Texans' DeMeco Ryans 'Proud' of Dolphins' Mike McDaniel

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel have been NFL colleagues since 2006.
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Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has a long, but enriching history with Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

From 2006-2008, McDaniel was an offensive assistant for the Texans, while Ryans was their starting middle linebacker. McDaniel and Ryans came to Houston at the same time, as the latter was a rookie.

The duo reunited in 2017 with the San Francisco 49ers as Ryans was in charge of defensive quality control, while McDaniel was the run game coordinator. Each of them advanced far up the totem pole and, in 2021, Ryans earned the defensive coordinator position while McDaniel took on offensive coordinator duties.

Now that they've reached the top of the pole as coaches, Ryans reflected on the time he spent with McDaniel and how he's led the Dolphins.

"I'm proud of Mike and the position he's able to be in now," Ryans said during a recent press conference. "He's a tremendous, young coach, [and he] brings great energy to this team. These guys are prepared. He's always looking to push the envelope as far as how offense is [run]. He's not just going to do it how it's always been."

Ryans explained that McDaniel is "always looking to gain an edge" and his unique play-calling really keeps the Texans on their toes.

"It's always fun to go against Mike because he's going to prepare you for things you would probably never see from other teams, so it's very challenging," Ryans said. "I know the type of coach he is, and I know the challenges that he'll present to us defensively."

Ryans revealed his thoughts of McDaniel as a person.

"Mike is one of the smartest coaches I've been around." Ryans said. "He's always low-key, having fun and cracks a joke at the right time. Very witty guy. And [I'm] just proud of the coach and man that he's become. It's fun to see him in the position that he's in as the Miami Dolphins' head coach."

The Texans will face the Dolphins in Week 2 of the preseason on Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. ET.


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