DeMeco Ryans started his NFL career with the Houston Texans. Now he’ll make his debut as an NFL head coach with the franchise. If his first coaching season in Houston goes as well as his first playing season with the Texans, then the team is headed for a turnaround.

Ryans will leave his post as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator to become the Houston head coach, the NFL team announced on Tuesday.

A second-round draft choice from Alabama, Ryans was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as the Texans’ middle linebacker in 2006.

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“We are thrilled to welcome DeMeco Ryans as the new head coach of the Houston Texans,” said team owner Cal McNair in a statement released by the team. “For so many reasons, DeMeco is everything we are looking for in a leader and coach for our organization. He has a proven track record for developing high-quality players and constantly innovated his defensive scheme over the last six seasons in San Francisco.

“We started this process with the goal of finding someone our fans and city can be proud of and we’ve done just that. While we received a lot of incredible feedback and support for DeMeco from different people, it was our discussions with him and his vision for our football team that made him the right coach to lead us as we continue to evolve as an organization. Congratulations to DeMeco and his family and welcome back to H-Town.”

Ryans’ second season as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator ended on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. In the 2022 regular season, San Francisco gave up 16.3 points and 300.6 yards per game, with both figures the best in the NFL. In Ryans’ first season in the position, the 49ers finished ninth in points allowed and third in yards allowed in 2021.

Ryans has won the Pro Football Writers of America’s NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Award for the 2022 season, and he’s a finalist for The Associated Press’ version of that honor.

“I’d like to first thank the San Francisco 49ers, (coach) Kyle Shanahan and (general manager) John Lynch for six incredible seasons where I grew as a coach and a man,” Ryans said in a statement released by the Texans. “I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished together, and I will always cherish the relationships I built there. Being the head coach of the Houston Texans is my dream job, and my family is thrilled to be back in H-Town.

“I have been around the game of football my entire life, and I’ve always had a natural ability to lead others. I know what it takes to win and be successful in this league as both a player and coach. We’re going to build a program filled with players who have a special work ethic and relentless mindset. I understand the responsibility I have to this organization and to the fans of Houston to build a winner, and I can’t wait to get to work.”

Ryan was a two-time Pro Bowler in his 10 NFL seasons – the first six with Houston and the final four with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ryans began his coaching career as a defensive quality-control assistant with San Francisco in 2017, then coached the 49ers’ inside linebackers for three seasons. Ryans became defensive coordinator when Robert Saleh left the position to become the head coach of the New York Jets.

The Texans have fallen on hard times since firing Bill O’Brien four games into the 2020 season. Houston went 4-12 in 2020, 4-13 in 2021 and 3-13-1 in 2022. Romeo Crennel finished the 2020 season as head coach, David Culley was the head coach in 2021, and Lovie Smith held the reins in 2022.

“DeMeco is a proven coach with a track record of success who has an innate ability to lead people,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said in a statement released by the team. “He is progressive in his vision, a great communicator, a connector and somebody that values collaboration. We are working to build a sustainable program that has long-term success, and DeMeco is the coach we feel is the best fit to help us achieve our goals. We know how important it is to get results now, and we have a lot of work to do, but I’m excited to partner with DeMeco to build our football team together.”

After making All-State as a linebacker at Jess Lanier High School in Bessemer in 2001, Ryans earned unanimous All-American recognition, won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award and received the Lott IMPACT Trophy for the 2005 season as a senior at Alabama. (IMPACT stands for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.) He capped his college career as the Defensive MVP of the 2006 Cotton Bowl in Alabama’s 13-10 victory over Texas Tech.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.