The Houston Texans look like a completely different organization within one season of DeMeco Ryans taking over as head coach. The team is on the cusp of a postseason berth with the likely Offensive Rookie of the Year in C.J. Stroud and are trending up heading into the new year.
That excitement began as early as the Ryans’ first press conference, former Texans wideout Andre Johnson told the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday. Johnson, who played 12 years in Houston, says he never saw anything like that first day when Ryans joined the team.
“The whole city was excited,” Johnson said. “We knew what time of coach were was getting once he was hired.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it when DeMeco Ryans was hired by the Houston Texans..
The whole city was excited and we knew what type of coach we were getting” ~ @johnson80#PMSLive #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/a4UGp5Vrf1
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 28, 2023
The Texans’ path to the postseason isn’t as clear as two weeks ago, but they’ll have two chances to better their playoff hopes at the end of the regular season. At 8-6, Houston is tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 7 seed but loses on tiebreakers. The two teams face off in Week 18.
But even if the Texans don’t make the postseason, the few looks bright for Houston with Ryans at the helm and Stroud under center.