Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans ‘thankful’ for Jets head coach Robert Saleh

DeMeco Ryans will face his old boss and mentor this week when he and the Houston Texans face the New York Jets and head coach Robert Saleh in Week 14.

Saleh, who coached linebackers for the Texans from 2006-2010, gave Ryans his first coaching job after Ryans’ playing career ended. The San Francisco 49ers hired Ryans as a defensive quality control coach in 2017 when Saleh was brought in as defensive coordinator. Ryans was later promoted to inside linebackers coach in 2018 and took over as defensive coordinator in 2021 after Saleh became the head coach of the Jets.

Now, the two will play each other as opposing head coaches for the first time in their respective careers. Despite the competition, Ryans couldn’t help but thank Saleh for helping him move up the coaching ranks. He said he spoke to Saleh and former Texans and 49ers assistant coach Johnny Holland about Ryan’s post-playing career and the two encouraged him to join them in San Francisco.

“They gave me great advice and I learned a lot under both of those guys,” Ryans said Monday. “I’m thankful for them for kind of speaking on my behalf to [49ers head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] – them twisting Kyle’s arm a little bit to get me an opportunity. Very thankful for Kyle and Saleh for giving me that opportunity.”

Ryans has the Texans on the brink of the postseason after a huge Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos. The Jets, meanwhile, are all but out of the playoff hunt after New York dropped its past five games.