DeMeco Ryans is the head coach of the NFL’s Houston Texans. The 41-year-old was born on July 28, 1984, in Bessemer, Alabama. He has been married to Jamila Ryans (née White) since 2013. The couple has three children: sons M.J. and Micah, and daughter Xia. The family lives in the Houston area, where Jamila works as a nurse and helps run the DeMeco Ryans Foundation.
Ryans was a star linebacker at the University of Alabama (2002–2005). He was an unanimous All-American and graduated with a degree in management in 2006. He was drafted by the Texans 33rd overall in 2006.
Ryans won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and went on to have a 10-year NFL career with the Texans and Philadelphia Eagles. He earned two Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro honors before retiring after the 2015 season.
DeMeco Ryans’ Salary
Ryans earns about 4–4.6 million dollars per year as head coach of the Houston Texans. He signed a six-year contract with Houston on January 31, 2023, worth roughly 28 million dollars in total, putting his average annual salary in the mid-tier range among NFL head coaches.
What Is DeMeco Ryans’ Net Worth in 2026?
Most estimates place DeMeco Ryans’ net worth in the 30–35 million dollar range. The bulk of that comes from his NFL playing contracts (including a lucrative six-year extension as a player in Houston) plus his fully guaranteed six-year Texans head-coaching deal. Additional income comes from prior coaching salaries and appearances.
DeMeco Ryans’ Contract
Ryans’ Texans contract runs six years from 2023 through the 2028 season. Multiple reports indicate the deal is worth about 28 million dollars in total, fully guaranteed, which works out to roughly 4.5 million dollars per year. I the Texans were to fire him before the deal ends, they would still owe the remaining guaranteed money.
DeMeco Ryans’ Coaching Career
San Francisco 49ers (2017–2022)
Ryans joined the San Francisco 49ers’ staff in 2017 as a defensive quality control coach under Kyle Shanahan, just two years after retiring as a player.
In 2018, he was promoted to inside linebackers coach, a role he held through 2020. During that span, the 49ers had one of the league’s most physical defenses and reached Super Bowl LIV.
Ryans was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2021. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, San Francisco went 10–7 and 13–4 and made deep playoff runs, including consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances.
He was named AP Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2022 season after coordinating a top-ranked defense on a 13–4, conference-finalist team.
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Houston Texans (2023–Present)
Ryans was hired as the sixth head coach in Houston Texans history on January 31, 2023, returning to the franchise that drafted him. He inherited a team that had gone 11–38–1 over the previous three seasons.
Houston went 10–7 in the 2023 regular season, a six-win improvement from 2022. They captured the AFC South title, their first playoff spot since 2019. With rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans became the first team ever to win a division with both a rookie head coach and a rookie QB.
Houston finished 11–8 overall, going 1–1 in the postseason, and Ryans was named PFWA NFL Coach of the Year.
In 2024, the Texans again finished 10–7 under Ryans, winning another AFC South title and notching a second straight playoff victory. They bowed out at 1–1 in the postseason for the second year in a row. It was the first time since the early 2010s that Houston had playoff wins in back-to-back seasons.
Ryans’ third season began with a 0–3 start. However, the Texans bounced back, clinching a playoff spot late in the year. He became just the second coach this century to make the playoffs after starting 0–3.
Houston finished 12–5 in 2025 and again went 1–1 in the playoffs, giving Ryans three straight double-digit win seasons and three straight years with a playoff victory.
Through the end of the 2025 season, his Texans teams are 32–19 in the regular season with a 3–3 postseason record. He already holds the franchise record for playoff wins and best winning percentage.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many Super Bowls has DeMeco Ryans won?
None as a head coach. He has reached multiple conference championship games as a coordinator and assistant, but no Super Bowl titles yet.
What position did DeMeco Ryans play?
Linebacker, primarily an off-ball interior linebacker, for the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles.
Is DeMeco Ryans married?
Yes. He’s married to Jamila Ryans, a nurse and foundation director, and they have three children: M.J., Micah, and Xia.
What is the average salary of an NFL head coach?
Roughly 6–7 million dollars per year; Ryans is slightly below that at around 4–4.6 million annually.
Does DeMeco Ryans have a degree?
Yes. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in management while starring for the Crimson Tide.
