49ers may lose DeMeco Ryans after NFCG loss as Texans close in

Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers are officially out of the postseason picture, meaning that they will likely see their coaching staff plucked try of talent. Teams across the league are tripping over themselves trying to hire away defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.

After turning Fred Warner into an All-Pro once again and putting Nick Bosa on a path to Defensive Player of the Year, Ryans has been one of the most coveted assistants in this hiring cycle. The Denver Broncos want him, but so do Nick Caserio and the Houston Texans.

Ryans, who became a Pro Bowl linebacker during his six-season tenure at the heart of the Houston defense in happier times, clearly has an interest in restoring his old team to their former glory. The latest buzz suggests he is just a few days away from officially getting the nod.

According to Ian Rapoport, Ryans is expected to visit the Texans for a second interview this week. He is expected to be named the next head coach of the team if everything goes well. This will be a huge loss for the loaded 49ers defense, who has now seen two coordinators leave in Ryans and Jets coach Robert Saleh.

49ers DC DeMeco Ryans may join the Texans.

While Ryans’ defense was sliced up by Philly’s ground game and committed multiple out-of-character penalties, he was still in charge of the league’s top unit in terms of points per game. Jalen Pitre and Derek Stingley Jr. could become stars under his watchful eye.

Houston may not seem like an attractive job given the poor roster and lackluster ownership, but there are some benefits. The Texans have four first-round picks in the next two seasons, and Ryans will likely get to pick whichever young quarterback he wants in the draft.

The AFC South remains the weakest division in football. The Jaguars need to prove they aren’t a one-year wonder, the Titans might be moving towards a slight rebuild with new management upstairs, and the Colts are a tire fire. Ryans’ connection to the team might bring an end to his San Francisco tenure.

While going to championship games with tons of quarterback injuries is impressive enough, Shanahan should be commended for winning games after losing large chunks of his coaching staff every year. Ryans has proven to be a phenomenal hire at DC, but the time for him to lead a team is upon us.

3 internal candidates who can replace 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans

The San Francisco 49ers are all but resigned to needing to find a new defensive coordinator for 2023, with DeMeco Ryans in high demand.