During Wednesday’s Houston Texans press conference, DeMeco Ryans announced that he will take over defensive play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Matt Burke:
Ryans added that this is not a slight on Burke, rather that Ryans is trying to “…streamline communication as much as possible.” Ryans did not reveal any other changes the Texans will make before Sunday’s game at Tennessee.
It comes as a remarkable turn of events for Matt Burke, who has been calling Houston’s defense since the fourth week of the 2025 season and has been their defensive coordinator since 2023, when DeMeco Ryans was hired as head coach. Burke really rose to prominence as a potential head coaching candidate after the 2025 season, when the Texans ranked second in points allowed and first in yards allowed, according to Pro-Football Reference. This season, the Texans currently rank 26th in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed, a far cry from their peak and both surprising considering the lack of turnover they have on that side of the ball.
It’s no secret that the Texans’ defense – particularly their pass defense – has a lot left to do in 2026, and now, it appears Ryans is taking executive action to try to stabilize this shaky rock. Before relinquishing play-calling duties last year, Ryans was a standout defensive playcaller for the 2023-2024 Houston Texans, as well as for the San Francisco 49ers when he was their defensive coordinator from 2021-2022. The 49ers’ defense ranked first in both points and yards allowed in 2022, and Ryan’s 2023 and 2024 Texans’ defenses ranked in the top 14 in both categories both years.
Hopefully, this will be the shock the Texans need to finally get their first win of the season, but what do you think? Is this a smart move by Ryans to get back the playing duties before things get ugly, or is this a sign to us outsiders that the pressure is starting to get to him? Are the walls starting to close in on Houston’s coaching staff, or will this adversity make them better? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!