Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans made three staffing changes for his defense this week – one promotion and two new hires.
The team promoted Rod Wright to defensive line coach, hired Nate Ollie as an assistant defensive line coach and hired Bill Davis as the linebackers coach, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson.
Wright, who spent the 2023 season as Houston’s assistant defensive line coach, will replace Jacques Cesaire after Cesaire took a job with the Cleveland Browns. Wright coached defensive lines for 13 years at the college level, including at Miami (FL), UTSA, East Carolina and Sam Houston State, before he came to Houston with Ryans. He worked with Ryans previously in the summer of 2017 as an intern with the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
Ollie takes over Wright’s old position after he spent the past two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts in the same role. The Colts decided not to renew his contract this season. Ollie was previously an assistant defensive line coach with the New York Jets for one season and with the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons.
Davis will join the Texans after four years coaching the Arizona Cardinals linebackers. He replaces Chris Kiffin, who is reportedly no longer with the team. Davis was previously Ohio State linebackers coach from 2017 to 2018, the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015 and the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach from 2011-2012.
Ollie and Davis have small connections with Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Ollie was an assistant with the Jets the same year Burke was there, and Burke was the Cardinals’ defensive line coach in 2022 when Davis coached the linebackers.
The Texans enjoyed a successful 2023 season thanks in part to the staff Ryans built in his first year at the helm. That group has mostly remained intact on offense after offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson decided to return for 2024. There were a few departures, but maintaining continuity will be crucial if the Texans want to repeat as AFC South champions and make a deeper postseason run.