DeMeco Ryans was an incredible linebacker at the University of Alabama and a great player in the National Football League.
He has climbed the ranks as a defensive coach for the San Francisco 49ers. Ryans was a defensive coordinator for back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022 for the 49ers, earning respect from his peers. He paced San Francisco to have one of the league’s best defenses in the last two years. Ryans, 38, has been approached by multiple teams to be a head coach. As a native of Bessemer, Ala., he was a Unanimous All-American, Academic All-American, first-team All-SEC selection, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year for Alabama in 2005. He spent one season as a player (2011) on the Houston Texans with J.J. Watt.
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Watt, a future NFL Hall of Famer at defensive end, endorsed Ryans as a head coaching candidate on social media. He described Ryans as a captain, leader, smart, tough, personable, and he crushed it as a defensive coordinator. Watt believes Ryans will be a great head coach.
As rookie in Houston, I bought my first house across the street from DeMeco because if Meco thought it was the right place to live, it was the right place to live for me.
Captain, leader, smart, tough, personable, crushed it as DC…
He will be a great head coach. https://t.co/OjUdnUxVR6
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 21, 2023
Ryans is prepared to have the 49ers take down the Cowboys in Sunday’s NFC Divisional round of the playoffs.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
