Bama Central

DeMeco Ryans a “Top Candidate” for Another NFL Head Coaching Job

Former Alabama linebacker might have the rare opportunity to choose between two teams for his first NFL head coaching job.

Christopher Walsh

DeMeco Ryans a “Top Candidate” for Another NFL Head Coaching Job
DeMeco Ryans a “Top Candidate” for Another NFL Head Coaching Job /
In this story:

Former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker DeMeco Ryans will try to help lead the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl on Sunday and then may have the biggest decision of his life.

Ryans, who was named the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) Assistant Coach of the Year on Thursday, has emerged as a "top candidate" for a second head coaching job with an NFL team. In addition to the Denver Broncos, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Friday that he has the same status with the Houston Texans. 

Ryans will meet again with Houston after San Francisco plays at Philadelphia, and, according to Rapoport, there is mutual interest between them for the position.

According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Ryans is coveted by both Houston and Denver, and may be able to pick between them.

He's also scheduled for a second interview with the Broncos next week.

Ryans, 38, played the bulk of his career in Houston as a standout  linebacker from 2006-11, before spending four seasons with the Eagles. 

He's been with the 49ers since 2017, the last two as defensive coordinator. 

The 49ers finished the regular season as the league's top-ranked defense and were also No. 1 in yards per game allowed (300.6 yards per game allowed), interceptions (20) and points per game allowed (16.3 points per game). 

The points allowed per game and 77.7 rushing yards allowed per game (second in the NFL), were the lowest for the 49ers since 2011.

The first domino to fall in the coaching cycle occurred Thursday when the Carolina Panthers hired Frank Reich.  

Houston will be hiring its fifth head coach in the last four seasons. The Texans’ last two head coaches, David Culley and Lovie Smith, were fired after their first seasons leading the team.

The Texans also have the second-overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

See Also:

DeMeco Ryans has a Defense Built Like Him

5 Things to Know About Championship Weekend: Bama in the NFL

Tracking the Conference Championships: Bama in the NFL

Published
Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.