Broncos worst case scenario could play out, DeMeco Ryans may say no

49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is the top head coaching candidate for the Denver Broncos and now the Houston Texans too

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Jan 27, 2023, 12:03 PM Updated: 12:07 pm

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On Thursday, DeMeco Ryans emerged as the top candidate to become the 20th head coach of the Denver Broncos. On Friday Ryans also emerged as the top candidate to become the head coach in Houston.

Ian Rapoport wrote on Twitter that Ryans will meet with the Texans at some point next week, following the NFC Title Game. Ryans is the defensive coordinator for the 49ers, who are up against the Eagles for a chance to go to the Super Bowl.

#49ers DC DeMeco Ryans has emerged as a top candidate for the #Texans, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. He’s expected to meet with Houston at some point next week after the game. There is mutual interest and if all goes well, he could be their next head coach. pic.twitter.com/Wj2htQYEd1

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 27, 2023

Per NFL rules, Denver also can’t speak to Ryans again until next week.

Ryans played in Houston for six seasons after being drafted by the Texans in the second round out of Alabama in 2006. Ryans is still the Texans leader in all-time tackles at 479, just ahead of former teammate and now Broncos safety Kareem Jackson, who had 468. That defensive prowess has carried into coaching where his San Francisco unit had the best DOVA in 2022.

Ryans joined the San Francisco staff a few years after he ended his Pro Bowl career. He coached inside linebackers, pushing the team to a Super Bowl appearance before getting his promotion to defensive coordinator, a role he’s been in the past two seasons.

The assistant coach interviewed with Minnesota for their head coaching vacancy a year ago and postponed interviews with the Colts and Cardinals in this cycle.

The Texans were one of the worst teams in the NFL this past season and have historically been a loser. They have the second overall pick, and a team ready to be re-built. Is that more attractive than trying to fix Russell Wilson and keeping Denver’s defense sharp?

It’s seemingly Ryans pick, his old team or the Broncos. Will Denver get spurned again? Are the Broncos league-richest ownership group about to go win a bidding war for their guy?

If Ryans does pick the Texans, it’s anyone’s guess about what’s next for the Broncos.

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