Penn State's Bill O'Brien has reached an agreement to become coach of the Houston Texans, according to league sources.
The Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that O'Brien is en route to Houston and will sign a five-year deal and be introduced by the team Thursday.
Texans owner Bob McNair wanted a coach who had NFL and head-coaching experience.
O'Brien, 44, a protégé of Bill Belichick, was a New England Patriots assistant from 2007 to 2011. He eventually became the offensive coordinator for a team that lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. He left the Patriots two years ago to take over at Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal.
Despite a bowl ban and relaxed transfer rules that allowed players to leave Penn State without delay, the Nittany Lions went 15-9 under O'Brien, including 10-6 in the Big Ten. He was the conference coach of the year in 2012.
ESPN