The Houston Texans are expected to meet with DeMeco Ryans as soon as Monday for a second interview with plans on finalizing a deal with San Francisco’s defensive coordinator as their next head coach, KPRC2 and NFL Network reported.
Reports over the last few days indicated Ryans emerged as the frontrunner for the Texans’ job. The 49ers lost the NFC Championship Game on Sunday to free up Ryans for the rest of the process with Texans executives.
Ryans could be introduced this week.
Ryans interviewed with the Texans on Jan. 20. NFL rules prohibited a second interview until after Sunday’s contest. He has also been linked to the head coaching vacancies with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.
Ryans’ counterpart on Sunday, Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, is also considered a top contender to replace Lovie Smith in Houston. Smith was fired after just one season and a 3-13-1 record at the helm. David Culley was fired after one season and a 4-13 record in 2021.
Gannon and the Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl, meaning he cannot be hired officially until Feb. 13, one day after the Eagles and Chiefs play in Arizona.
Ryans, 38, has spent the past two seasons as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator. A former NFL linebacker who played for the Texans from 2006-2011, he joined the 49ers in 2017 as a defensive quality control assistant, then was the inside linebackers coach for three seasons.
The 49ers were No. 1 in the NFL in points allowed (16.3) and yards allowed (300.6 per game) in 2022.
–Field Level Media