T.J. Yates played quarterback for the Houston Texans in three different stints, and now he is back with the organization in a whole new role.
The 32-year-old North Carolina alumnus, responsible for the Texans’ first ever playoff win in 2011, is an offensive assistant with Houston. The weirdest transition thus far is being referred to as “coach” by his former teammates.
“It’s a little weird,” Yates said. “It’s fun, though. It’s been great so far. I kind of just hopped right into it.”
Yates joined the Texans as a fifth-round pick in 2011 and then departed after the 2013 campaign. He returned in 2015 and later in 2017. In 2019, Yates hung it up with a career 55.2 completion rate and a 10-11 touchdown to interception ratio.
Thus far, the transition has been relatively smooth.
Said Yates: “As far as transition-wise it couldn’t have gone any easier, just because obviously the familiarity with the building, the coaches, the players, the organization, everything. So, it was kind of just hopping back into it.”
Yates has been working with the offensive line through the first three weeks of organized team activities. Once a teammate of quarterback Deshaun Watson, it is uncertain if Yates will get to help out quarterbacks coach Carl Smith in the instruction of Watson in 2019.
