DeMeco Ryans announces major change amid hot-seat rumors

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans announces major defensive change as hot-seat rumors swirl

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 7, 2026 5:24 PM ET

Houston Texans fourth-year head coach DeMeco Ryans is taking matters into his own hands as whispers about his job security grow louder.

On Wednesday, Ryans announced he will call defensive plays in a Week 5 road game against the Tennessee Titans (CBS, 1 p.m. ET). The coach last called defensive plays in 2023 and 2024 before relinquishing those duties to fourth-year defensive coordinator Matt Burke.

DeMeco Ryans explains defensive change

"It all starts with me. If there's a lack of communication, I look at myself first," Ryans told the media. "It starts with me and making sure I'm a better communicator. So just to help spark things more, I'm going to take over play-calling for the defense, and I'm going to make sure communication is right. If our guys are saying communication is not right, then ultimately it falls on me. So, it's on me to get it fixed. No slight against coach Burke; he's done an outstanding job. I just want to make sure I can streamline communication in the best way possible."

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter mentioned some of these communication problems after the Texans lost to the Dallas Cowboys 34-30 in Week 4. Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb cooked the Houston secondary, logging 17 receptions for 189 yards and one touchdown.

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans announced that he is taking over defensive play-calling duties from DC Matt Burke following the team’s 0-4 start. pic.twitter.com/gPqTNMefyW
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 7, 2026

"It's like, 'Where's Waldo?'" Lassiter said of covering Lamb, via USA Today's Jarrett Bell. "You've got to find him. Then you've got to find out, 'OK, what's the plan for this play?' Every play has a call, so obviously you have to execute the call."

The 0-4 Texans haven't been executing those calls under Burke, making their once-elite defense a big problem. Entering Week 5, Houston is tied for 26th in the league in points allowed (27.3 PPG) and 20th in yards allowed (343.8 YPG). Last season, the unit allowed the second-fewest points (17.3 PPG) and fewest yards (271.9 YPG) in the NFL.

Ryans placing the defensive onus on himself is a high-risk, high-reward move. If it works, he may save the season. If it doesn't, it may cost him his job.

The Texans entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations after going 12-5 in 2025 and making the playoffs. League insiders suggested Ryans' seat will grow warmer if the team continues to fall short of lofty expectations.

No wonder Ryans is making a significant change before one of Houston's easier matchups. The 0-4 Titans rank second to last in the NFL in scoring (13.8 PPG) and last in yardage (261.3 YPG).

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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