Report: Texans' O'Brien, GM Smith have toxic relationship

Despite working together for the past four seasons, the relationship between Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien and general manager Rick Smith has slowly turned "toxic and dysfunctional," multiple sources told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

The report adds that while O'Brien and Smith could move forward and cooperate, it would be an "uneasy alliance" and create a "difficult working environment," which could force owner Bob McNair to fire one of the two.

O'Brien, who was hired by Smith in 2014, is under contract through the 2018 season and has maintained interest in returning with or without an extension. Smith, meanwhile, has been with the organization since 2006, which, at the time, made him the youngest general manager in the NFL (36 years old). The front-office executive is under contract until 2020 after signing an extension in 2016.

The Texans started the season 3-4, but injuries have since decimated the team, none more impactful than J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson, who were both lost for the season. As result, they enter Sunday as losers of seven of their last eight games, bringing their record to 4-11 on the year.