Rick Smith plans to return to Texans; team may hire new GM in his absence

Texans general manager Rick Smith announced Monday he expects to return to his role as executive vice president after taking a leave of absence to care for his wife following a cancer diagnosis.

Smith said he'd be OK with Houston hiring a new GM while he's away, and that he'd come back as EVP even if another GM was in place. He currently holds both positions.

The exec added that the plan is for him to step aside for one year.

Smith has been the team's GM since 2006, though there were questions over his future due to a reportedly "toxic and dysfunctional" relationship between him and head coach Bill O'Brien.