
The Houston Texans have officially hired their new head coach.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans have agreed to a six-year deal with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
Ryans, a former Texans linebacker, had been the perceived favorite for the job for the last several days. He has run the San Francisco defense the last two seasons, helping the unit become one of the best in the league as the Niners reached back-to-back NFC Championship Games.
Ryans, 38, began his coaching career as a quality control coach with the Niners in 2017. He then spent three years coaching inside linebackers before taking over as defensive coordinator when the New York Jets hired Robert Saleh in 2021.
A 10-year NFL veteran at linebacker, Ryans was drafted by the Texans in the second round in 2006 out of Alabama. He spent six seasons in Houston, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2007 and making the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009.
Ryans closed out his playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2012-15. Now back in H-Town, he takes over for Lovie Smith, who joined David Culley as one-and-done head coaches for the Texans in the last two seasons.
We would bet on Ryans lasting longer than that on the Houston sideline.