Texans’ DeMeco Ryans is Building His Team in His Own Image

In 2023, the Houston Texans decided to hire the San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator DeMeco Ryans, and it was the best decision they could have made. Ryans was an All-American linebacker and 2005 SEC Defensive Player of the Year at the University of Alabama under head coach Nick Saban. After his career at ‘Bama, he got drafted by—you guessed it—the Houston Texans with the 33rd pick in the second round. Ryans won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and went on to play for the Texans for six seasons. He ended his 10-year career in 2015 with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

After his playing career was over, he went into coaching in 2017 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he progressed quickly from defensive quality control coach to defensive coordinator within four seasons. Then he got his big break with the Texans. 

Ryans knew what it would take to win in the NFL, but first he needed a franchise quarterback. The Texans selected CJ Stroud with the second pick in the 2023 draft out of Ohio State. Then they went to work to secure a defensive standout that Ryans believed he could build his defense around. They made a splash at the draft and traded up to the third pick overall to select defensive edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. out of the University of Alabama. Anderson was also coached by Nick Saban, so Ryans knew exactly the type of player he could become in the NFL. 

CJ Stroud and Will Anderson made an immediate impact for Ryans and the new image Texans. They went 10-7 in Ryans’ first season, but he knew to get to the Super Bowl he would need to continue to build his defense, starting with the defensive line.

Before the start of the 2025 NFL season, the Texans signed free agent edge rusher Danielle Hunter, and it paid off immediately. Hunter accounted for 15 sacks. Some will argue that Hunter benefited from offensive lines double-teaming Anderson, but Anderson himself accounted for 12 sacks during last season. 

The Texans rewarded both Hunter and Anderson this offseason with new contract extensions. Hunter received a one-year, $40 million extension, and Anderson signed a three-year extension worth $150 million. Anderson is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. 

The Texans weren’t done with their defense, however. They selected rising prospect Kayden McDonald with the 36th pick in this year's draft. A dominant defensive tackle out of The Ohio State University, McDonald should be a “plug and play” piece for Ryans, helping to shore up the run defense even further. 

They also went out and signed two more defensive ends in Logan Hall and Dominique Robinson to reinforce what Ryans believes in most: that defense wins championships. Opposing quarterbacks beware, the Texans defense is ready to put their stamp on every game.

The Texans made the playoffs last season behind a dominant defense, and DeMeco Ryans wouldn’t want it any other way. CJ Stroud is coming off a subpar season, and Ryans knows that quarterback play is essential to long-term success in the NFL. But if Stroud can return to form, there is no doubt that Ryans and the Texans will go into every matchup this season believing they can win—and win with his defense-first philosophy.