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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans reacts during the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the New England Patriots.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is outspoken, and that tendency has garnered significant attention from the NFL.
Ryans just completed his third season at the helm of the Texans. He has led the team to the postseason in all three of his campaigns. Along the way, Ryans has remarked on several aspects of the league and made his feelings about them very clear.
The result is an attention-grabbing new title for the former linebacker and defensive coordinator.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans Gets New Title From NFL
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on after beating the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ryans has led the Texans to 32 wins over his three seasons. That is tied for the third-most victories in that span, per Stathead.
Now, he will have a direct hand in shaping how the league enacts new policies and changes.
“Minnesota @Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and @HoustonTexans head coach DeMeco Ryans are the newest members of the @NFL Competition Committee,” NFL Football Operations posted on X on February 19.
Per the committee’s mission statement, “The NFL’s process for modifying or adopting rules and regulations is systematic and consensus-oriented. The Competition Committee reviews all competitive aspects of the game, including (but not limited to) playing rules, roster regulations, technology, game-day operations and player protection.”
Current Dallas Cowboys COO and co-owner Stephen Jones and former Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay co-chair the committee.
Six coaches sit on the committee, including O’Connell and Ryans.
Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams, Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos, and Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the other coaches on the committee.
Cincinnati Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn, New York Giants President and CEO John Mara, and San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch round out the group.
DeMeco Ryans Accepts Honors in Houston
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ryans’ big day included a local honor as well. The Texans’ head coach received a Community Champions award at City Hall in Houston on Thursday.
He spoke about his personal ties, including living in the city and his wife being a native. Ryans was drafted by and played for the Texans. He entered the league as a second-round pick in 2006 and spent six seasons with the organization in that capacity.
The Alabama-born coach said, “I know I’m a Houstonian.”
“This is such a huge honor for not only myself, but me and my wife, and just the work that we aspire to do in the community,” Ryans told the crowd in attendance on February 19. “It was really important to me when we got the opportunity to lead this organization, the Houston Texans, it was important for me not only to make it about football, but it was always about the impact that myself, my wife could have in the community.
“It’s about inspiring those who come behind us. Because we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.”
Ryans vowed to continue his efforts in the community. The Texans coach added that they will do their part to help uplift other members of the community. It was a display of the leadership that helped earn him the nickname “Mufasa,” after the popular “The Lion King” character.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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