When DeMeco Ryans returned to where it all began, there was a buzz about the Texans. But few expected this young team to be competitive so soon.
The former linebacker is a hero in Houston. Drafted in 2006, he made an instant impact on an expansion team — the NFL’s youngest after its foundation in 2002 — and quickly picked up the nickname ‘Cap’.
He went on to be named defensive rookie of the year. Such was his command of the defense and desire to lead by example that he inspired a unit and a city. In 2011, his final season with the Texans, Houston made the playoffs for the first time.
Ryans has also had an immediate impact in his first year as head coach. And the stars are aligning for a return to the postseason.
The Texans haven’t won more than four games a season since 2019, and toiled under one-and done head coaches David Culley and Lovie Smith, whose 3-13 in 2022 paved the way for a change.
After finishing his playing career in 2015, Ryans learned the ropes under the great Kyle Shanahan, spending six years in San Francisco; the final two as defensive coordinator.
He shaped the 49ers defense into a fearsome unit, the NFL’s No 1-ranked last season. In a crowded room at his unveiling in February, Ryans said: ‘To the players that are here, the current players, I can’t wait to get started.
