Ryan Milus enters his second season with the Houston Texans as a defensive assistant after joining the team in 2023, holding four seasons of NFL experience (2019-21, 2023) and two at the collegiate level (2017-18).
In his first season with the Texans in 2023, Milus assisted in a defensive transformation that saw the Texans defense finish sixth-best in the league in rush defense, holding their opponents to just 96.6 rushing yards per game after finishing last in the league in 2022. The Texans defensive unit finished second in the NFL in tackles for loss (105) and set a new franchise record for most sacks in a season (46.0). Rookie DE Will Anderson Jr. earned his first Pro Bowl nod and was named the PFWA and AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after finishing the 2023 regular season with 29 tackles (16 solo), 7.0 sacks, 67 pressures, 22 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss and one blocked field goal. Anderson's 67 pressures led all rookies this season and his 7.0 sacks set a new rookie franchise record for most sacks in a single season.
Milus most recently served as the defensive quality control coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. Milus guided a defensive unit that ranked ninth in total yards per play (5.20 yards), 10th in rushing yards per play (4.21 yards), sixth in passing yards per play (6.25 yards) and sixth in total yards per game among AFC teams (337.2 yards). The unit was led by third-year DE Maxx Crosby, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection and posted 56 tackles (36 solo), 8.0 sacks and seven passes defensed in 2021. His three multi-sack games were tied for second-most in the AFC this season.
In his first NFL coaching role, Milus spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, first as an intern in the Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellowship (2019) and then as a defensive quality control coach (2020). In his first year, Milus assisted with practice drills, primarily for the linebackers, while helping Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley with team presentations and film breakdown of upcoming opponents. He worked with the team's defensive backs in 2019, helping his father and Colts defensive backs coach, Ron Milus.
Before joining the NFL coaching ranks, Milus landed his first coaching role as a graduate assistant/cornerbacks coach with Weber State University for two seasons (2017-18). Milus helped the Wildcats claim back-to-back Big Sky Championships, advance to the FCS Quarterfinals in both seasons and rank as high as third in the nation in 2018, the highest ranking in school history. In his last season with Webster State, he guided CB Keilan Benjamin to earn first-team All-Big Sky honors, while CB Parker Preator earned third-team honors.
In his first season with the Wildcats (2017), Milus was a graduate assistant who coached the cornerbacks while pursuing a graduate degree in criminal justice. The Wildcats finished in the top 10 in the country in interceptions, turnovers gained and red zone defense. The defensive unit led the Big Sky Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, interceptions, pass efficiency defense and red zone defense. Milus coached DB Taron Johnson to a consensus All-American selection and Big Sky Defensive MVP on his way to being drafted in the fourth round (121st overall) by the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Milus began his coaching career at his alma mater, Hamilton High School, where he coached the secondary in 2016.
A Tacoma, Wash., native, Milus attended Arizona State University and was a three-time All-American sprinter, finishing second in the NCAA Championships in the 60 meters. He graduated in 2014 with a degree in business tourism. Following graduation, he competed professionally in track and field and made the finals of the U.S. Indoor Championships.
His father, Ron Milus, enters his 24th season as an NFL coach and currently serves as the defensive backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Last name is pronounced (My-Lus).
Pro Bowl Players Coached (1): DE Will Anderson Jr. (2023)
