Houston Homecoming Hire: How Texans New Coach DeMeco Ryans Changes Franchise

DeMeco Ryans won't just be the Houston Texans coach in charge of football. He also needs to change the climate. On the field. In the building. In the community.

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans have closed the deal on a hire that doesn't just figure to change the football team.

As he leaves his job as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator to take over in the city in which he played, former Texans standout DeMeco Ryans isn't simply going to be charged with fixing all the things that are broken about a team that needs to quit winning just four games a year.

He needs to change the climate. On the field. In the building. In the community.

Ryans has finished up his work with the 49ers as of the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon. We knew going into that game that "if all goes well, Ryans could be (Houston's) next head coach.''

And now here we are. Things "went well'' to get the two sides to this point.

What's next? 

It's never a good idea for an NFL team to simply make a "popular hire.'' Newspapers and radio shows and even a fan base all have a voice ... but not necessarily the expertise to go with it. (Sidebar: Recent Texans hires of power-brokers suggest that sometimes, not even NFL teams are good at it.)

And yet ... As Houston launches into a new era with the hire of a sixth head coach in franchise history, an energizing of the fan base represents a valuable bonus. You, Dear Reader, have a passion for the Texans (or else you wouldn't be reading this). But not enough of your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends and your family match your commitment.

The Houston Texans have failed to earn that commitment from them.

But Ryans? Starting with an endorsement from old teammate J.J. Watt - and who in this building or this community is going to ignore Watt's wisdom? - it was clear that Ryans could bring the promise of going something more than just X's and O's, though at just 38 he has certainly done that with the Niners, elevating them into one of the best defensive teams in the league. 

Would it be nice for Houston to someday soon accomplish some Niners-loke things? Like recording the second-most takeaways in the NFL (30)? Like giving up an average of 16.3 points? Like winning 13 games?

That's Job 1.

Would it be nice for Houston and Texas and the world to take notice of this football team again, with the fan passion boomeranging back and forth between the audience and the players and coaches in a way that lifts football in this part of the state back to where it needs to be?

That's Job 2.

And it's a perfectly fine secondary reason for DeMeco Ryans to have this job.

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