Jacques Cesaire, who served as the defensive line coach for the Houston Texans in the past two seasons, is set to become a part of the Cleveland Browns coaching staff for the upcoming 2024 season, as officially announced by the team on Monday.
As reported by The Houston Chronicle, Cesaire was not anticipated to return to Houston following the expiration of his contract. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski expressed enthusiasm about Cesaire’s addition, highlighting his energy and established track record as both a player and coach in the league. Stefanski emphasized Cesaire’s ability to elevate the already high standards for the Browns’ defensive line.
Cesaire had been part of Lovie Smith’s staff during his tenure with the Houston Texans under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans. Initially joining from the Buffalo Bills in 2022, Cesaire played a role in the significant improvement of Houston’s defensive line in the 2023 season.
Under the coaching tandem of Culley and Smith, the Texans’ defensive line saw substantial progress, transforming from one of the league’s weakest run defenses to a formidable unit. In the 2023 regular season, Houston ranked sixth against the run, limiting opponents to 96.6 yards per game and 3.5 yards per attempt. Additionally, the team achieved a franchise-high 46 sacks, with notable contributions from Jonathan Greenard and rookie standout Will Anderson Jr.
Cesaire’s impact was particularly evident in the development of Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick in the 2023 draft. Anderson emerged as a key figure in the Texans’ front-seven, setting a rookie record for the team with seven sacks and earning a Pro Bowl nod.
Having enjoyed a nine-season playing career with the then-San Diego Chargers, Cesaire brings a wealth of experience to his coaching role. His playing career featured 125 games, amassing 275 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
In joining the Cleveland Browns, Cesaire becomes part of a defensive unit led by potential Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett. The 2017 No. 1 overall pick showcased his prowess with a team-leading 14 sacks, 42 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 30 quarterback hits, and three pass breakups in the previous season.
It’s worth noting that Houston had a convincing victory over Cleveland in the wild-card round of the AFC Playoffs last month, winning 45-14.
