Houston Texans’ DeMeco Ryans well-placed among head coaches

After posting a three-win season in 2022, the Houston Texans quickly changed their culture and posted ten wins in 2023, winning the AFC South and defeating the Cleveland Browns in a playoff game.

Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. have both played key roles in the franchise’s turnaround, but much of the credit goes to second-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Ryans always had the potential to be a great coach, but he used his first season in charge to move the franchise in the right direction. He won the Texans’ Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2006, and he brought a similar energy to his role as the team’s head coach.

READ MORE: Texans training camp previews: Will Henry To’oTo’o improve depth at linebacker?

As the NFL struggles to get going, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin ranked all 32 NFL head coaches. Ryans was ranked 13th after his first NFL campaign as a head coach.

The No. 13 ranking leaves Ryans in the “Class A” group.

“These coaches aren’t perfect, and some are under more pressure than others, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a team that wouldn’t rush to hire them if they were available, given their strengths,” Benjamin wrote of Class A.

Stroud’s playoff win as a rookie quarterback was impressive, but Ryans, a first-time head coach, also had the big win. He quickly proved himself to be the right fit for the job. The franchise is in good hands as the potential Super Bowl window is now open.

“Ryans had already been considered a future head coach when he was roaming the NFL field as a linebacker, and he delivered on that promise in his first year in charge of Houston, handing the offense over to Bobby Slowik and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who won the MVP award, while maximizing the young players on his favorite side of the ball. Meeting even higher expectations, perhaps with more aggressive play-calling, is the next challenge,” Benjamin wrote.

There is no doubt that Ryans was the right choice for Houston’s head coach, and he now heads into 2024 with an even more talented team to match the heightened expectations. The Texans are going to be a team that every NFL fan will have to keep an eye on, and Ryans’ ability to build a strong culture is at the heart of it all.

READ MORE: Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud fails to secure 2024 ESPY nomination

Stay tuned to TexansGameday for more FREE Houston Texans Coverage throughout the off-season.

Be sure to subscribe to our daily podcast Texans Locked Down Today!

• NRG Stadium Suffers Damage From Hurricane Beryl

• Houston Texans’ Tank Dell Says CJ Stroud May Be NFL’s Best QB

• Who is the most “underrated” player on the Houston Texans roster?