The Houston Texans have had a great season thanks to rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, and they currently have a 7-5 record, which puts them in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Not bad for a team that finished 3-13-1 last season and was only expected to do slightly better this year.
They have what appears to be a very winnable game against the New York Jets this Sunday, which will mean a reunion between Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
According to Ari Meirov, Ryans credited Saleh for his success.
Ryans was a standout linebacker in the NFL back in the day, and he spent much of his career with the Texans when they were a fledgling expansion franchise.
Following the conclusion of his playing career, he joined the San Francisco 49ers as a defensive quality control coach under head coach Kyle Shanahan in 2017.
Saleh was the Niners’ defensive coordinator at the time, and he, along with Ryans and Shanahan, helped the team establish itself as a hard-hitting defensive-minded squad.
Saleh and Ryans led the Niners to the Super Bowl in 2019, and when Saleh left after the 2020 season, Ryans took over as defensive coordinator.
San Francisco’s defense only improved under Ryans, and even without him this year, it has maintained most, if not all, of its prowess and bite.
While Ryan’s Texans aren’t a defensive juggernaut this season, they have improved significantly from last year, and as a result, the outlook in Houston is suddenly very bright.
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