NFL world reacts to DeMeco Ryans hire

As many expected, the Houston Texans have hired former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as their new head coach.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news, saying that Houston has signed Ryans to a six-year deal.

Ryans becomes the third head coach of the Texans in three years, replacing Lovie Smith, who was fired after replacing David Culley.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Ryans, who was selected by Houston in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. The linebacker was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and was selected for two Pro Bowls in six seasons with the franchise. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012 where he played four more seasons. Ryans then retired in 2016.

Almost immediately, Ryans transitioned into a coaching career. He was hired by the 49ers in 2017 as a defensive quality control coach. A year later, was promoted to inside linebackers coach in 2018. By 2021, he was named defensive coordinator. Ryans did well enough to interview with the Minnesota Vikings for their head coaching vacancy that offseason. In 2022, the 49ers’ defense was among the most dominant in the NFL. They finished No. 1 in DVOA, fifth against the pass, and second against the rush.

Ryans was a huge head coaching candidate this offseason and initially emerged as a leading candidate for the Denver Broncos job. However, the initial interview with Texans went so well that word leaked that it was a foregone conclusion they would hire him. And now they have.

The NFL world had a lot to say about the Texans hiring Ryans as their next head coach.

[Adam Schefter]