Jack Easterby

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.{{cite web |last=Nickles |first=Lynn |date=September 2018 |title=Made in Cola Town: Jack Easterby |url=https://columbiametro.com/article/made-in-cola-town-jack-easterby/ |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Columbia Metropolitan}} 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.{{Cite web |date=July 9, 2012 |title=Jack Easterby named associate athletic director for strategic operations |url=https://newberrywolves.com/news/2012/7/9/_4933.aspx |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Newberry College Athletics |language=en}} He served as an operations intern with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the summer of 2004.{{cite web |last=Florio, Mike |date=October 5, 2020 |title=A question emerges about Jack Easterby's NFL biography |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/10/05/a-question-emerges-about-jack-easterbys-nfl-biography/ |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Profootballtalk.com}}

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.{{cite web |last=Vrentes, Jenny and Bishop, Greg |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Jack Easterby's Rise to Power and the Chaos That Followed |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/12/10/ex-chaplain-jack-easterby-houston-texans-chaos-after-power-struggle-daily-cover |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Sports Illustrated}} He worked with both teams during five postseason appearances, including the 2012 Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament. 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.

After leaving South Carolina, Easterby took up a role as chaplain for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011.{{Cite news |last=Breiner |first=Ben |date=October 6, 2020 |title=He spent 5 years on staff at South Carolina. Now he's running the Houston Texans |work=Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article246252910.html}} Placekicker Ryan Succop, who attended South Carolina when Easterby was there, recommended him to Scott Pioli for the position.{{Cite web |last=Barshop |first=Sarah |date=2020-11-21 |title=Why Jack Easterby won't be GM but is 'incredibly valuable' to Texans |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30354031/why-jack-easterby-gm-incredibly-valuable-texans |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He ministered to the team following the murder-suicide of Jovan Belcher.{{cite web |last=Wickersham, Seth |date=January 30, 2015 |title=Love in the Time of Deflategate |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12250363/patriots-love-deflategate |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=ESPN.com}}

Easterby was hired by the New England Patriots in 2013, in part to deal with the Aaron Hernandez crisis.{{Cite web |last=O'Malley |first=Nick |date=2019-06-19 |title=Patriots 'livid' at Jack Easterby, character coach who left for bigger role with Texans (report) |url=https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2019/06/patriots-livid-at-jack-easterby-character-coach-who-left-new-england-for-houston-texans-report.html |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=masslive |language=en}} 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”.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/nfl/article198270429.html|title=Columbia SC native Jack Easterby playing big role with New England Patriots|last=Bezjak|first=Lou|date=February 3, 2018|work=The State|accessdate=February 2, 2021}} 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.

He was described as having a major role in the team's success by Patriots' players.{{Cite web |last=Reiss |first=Aaron |title=How Jack Easterby came to replace Bill O'Brien as Texans GM |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2184386/2020/11/08/whats-next-for-jack-easterby-after-rapid-rise-to-interim-texans-gm/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=The Athletic |language=en}} The team went on to win several championships, including Super Bowl XLIX, LI,{{Cite web |title=Patriots erase deficit, defeat Falcons in Super Bowl LI |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-erase-deficit-defeat-falcons-in-super-bowl-li-0ap3000000783692 |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}} and LIII.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Kevin |date=2018-01-22 |title=Why the NFL Needs the New England Patriots |url=https://www.theringer.com/nfl-playoffs/2018/1/22/16920298/super-bowl-new-england-patriots-tom-brady-bill-belichick-hate |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=The Ringer |language=en}} The Patriots won the AFC Championship in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.{{Cite web |title=New England Patriots Team History - Pro Football Archives |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/new-england-patriots.html |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=www.profootballarchives.com}}

Represented by agent Bob LaMonte, Easterby developed a reputation as a leader in the NFL in culture building as well as strategic planning.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Aaron |date=2020-11-08 |title=Jack Easterby's path to Texans defined by his faith and energy |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Jack-Easterby-s-path-to-Texans-defined-by-his-15710266.php |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} 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.{{cite web |last=McClain |first=John |date=June 10, 2019 |title=How Jack Easterby's influence is growing with Texans |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/mcclain/article/McClain-How-Jack-Easterby-s-influence-is-13966737.php |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Houston Chronicle}} 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."{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Brian T. |date=September 6, 2019 |title=Jack Easterby is (not so secretly) changing the Texans |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/smith/article/Jack-Easterby-is-not-so-secretly-changing-the-14420507.php |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Houston Chronicle}}

