This is a brilliant move that might change the fortunes of this downtrodden franchise. The Houston Texans aren’t messing around with their coaching hire this offseason as they inked up former 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans to a 6-year deal.
Like I said in the title, this was one of the best decisions this franchise could have made.
Ever since the Bill O’Brien-Deshaun Watson AFC South title-winning teams of the mid 2015’s collapsed a few years ago, the Houston Texans have been one of the league’s sorriest, most downright awful teams in the NFL. In the last three years, which have seen the Texans roll through four head coaches (Bill O’Brien, Romeo Crennel, David Culley, Lovie Smith), Houston has won a grand total of 11 games, lost 38, and have tied once to record three straight seasons of 4-12/13 or worse seasons.
A truly horrible stat that is only marginally made better due to the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of their AFC South divisional foes, have had an equally miserable time to start off the 2020 decade.
Though, just to put the Texans record in comparison, the Tennessee Titans, another AFC South divisional rival, won more games last season (12) than the Texans have won since the turn of the decade. And they have had Ryan Tannehill as the starting QB for that entire span.
Do you see just how dysfunctional it’s been in Houston?
This team desperately needed order and stability, and that’s exactly what DeMeco Ryans will bring with his 6-year, long-term contract.
Already a respected figure in Houston for what he accomplished as a player (he was drafted 33rd overall in 2006 by Texans, recorded 636 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 6 FF, 8 FR, 25 QB hits, and 2 INTs with franchise, 2 Pro Bowl nods as a Texan, and named 2006 AP Defensive Rookie Player of the Year), Ryans comes into that Texans locker room with an aura of gravitas and authority for what he has done both on and off the field.
Along with the stats I listed, Ryans was easily the best DC in the entire NFL these past two seasons as he led the 49ers defense to be #6 in passing yards allowed (3,510) in 2021, #7 in rushing yards allowed (1,760) in 2021, #1 in forced fumbles (22) in 2021, #6 in forced fumbles (16) in 2022, #2 in rushing yards allowed (1,312) in 2022, #1 in interceptions (20) in 2022.
Obviously, it’s clear that Ryans will instill a defensive culture that will not only stop the opposing offense in its tracks but will also hawkishly attack the ball on every down.
Though, what I find to be the more impressive thing Ryans will bring is his leadership and tenacity. It was clear watching a 49ers game this season that Ryans loves the game of football and shares his passion with each and every one of his defensive players…which was enthusiastically returned by said players when they came back to the sidelines.
Whether it’s celebrating a key defensive play, running down the sideline in euphoria during a turnover return, or fist-bumping/helmet-slapping his guys after a 3-and-out, DeMeco Ryans shows a love and care for his players that builds and breeds a winning culture. And the Texans will need that as this organization has just been in a depressive state for years.
Plus, the 6-year contract give Ryans enough time to grow and cultivate a winning culture without having to look over his shoulder at a looming replacement when things go wrong (and they certainly will as this is the Texans after all). Seeing how the last three Houston head coaches have lasted just a year before getting the axe, that must be a huge boost of confidence for the former Texans defensive superstar.
I can’t wait to see the Texans Week 1 matchup next year as I really believe this is just the start to a powerhouse team being built out of Houston.
PS: The 1st overall pick also must be a nice asset to have to rebuild this organization if you’re DeMeco Ryans.
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