DeMeco Ryans enters his third season as head coach of the Texans after being named to the role on Jan. 31, 2023, becoming the sixth head coach in franchise history.
In 2024, the Houston Texans finished the regular season with a 10-7 record and clinched a playoff berth for the eighth time in franchise history. It marked the second time in franchise history that the Texans have made it to the Divisional Round in back-to-back seasons (2012-13). The Texans won their second consecutive AFC South title, making Ryans and QB C.J. Stroud the first quarterback/head coach duo in NFL history to win the division in each of their first two seasons together. Additionally, Ryans and Stroud became the third head coach/quarterback duo in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of their first two seasons and the third duo in NFL history to record 10-plus wins in each of their first two seasons with the team. Ryans joined Bill O'Brien (2018-19) and Gary Kubiak (2011-12) as the only coaches in franchise history to lead their team to back-to-back 10-win seasons.
Under Ryans, the Texans earned five AFC Player of the Week awards and one AFC Player of the Month award. Additionally, the team had five players named to the 2025 Pro Bowl (T Laremy Tunsil, RB Joe Mixon, WR Nico Collins, CB Derek Stingley Jr. and DE Danielle Hunter), marking the most selections they've had in a season since 2018. Stingley was also named to the Associated Press All-Pro First Team, joining J.J. Watt as the only two defensive players in team history to garner the award.
The Texans defense, coached by Ryans, was dominant in 2024, setting franchise records for most sacks (49.0) and tackles for loss in a season (106). The team also finished the year ranked second in the NFL in interceptions (19), tied for third in passes defensed (90) and tied for fourth in sacks (49.0). Overall, the defense allowed the sixth-fewest total yards per game (315.0) and the sixth-lowest passing yards per game (201.0), while forcing 29 takeaways, the fifth-most in the NFL.
In the Texans' first year under Ryans, the Texans finished with an 10-7 record and clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2019. Houston won their seventh AFC South title and became the first team in NFL history to win their division with a rookie quarterback and first-year head coach. Additionally, Ryans and QB C.J. Stroud became the fourth rookie quarterback and first-year head coach to win a playoff game together. The Texans defeated the Cleveland Browns, 45-14, in the Wild Card round to secure their fifth playoff victory in team history.
Houston finished with 11 total wins, including the postseason, which marked the fifth time in team history recording 11-or-more wins in a season. Under Ryans, Stroud and DE Will Anderson Jr. were named the Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, marking a Texans sweep of the top rookie awards. The Texans are the fourth team since 1967 to win both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year in the same season. The team's bright season produced two AFC Player of the Month awards, six Player of the Week awards and two NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month awards, while Stroud, Anderson and T Laremy Tunsil were all selected to the Pro Bowl following the season.
Ryans coached a team that boasted a +10 net differential in turnover margin, which ranked top-five in the NFL. Houston finished the season ranked sixth in rushing defense (96.6 yards per game allowed), while also finishing seventh in the league in passing yards per game (245.5) and 11th in points allowed (20.8). Ryans was named the PFWA Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in franchise history to win the award. He also was named the Kansas City 101 AFC Coach of the Year.
In 2022, which marked his last season in San Francisco, Ryans was named the PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year. He coached six seasons with the 49ers and two as the team's defensive coordinator (2021-22), helping lead the team to the NFC Championship. He spent the previous three seasons (2018-20) as the 49ers inside linebackers coach, while serving as the team's defensive quality control coach in 2017.
Originally drafted in the second round (33rd overall) by the Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft, Ryans played for Houston (2006-11) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2012-15). He was a team captain for the Texans' 2011 season, a squad that claimed the franchise's inaugural AFC South title and playoff berth. Ryans holds the Texans record for the most tackles by a rookie (156) and currently sits as the second-leading tackler in franchise history (636).
During his 10-year playing career, Ryans was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and PFWA Rookie of the Year in 2006, first-team All-Pro in 2007 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009. He appeared in 140 career games (139 starts) throughout his career and registered 970 tackles, 46 passes defensed, 13.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and seven interceptions.
A native of Bessemer, Ala., Ryans played linebacker at the University of Alabama (2002-05). As a senior, he was a unanimous All-American selection, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2005.
Ryans and his wife, Jamila, have two daughters, Xia and Zuri, and two sons, MJ and Micah.
Pro Bowl Players Coached (10): S Talanoa Hufanga (2022), DE Nick Bosa (2019, 2021-22), LB Fred Warner (2020, 2022), DE Will Anderson Jr. (2023), T Laremy Tunsil (2023-24), QB C.J. Stroud (2023), RB Joe Mixon (2024), CB Derek Stingley Jr. (2024), WR Nico Collins (2024), DE Danielle Hunter (2024)
All-Pro Players Coached (4): S Talanoa Hufanga (2022), DE Nick Bosa (2022), LB Fred Warner (2020-22), CB Derek Stingley Jr. (2024)
