Ex-player Ryans returns to Texans as head coach
The Texans have hired San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans as their new head coach, the team announced Tuesday.
The deal is for six years, sources told ESPN’S Adam Schefter.
Ryans will be officially introduced as the franchise’s sixth full-time coach on Thursday. The Texans, meanwhile, become the first team in NFL history to have hired three consecutive Black coaches.
Ryans had his first interview with the Texans on Jan. 20 and met again with the franchise on Tuesday. Other NFL teams that had requested permission to talk with Ryans about headcoaching vacancies were the Broncos, Panthers and Colts.
“For so many reasons, Demeco is everything we are looking for in a leader and coach for our organization,” Texans owner Cal Mcnair said in a statement. “He has a proven track record for developing high-quality players and constantly innovated his defensive scheme over the last six seasons in San Francisco. teams in his career, bursting onto the national scene in 2015 and 2016 when he was the leadoff man for the Chicago Cubs. Chicago lost in the NLCS in ‘15 but won the World Series the next year, as Fowler was the catalyst for their first title in 108 years.
Fowler had a career-high .393 onbase percentage in 2016, which helped him to a 5-year, $82.5 million free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2017 season.
“Forever grateful,” Fowler wrote. “Soaking wet and freezing on the field with tears in my eyes after winning the World Series in Chicago. The comfort of calling St. Louis home and being a Red Bird. Today is one of those moments where you where you metaphorically step down from your throne with a standing ovation, tip of the cap and the world stops spinning.”
Fowler had a career .358 OBP and .775 OPS, flashing power from the leadoff role. He hit 13 or more home runs in four of five years during the middle of last decade. He hit 19 for the Cardinals as recently as 2019. Injuries plagued him late in his career, as he last played in the majors in 2021.