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Jack Easterby
refer to caption
Easterby in 2016
Personal information
Born: (1983-03-24) March 24, 1983 (age 41)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Career information
High school:A.C. Flora
College:Newberry College
Career history
As an executive:

Jack Easterby (born March 24, 1983) is the former executive vice president of football operations for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to joining the Texans in 2019, he served chaplain and character coaching roles. From 2013 to 2018, Easterby filled various leadership roles with the New England Patriots.

Education and early career

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A Columbia, South Carolina, native, Easterby lettered in basketball and golf at A.C. Flora High School and Newberry College and studied theology at Erskine College and Liberty University.[1] He was named Student-Athlete of the Year by the American Legion in his senior year, and was awarded the Scholar Athlete award by the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in 2005. He also received several awards related to his ministry, including the Men's Golf Character Award from SAC, and the Campus Ministry Award and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Award from Newberry College.[2] He served as an operations intern with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the summer of 2004.[3]

Football career

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South Carolina Gamecocks (2005–2011)

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In 2005, while working as an academic tutor at the University of South Carolina, Easterby was hired by Dave Odom to serve as the character coach of Gamecocks men's basketball team, and worked extensively with Dawn Staley and the women's team.[4] He worked with both teams during five postseason appearances, including the 2012 Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament.[2] During his time with the Gamecocks men's basketball team, they won the 2005 National Invitation Tournament. He also served as character coach for the Gamecocks baseball College World Series' teams in 2010 and 2011.[2]

Kansas City Chiefs (2011–2012)

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After leaving South Carolina, Easterby took up a role as chaplain for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011.[5] Placekicker Ryan Succop, who attended South Carolina when Easterby was there, recommended him to Scott Pioli for the position.[6] He ministered to the team following the murder-suicide of Jovan Belcher.[7]

New England Patriots (2013–2018)

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Easterby was hired by the New England Patriots in 2013, in part to deal with the Aaron Hernandez crisis.[8] Throughout his tenure he was praised by staff, and was the only person to hold the position of character coach in the NFL. He described his work as "to serve the players mentally, physically and help them as people”.[9] He also helped the team with drills, draft evaluations, helped orient new players, and held Bible studies and religious services. He grew close to head coach Bill Belichick as well as the players and was a major part of their football operations staff.[4]

He was described as having a major role in the team's success by Patriots' players.[10] The team went on to win several championships, including Super Bowl XLIX, LI,[11] and LIII.[12] The Patriots won the AFC Championship in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.[13]

Houston Texans (2019–2022)

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Represented by agent Bob LaMonte, Easterby developed a reputation as a leader in the NFL in culture building as well as strategic planning.[14] He was hired by the Houston Texans in April 2019, after they outbid other NFL and NBA teams, such as the Miami Dolphins, for his services.[15] Houston Chronicle sportswriter Brian T. Smith described Easterby as being involved in "Everything. Personnel. Planning. Player pep talks. Daily life conversations, media-access issues and the general, overall state of the Texans."[16]

Easterby, along with coach and general manager Bill O'Brien, worked to overhaul the roster, with Easterby handling the contract negotiations.[17] Easterby also reportedly oversaw a new locker room project with the Texans,[18] and building renovations led by CEO and owner Cal McNair within NRG Stadium.[19]

On January 28, 2020, Easterby was put in charge of football operations, handling "everything from team logistics to salary cap management to sport science, equipment, video, player development and security for football operations."[4] After O'Brien was fired on October 5, 2020, Easterby assumed the GM role on an interim basis,[20] According to ESPN, Easterby was chosen by McNair to guide the team through the transitional period after O'Brien's firing.[21] Easterby continued this role until Nick Caserio was hired.[22]

Easterby's rapid rise in football drew significant media attention.[4] Some sports media outlets published criticisms of Easterby from anonymous team personnel.[23][24] Many members of the Texans' leadership praised Easterby's work with the team, including Caserio, who described the criticism of Easterby as "unjust."[25]

Easterby served on the leadership team for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program,[26] and advocates for promoting diversity within the NFL. In 2016, he delivered the keynote address for the Boston Business Journal Leaders in Diversity Awards.[27]

