Texas interview O’Brien

HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have interviewed Penn State’s Bill O’Brien about their vacant head coaching job and he has emerged as a leading candidate, according to reports.

Houston team owner Bob McNair told The Houston Chronicle on Saturday night: “The process has been underway, and it continues.”

The paper reports O’Brien met with McNair and general manager Rick Smith last week, and also has interviewed former Bears coach Lovie Smith and interim coach Wade Phillips.

O’Brien is 15-9 at Penn State, guiding the Nittany Lions through two winning seasons despite severe NCAA sanctions.