The Texans hired former Cowboys coach Wade Phillips as the team’s defensive coordinator, announced on Wednesday, ESPN reports. Phillips was fired by Dallas mid-season in 2010 after leading the Cowboys to a 1-7 start.
Phillips emerges into the Texans’ organization just two days after cleaning out the defensive staff by firing former defensive coordinator Frank Bush, secondary coach David Gibbs, linebackers coach Johnny Holland, and assistant linebackers coach Robert Saleh.
A source told ESPN’s John Clayton that the deal Phillips signed with the Texans is worth $2.1 million over three years, which makes Phillips the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL.
Houston’s defense ranked near the bottom of the league in 2010, finishing 30th in yards allowed (386.6 yards per game) and last in passing yards allowed per game (267.5 yards per game).