Texans’ DeMeco Ryans reacts to Mike Tomlin stepping down

After 19 seasons as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin is stepping down.

Tomlin’s final game in the black and yellow was on Monday night, and the Houston Texans defeated the Steelers, 30-6, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.

After the news came that Tomlin was stepping down, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans weighed in on the Steelers coach leaving on “his own terms,” via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.

“Part of me is happy he was able to step away on his own terms,” Ryans said. “One of the toughest jobs. Everyone tries to tell you how to do the job. A lot that goes into it. The Steelers were the beneficiary of having that success for 19 years. Not another coach I respect more than Mike Tomlin. Glad he was able to go on his terms.”

Ryans also added that he was “shocked” by the news, which came the day after the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Texans.

Tomlin was hired by the Steelers as the head coach in 2007, and he finishes his run with an impressive 193-114-2 regular-season record, an 8-12 postseason mark, two AFC titles and one Super Bowl victory.

With veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers also likely done with the Steelers and possibly the NFL, Pittsburgh is set to undergo some massive changes this offseason.

As for Ryans and the Texans, they take on the New England Patriots on Sunday in the Divisional Round, with the winner moving on to the AFC Championship Game.