On October 17, 2022, Easterby left the Texans. A statement by the team described the parting as mutual.[28]

Easterby’s presence and influence in the Texans organization was cause for concern in the eyes of Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins, two of the team’s all time great wide receivers.[29]

Personal life

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The son of Jimmy and Betsy Easterby, Jack Easterby is married to Holly, and has two daughters.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Nickles, Lynn (September 2018). "Made in Cola Town: Jack Easterby". Columbia Metropolitan. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Jack Easterby named associate athletic director for strategic operations". Newberry College Athletics. July 9, 2012. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  3. ^ Florio, Mike (October 5, 2020). "A question emerges about Jack Easterby's NFL biography". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Vrentes, Jenny and Bishop, Greg (December 10, 2020). "Jack Easterby's Rise to Power and the Chaos That Followed". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Breiner, Ben (October 6, 2020). "He spent 5 years on staff at South Carolina. Now he's running the Houston Texans". Charlotte Observer.
  6. ^ "Why Jack Easterby won't be GM but is 'incredibly valuable' to Texans". ESPN.com. 2020-11-21. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  7. ^ Wickersham, Seth (January 30, 2015). "Love in the Time of Deflategate". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  8. ^ O'Malley, Nick (2019-06-19). "Patriots 'livid' at Jack Easterby, character coach who left for bigger role with Texans (report)". masslive. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  9. ^ Bezjak, Lou (February 3, 2018). "Columbia SC native Jack Easterby playing big role with New England Patriots". The State. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Reiss, Aaron. "How Jack Easterby came to replace Bill O'Brien as Texans GM". The Athletic. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  11. ^ "Patriots erase deficit, defeat Falcons in Super Bowl LI". NFL.com. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  12. ^ Clark, Kevin (2018-01-22). "Why the NFL Needs the New England Patriots". The Ringer. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  13. ^ "New England Patriots Team History - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  14. ^ Wilson, Aaron (2020-11-08). "Jack Easterby's path to Texans defined by his faith and energy". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  15. ^ McClain, John (June 10, 2019). "How Jack Easterby's influence is growing with Texans". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Smith, Brian T. (September 6, 2019). "Jack Easterby is (not so secretly) changing the Texans". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  17. ^ "Texans owner: Jack Easterby is interim GM, team will hire new GM and coach". The Athletic. October 7, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  18. ^ Smith, Brian T. (2019-09-06). "Jack Easterby is (not so secretly) changing the Texans". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  19. ^ Young, Matt (2021-08-11). "A look inside the Texans' fancy renovated locker room". Chron. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  20. ^ "Texans owner: Jack Easterby is interim GM, team will hire new GM and coach". The Athletic. October 7, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  21. ^ "Why Jack Easterby won't be GM but is 'incredibly valuable' to Texans". ESPN.com. 2020-11-21. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  22. ^ Vrentes, Jenny and Bishop, Greg (January 16, 2021). "How Jack Easterby Held on, and Why Deshaun Watson Might Slip Away From the Texans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Vrentes, Jenny and Bishop, Greg (January 16, 2021). "How Jack Easterby Held on, and Why Deshaun Watson Might Slip Away From the Texans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Smith, Brian T. (2022-06-28). "Smith: Texans now facing questions about their handling of Deshaun Watson". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  25. ^ Kubena, Brooks (2022-03-07). "Texans' Jack Easterby breaks media silence, defines role with franchise". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  26. ^ "Houston Texas 2021 Season Media Guide" (PDF). p. 9. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  27. ^ Halpern, Joe (May 26, 2016). "Sports, leadership themes offered at BBJ diversity awards breakfast". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  28. ^ Patra, Kevin (17 October 2022). "Texans part ways with executive VP of football operations Jack Easterby". NFL.com. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  29. ^ Clements, Devon (12 January 2021). "Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins Slam Texans' Jack Easterby". SI.com.
  30. ^ Nickles, Lynn (September 2018). "Made in Cola Town: Jack Easterby". Columbia Metropolitan. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
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