DeMeco Ryans is back where it all started and doing better than ever.

The first-year head coach has taken the Texans from the bottom to, possibly, the top. Led by rookie quarterback CJ Stroud, Houston won its first playoff game since 2020 with a dominant showing over the Browns. Ryans has positioned himself as a favorite for the league’s Coach of the Year.

While he still has much to prove as a head coach, there’s no mistaking his poised demeanor. Ryans was a highly successful player, excelling at every stage of the game through ups and downs. Including when he played in Houston.

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Take a look at Ryans’s playing history, from college to the NFL, and how he’s set himself up for success as a head coach.

Where did DeMeco Ryans play football?

A three-star recruit out of high school, Ryans was the No. 18 player in the state of Alabama and the No. 42 inside linebacker in the nation. He chose to play college football in his home state, becoming a member of the Crimson Tide. Ryans played in Tuscaloosa from 2002-05, spending most of his time under Mike Shula.

Ryans entered the NFL Draft in 2006 and was selected 33rd overall by none other than the Texans. He had a standout debut season, earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He earned First-Team All-Pro a season later and was selected to the Pro Bowl one more time during his career in Houston.

After six seasons, Ryans was traded to the Eagles ahead of the 2012 NFL Draft for a fourth-round pick and a swap of third-round selections. He spent four seasons in Philadelphia, though had lesser success, before being released in February of 2016.

He took up coaching a year later, spending six years with the 49ers, before debuting his head coaching career in Texans.