Getty Image / Bob Levey
The Houston Texans haven’t kept head coaches around for very long in the past couple of years.
In 2021, they hired David Culley to replace Bill O’Brien.
Culley lasted just one year despite the team actually outperforming expectations the following season by winning 4 games without Deshaun Watson.
The Texans then brought in Lovie Smith as his replacement for the 2022 season. Unfortunately, he also only lasted 1 season as the Texans barely missed out on the top pick in next year’s draft despite playing in the league’s worst division.
That left them searching for a new head coach for a 3rd consecutive offseason.
It looks like they’ve found him and they’re expecting him to stick around a while.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans have reached an agreement with DeMeco Ryans on a 6-year deal for him to be their next head coach.
Former 49ers’ defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans reached agreement today on a six-year deal, per sources. Texans have their new head coach. pic.twitter.com/1CvFSLvZY5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2023
Ryans has been seen as the frontrunner for this job for a little while now and for good reason.
DeMeco Ryans has been leading on of the NFL’s best defenses for the past 2 seasons as he has been a part of a San Francisco 49ers coaching staff that has appeared in 2 consecutive NFC Championship Games.
While Ryans has been coaching one of the league’s best defenses, the Houston Texans were one of the league’s worst. This was especially true of their run defense, which gave up 5 yards per carry this season and even allowed Derrick Henry to go over 200 yards in a game where they knew the Titans would only be running.
Fixing that will likely be the first thing on Ryans’ mind after the 49ers were last season’s top run defense, allowing the least yards per carry and 2nd least rushing yards.
If he can improve that unit then hopefully he’ll outlast the past couple of coaches.