DeMeco Ryans nearly gave the Houston Texans a clean sweep in terms of first-year success.
C.J. Stroud won Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing for 4,000-plus yards while leading Houston to its first division title in four years.
Will Anderson Jr. won Defensive Rookie of the Year after breaking J.J. Watt’s rookie sack record while proving worth the trade up to No. 3 overall last April
And Ryans? He finished one vote shy of besting Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski for NFL Coach of the Year honors amid a 10-7 record. Stefanski, who lost in the wild-card round to the Texans, did manage to pick up 12 wins with Mr. Elite Joe Flacco rising from the ashes to prove he’s still the guy.
Ryans, a former Pro Bowl linebacker and Defensive Rookie of the Year with Houston back in 2006, doesn’t worry about the past. His sights are on the present, and the present is bright so long as Stroud can remain healthy for 17 games in a competitive AFC South.
Is Ryans a favorite to win the award a year removed from the hype? Let’s see how his numbers compare to his 31 peers around the NFL talking odds to win Coach of the Year.
You can check out Draft Kings’ odds for all 32 coaches below.