Easterby, along with coach and general manager Bill O'Brien, worked to overhaul the roster, with Easterby handling the contract negotiations.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4234370/2020/10/07/texans-owner-jack-easterby-is-interim-gm-team-will-hire-new-gm-and-coach/|title=Texans owner: Jack Easterby is interim GM, team will hire new GM and coach|date=October 7, 2020|publisher=The Athletic|access-date=February 2, 2021}} Easterby also reportedly oversaw a new locker room project with the Texans,{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Brian T. |date=2019-09-06 |title=Jack Easterby is (not so secretly) changing the Texans |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/smith/article/Jack-Easterby-is-not-so-secretly-changing-the-14420507.php |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} and building renovations led by CEO and owner Cal McNair within NRG Stadium.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Matt |date=2021-08-11 |title=A look inside the Texans' fancy renovated locker room |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Houston-Texans-NRG-Stadium-locker-room-new-fancy-16379691.php |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Chron |language=en-US}}

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." After O'Brien was fired on October 5, 2020, Easterby assumed the GM role on an interim basis,{{cite web |date=October 7, 2020 |title=Texans owner: Jack Easterby is interim GM, team will hire new GM and coach |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4234370/2020/10/07/texans-owner-jack-easterby-is-interim-gm-team-will-hire-new-gm-and-coach/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |publisher=The Athletic}} According to ESPN, Easterby was chosen by McNair to guide the team through the transitional period after O'Brien's firing.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-21 |title=Why Jack Easterby won't be GM but is 'incredibly valuable' to Texans |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30354031/why-jack-easterby-gm-incredibly-valuable-texans |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Easterby continued this role until Nick Caserio was hired.{{cite web |last=Vrentes, Jenny and Bishop, Greg |date=January 16, 2021 |title=How Jack Easterby Held on, and Why Deshaun Watson Might Slip Away From the Texans |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/01/16/texans-chaos-deshaun-watson-unhappy-how-jack-easterby-kept-his-job |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Sports Illustrated}}

Easterby's rapid rise in football drew significant media attention. Some sports media outlets published criticisms of Easterby from anonymous team personnel.{{cite web |last=Vrentes, Jenny and Bishop, Greg |date=January 16, 2021 |title=How Jack Easterby Held on, and Why Deshaun Watson Might Slip Away From the Texans |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/01/16/texans-chaos-deshaun-watson-unhappy-how-jack-easterby-kept-his-job |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Sports Illustrated}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Brian T. |date=2022-06-28 |title=Smith: Texans now facing questions about their handling of Deshaun Watson |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/brian-t-smith/article/Smith-Texans-now-facing-questions-about-their-17269615.php |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} Many members of the Texans' leadership praised Easterby's work with the team, including Caserio, who described the criticism of Easterby as "unjust."{{Cite web |last=Kubena |first=Brooks |date=2022-03-07 |title=Texans' Jack Easterby breaks media silence, defines role with franchise |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Jack-Easterby-defines-role-with-Texans-16983655.php |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}}

Easterby served on the leadership team for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program,{{Cite web |title=Houston Texas 2021 Season Media Guide |url=https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2021/HOU.pdf |access-date=2022-09-11 |page=9}} and advocates for promoting diversity within the NFL. In 2016, he delivered the keynote address for the Boston Business Journal Leaders in Diversity Awards.{{Cite web |last=Halpern |first=Joe |date=May 26, 2016 |title=Sports, leadership themes offered at BBJ diversity awards breakfast |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2016/05/26/sports-leadership-themes-offered-at-bbj-diversity.html |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Boston Business Journal}}

On October 17, 2022, Easterby left the Texans. A statement by the team described the parting as mutual.{{cite news |last=Patra |first=Kevin |title=Texans part ways with executive VP of football operations Jack Easterby |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-part-ways-jack-easterby-executive-vp-of-football-operations |website=NFL.com |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Clements |first=Devon |date=12 January 2021 |title=Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins Slam Texans' Jack Easterby |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/gm-report/johnson-hopkins-slam-jack-easterby |website=SI.com}}

The son of Jimmy and Betsy Easterby, Jack Easterby is married to Holly, and has two daughters.{{cite web |last=Nickles |first=Lynn |date=September 2018 |title=Made in Cola Town: Jack Easterby |url=https://columbiametro.com/article/made-in-cola-town-jack-easterby/ |accessdate=February 2, 2021 |work=Columbia Metropolitan}}

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Category:Living people

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