The Houston Texans hired Demeco Ryans as their new head coach around two months ago with the hope that he will help to right the sinking ship that has been this franchise over the past couple of years. The Texans looked to go in a different direction this off-season, and they hope hiring a former Texan and all-pro linebacker in Ryans will get them back on track. 

Ryans now becomes the third head coach hired in the last three years, following David Culley and Lovie Smith, who both led unsuccessful campaigns. The team was looking to move in a different direction this offseason, and a former Texan star who was highly sought after in the coaching market presented the perfect opportunity. 

“It’s fun to bring him home,” says current owner Cal Mcnair. Ryans was an All-Pro linebacker for the Texans during his 5-season stint and brought home many prestigious awards, such as being honored as the 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Since his retirement in 2015, Ryans has remained active in the NFL scene, hired as a quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2017 season. Before the 2021 season, Ryans was promoted to Defensive Coordinator, where he led the number one-ranked defense in the NFL. Ryans added to his trophy case, winning the award of the best assistant coach in 2022, a testament to his effectiveness as a coach. Ryans had interest from teams all over the league to become their head coach, including the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals. However, Ryans was determined to return home and take his “dream job,” which he repeatedly stated at his introductory press conference. 

“He makes the future much brighter,” says season ticket holder and current 12th grader at Emery, Ethan Glaich. There are many reasons for the recent downfall of the Texans; however, a large part of the blame can be attributed to the constant coaching carousel that has not allowed the team to have an identity. The Texans have had some uninspiring seasons in recent years, going 11-38 over the past three years.

This could all change with the hiring of Ryans, as he is widely considered a ‘players coach’ because of his own experience in the league. “The players are going to be excited to play for him,” says current 11th grader Matthew Mintz. Through Ryan’s experience, he has another perspective on how to coach the game, as he says in his own words, “I tell the guys always positive energy, it’s always upbeat because when they make plays, I want guys enthusiastic about playing football.” This knowledge and experience have helped him become a great assistant coach and hopefully will lead him to be a successful head coach. 

As the Texans look to turn the page on their recent blunders, they hope Demeco Ryans can lead the charge and get the Texans to their first super bowl win in franchise history.