking.
Having
Ferentz, a 36-year-old former New York Giants assistant offensive line coach
who played center for the Texans, New England and Denver Broncos, gives the
staff someone well-versed in the Patriots-style system run by offensive
coordinator Nick Caley.
Although
Ferentz hasn’t coached tight ends before, the replacement for Jake Moreland has
been a quick study as he takes over a position headlined by veteran Dalton
Schultz. And Ferentz played at Iowa for his father, Kirk Ferentz, and was a
second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection. He previously played for Texans offensive line coach and run game
coordinator Cole Popovich in New England.
“I’ve never really been involved in the passing
game, I’m learning something new every day,” said Ferentz, who earned two Super Bowl rings, including
playing with Peyton Manning with the Broncos, in 61 career games with 10 starts
in eight NFL seasons before retiring after the 2023 season. “The guy I
report directly for, Nick Caley, coached the position at a really high level
for over a decade. Those gaps and holes, you’ve got to be willing to put your
hand up and say if you don’t know, you don’t know. The run blocking stuff, me
and Cole see the game in a very similar lens, which makes it very easy and
seamless.
“I spent some time as an undersized offensive
lineman. There might be some similarities with that with tight end play, having
to rely more on technique than ever being able to muscle a defender.
Ultimately, I’ve inherited a really good room.”
Ferentz played for New England for six seasons. He
overlapped with Caley, senior offensive assistant Jerry Schlupinski and
offensive line coach-run game coordinator Cole Popovich and general manager
Nick Caserio. Now, he’s working with them and coach DeMeco Ryans.
“Obviously, I’ve got connections with a handful of
guys on staff, but getting to know coach Ryans was an incredible opportunity,”
Ferentz said. “To get here, learn from some people I have familiarity with, and
then obviously getting to know coach Ryans, it’s just been a really phenomenal
experience.
“The way I view it, I’ve got a room with a lot of
really good players in it. It’s been a really beneficial period here. I think
we’ve accomplished what we’ve wanted. When we get back in the fall, we’ll try
to build on that and to keep putting these guys in the best position to
succeed. Ultimately, that’s our job as coaches.”
Veteran starting tight end Dalton Schultz was
sidelined for the Texans’ AFC divisional round playoff loss to New England due
to a strained calf. Tight end Cade Stover missed a large chunk of the season
after breaking his foot against the Rams in the opening game. And Brevin Jordan
tore his patellar tendon during a training camp practice. The Texans had to
deploy offensive tackle Blake Fisher as their primary blocking tight end.
Stover, who had off-season hernia surgery, and
Jordan have overcome past injuries. Jordan previously tore an anterior cruciate
ligament in his knee two seasons ago.
“Brevin is bringing it, good energy, ultimate team
guy,” Ferentz said. “you get Brevin on the field, his play speaks for itself
here now. He’s a special football player and he’s done everything the right
way.
“Getting onto the field with his rehab, which is a
very difficult process, you’re talking almost two years and he’s played like
maybe two or three weeks of football. Mentally, can’t say enough about the kid
for being able to work through it. It’s been really a lot of fun working with
him.”
Photo: Mike Carlson / Getty
Images Sport / Getty Images
While Schultz caught a career-high 82 passes, Caley
had bigger plans at tight end. Now, he’s planning an increased role for the
tight ends. That means more double tight end, triple tight end and perhaps even
split back formations for running backs David Montgomery and Woody Marks.
“I am a little bit biased there because of my
background with tight ends, but you remember it is important,” Caley said. “I
think you always want to be multiple. To nobody’s fault, last year we got
thinned out pretty early with Brev prior to us ever getting to the season. Cade
goes down in the fourth quarter of the Rams game for call it two-thirds of the
season, and we’re in the jumbo world a lot.
“We want to be multiple. We want to have balance,
11, 12s, 13s, 20, etcetera, and I think that’s always good to be able to do
those things. So, that’s important. We’ve got a really good group of receivers.
We’ve got a really good group of backs. We’ve got a really good group at tight
end now, too, and we’re healthy. So, it’s been a lot of fun just trying to mix
those groupings here and evolve that.”
The Texans utilized 12 personnel on 24.26 percent of
their offensive snaps last season. They were in 11 personnel -- one running
back, one tight end, three wide receivers - 58.11 percent of the time. And they
were in 21 personnel -- heavy formations -- 17.63 percent of the time.
“Everyone’s got a role,” Ferentz said. “Everyone
needs to embrace their role and the vision of the football team and what we
have to do to help the team win games. That’s how I view it.”
A big second-round draft pick from the University of
Michigan, Klein strained his hamstring during organized team activities and was
sidelined for the Texans’ minicamp. He is expected to make a full recovery for
training camp.
“Good athlete, he’s a big dude, he moves well,”
Schultz said. “I think in this offense, specifically, you are asked to do
everything. Knowing where to be and where to line up and how to execute is like
a big hurdle. It’s a big learning curve.
“I think as a young guy, being able to soak that up
and to get that information and use it well and able to go out and actually
line up and execute at full speed, it’s hard to do. So far, I think he’s done a
good job of that. Training camp kind of is the true test of putting the pads on
and figuring out like when the bullets are flying. We’ll see. I’m excited for
him.”
Klein is a native of Germany who played behind
several top tight ends at Michigan after enrolling, including Chicago Bears
standout tight end Colston Loveland.
“That’s a testament to his character of committing
to a body of work and a process,” Ferentz said. “Through that interview
process, I really fell in love with the guy. Then you throw in the film, and
you can see it.
“There’s just somebody who hasn’t gotten a lot of
reps. That’s not his fault. He was just in some deep position groups. We’re
excited to get him here. He’s been working hard.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter.
