Texans Hired a Great Coach, Even Better Person in DeMeco Ryans: All Things CW

Because he didn't play for Nick Saban, a lot of Alabama fans don't know, or remember, the huge impact the linebacker made in Tuscaloosa.

The All Things CW notes column by Christopher Walsh appears in five parts each week, with the latest on the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is ...

Take 4

The last time I saw DeMeco Ryans on the University of Alabama campus was April 14, 2011.

I didn't know he was suddenly going to walk into the media room that day, but something was obviously up when two of my favorite Alabama Crimson Tide assistant coaches, Joe Kines and Joe Pendry, showed up as well. Neither was on the staff at the time, which tells you what kind of respect Ryans had even then. 

Ryans subsequently announced a scholarship gift of $300,000 to endow a full scholarship in his name for a deserving football student-athlete studying in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

“This means a lot to me, to be part of the legacy here at Alabama is huge,” he said. “Having a scholarship here that I knew a young kid will benefit from, that’s so special to me. I’m just so happy to be in this position to do this.

“Maybe this will inspire some other guys to do the same thing.”

That's the kind of person Ryans was, and is, and why so many people are thrilled that he's having so much success in the National Football League. After devising the league's No. 1 defense this past year with the San Francisco 49ers, he was hired by the team that drafted him back in 2006, the Houston Texans, to be the head coach. 

Ryans is only 38. 

.@markingramII is hypeddd for DeMeco Ryans getting hired as the @HoustonTexans new head coach and shares why he is the right guy for the job.

📺: @FanDuelTV | @heykayadams | @DRyans59 | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/oHhOLPeGyT

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 1, 2023

Despite his young age, a lot of Crimson Tide fans don't appreciate just how good of a player, or person, he was at Alabama. 

During his senior season, the linebacker led the Crimson Tide with 76 tackles including 9.5 for a loss, en route to being named first-team All-American, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and Lott Trophy winner as college football’s best impact defensive player. Impact is actually an acronym for: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity. 

Outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. became just the second Alabama player to win the honor this past season. However, when Ryans won the award it was the first major national honor for a Crimson Tide defensive player since Antonio Langham won the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back in 1993, and one of just three for a front-seven player, joining 1988 Butkus Award winner for best linebacker, Derrick Thomas, and 1986 Lombardi Award winner for best lineman, Cornelius Bennett.

Off the field, Ryans was a cum laude graduate who received his business marketing degree in December 2005, and received one of eight NCAAVIII Awards recognizing outstanding achievement in athletics, scholarship and community service.

Consequently, it was stunning when Ryans fell out of the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and was promptly snatched up by the Texans with the first selection of the second round.

2006 Alabama Draft

Round, Pick, Overall, Name, Team, Position

2 1 33 DeMeco Ryans, Texans, LB
2 11 43 Roman Harper, Saints, DB
3 21 85 Brodie Croyle, Chiefs, QB
5 26 158 Charlie Peprah, Giants, DB
5 27 159 Mark Anderson, Bears, DE

Ryans responded by leading the league with 126 solo tackles, and all rookies with 156 tackles, the most tackles by a rookie in 20 years.

He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, edging former Tide teammate Mark Anderson with the Chicago Bears, and also named the Alabama Sports Writers Association Professional Athlete of the Year.

In 2008, he set up the DeMeco Ryans Foundation, and two years later signed a six-year, $48 million contract. He was working out and rehabbing a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon (suffered while in pass coverage during a game) in Tuscaloosa during the NFL lockout when he set up the scholarship. 

 “It was perfect timing for it,” Ryans said.

“This is something that we’ve talked to a lot of former players about and have had a lot respond throughout the years, with different gift levels that have supported this department,” athletics director Mal Moore said that day. “Certainly DeMeco was eager to help us and we’re so very appreciative.

“It just makes you so proud.”

A couple of weeks later, when the tornado hit Tuscaloosa, Ryans was back. Not only did he volunteer while still recovering from surgery, but softball coach Patrick Murphy saw him make an “unreal” financial donation.

That's the kind of person who is now running the Texans. 

As for the football part of the job, here's what Ryans said about those defensive players he was working out with prior to the start of the 2011 season: “I expect the defense to be the strength, the way Alabama football is supposed to be. It’s all about defense and I expect this defense to carry them to a national title.” 

Actually, it was two national titles.

Here's hoping he has that kind of success himself as a head coach.  

LET’S GOOOOOOO!!!!!!

You want to reenergize and reignite the incredible Houston fan base, this is a hell of a start!!

Cannot wait to see what Meco does.

One of the best teammates & leaders I’ve ever been around. #HTown

🤘🏼 https://t.co/DNAxePxoqz

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 31, 2023

See Also:

Take 1: It's Time to Talk About the Elephant in the Room With Alabama Basketball

Take 2: The Elephant in the Room? The Elephant Destroyed the Room

Take 3: Debate on Which School Can Claim Jalen Hurts Focused on Wrong Things