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DJ Bien-Aime
HOUSTON — In his inaugural season as head coach of the Houston Texans, DeMeco Ryans had a surprise encounter with a fan in a grocery store.
The brief but impactful conversation revealed the fan had rediscovered his love for Texans football, invigorated by the positive energy and success Ryans brought back to the city.
For years, the fan admitted, the team’s performance had driven him away—an 11-38-1 record from 2020 to 2022 that alienated many supporters. This exchange resonated with Ryans, highlighting his mission to restore pride, belief, and significance to Texans football in Houston, a city he once proudly represented.
“I joined a [conference] call, introduced myself, and felt the enthusiasm,” Ryans reflected on Friday. “People are genuinely excited about what the team has accomplished on the field and winning football.”
“It transforms the city’s atmosphere and its people’s feelings. We can bring happiness to our community, which was one of my primary motivations for coming back.”
Ryans is positioned for another monumental achievement with the franchise. After decisively defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in the wild-card round, Houston has advanced to the divisional round for the third straight season, pursuing what has eluded them: an AFC Championship Game.
The Texans (12-5) will visit the New England Patriots on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), aiming to end a 0-6 streak in the divisional round and propel the organization into new territory under Ryans’ leadership.
yet, Ryans isn’t the only coach in this matchup who has revitalized a team he once played for.
After two back-to-back 4-13 seasons, Mike Vrabel has led the Patriots (14-3) to their first division title since 2019 and their first winning season since 2021.
Vrabel is the Patriots’ third head coach in as many years, replacing Jerod Mayo, who was dismissed after one season last January. Mayo, also a former player, took over for the legendary Bill Belichick, who led the franchise to six Super Bowl victories from 2000 to 2023.
Vrabel was asked on Friday about his journey from player to coach and whether it’s challenging to know he can’t physically assist on the field.
“You must be confident in your ability to prepare them for the game, equipping them to succeed,” Vrabel stated.
Vrabel played for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, earning All-Pro first-team honors in ’07 and helping secure three Lombardi Trophies. He was also inducted into the Patriots Ring of Honor and shares Ryans’ pride for his former team.
“I feel honored to coach in this league. There are only a limited number of opportunities. To do it here is special and significant,” Vrabel expressed.
AS A PLAYER, Ryans was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler, guiding Houston to its first AFC South title in 2011. That season culminated in the franchise’s initial playoff victory—a win over the Cincinnati Bengals—but ended in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.
Now, Ryans aims to elevate the franchise and the city beyond the proverbial hurdle.
“I observed from a distance that the organization was struggling. There was a lot of negative publicity,” Ryans recounted to ESPN. “I thought, if I could return and positively influence this team, the organization, and the city, reigniting pride in the Texans, since I experienced that as a player. I wanted to restore that sentiment.”
When asked how much his pride as a former player influences his coaching, he replied, “It means everything, man. That’s what drives my passion.”
This will mark the third divisional round matchup since 1970 between head coaches who played for their respective teams. The previous instances featured the New York Jets (Walt Michaels) versus the Oakland Raiders (Tom Flores) and the Raiders (Art Shell) against the Bengals (Sam Wyche).
When Ryans was unveiled as the Texans’ new head coach, he stepped into a building where his legacy looms large. Photos from his playing days (2005-2011) adorned the hallways of NRG Stadium, framing the auditorium where he introduced himself as the franchise’s leader.
On that occasion, he called it his dream job.
“I recognize that the people of Houston desire a successful football team,” Ryans stated. “Football is beloved throughout the city.”
even with concluding his playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles (2012-2015) and spending six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-2022)—first as a linebackers coach and then as defensive coordinator—Ryans never ceased to support the team that drafted him.
“Everyone has adopted that mentality he possesses,” right tackle Tytus Howard shared with ESPN. “His presence has elevated everyone’s game.”
This season was the first instance the Texans did not win the AFC South under Ryans. Initially, it appeared they might follow the recent trend of losses, having started 0-2, but they rebounded effectively.
A remarkable turnaround occurred this season as well, with Houston becoming just the seventh team in the Super Bowl era (1966) to secure a playoff berth after an 0-3 start. They achieved this thanks to Ryans’ hallmark: a strong defense.
“I believe everyone acknowledges we are the premier defense,” safety Calen Bullock stated following the Texans’ wild-card victory on Monday. “The entire world recognizes it. Every time we step onto the field, we demonstrate it, and we proved it today.”
THE START OF the season was similarly challenging for Vrabel and the Patriots; they too began 1-2. yet, they found their rhythm, winning ten consecutive games. This success allowed the Patriots to dethrone the reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, who had secured five straight division titles, in the AFC East.
When questioned about his return to New England and what makes it a unique place, Vrabel’s answer was straightforward: “The legacy of winning and the championships.”
But he understands that his teams must forge their own paths.
“The banners hanging in our stadium won’t help us win, but they serve as a great reminder of what it requires to win and the type of individuals needed in the organization—selflessness, diligence, and sacrifice,” Vrabel stated before the season. “To me, those are crucial reminders of what it takes.”
Now positioned as the No. 2 seed, Vrabel, whose coaching career began in Houston as a linebackers coach in 2014, and his Patriots prepare to face the fifth-seeded Texans after New England’s opening round victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, 16-3.
Prior to accepting the Patriots job, Vrabel reflected on his experiences as a player in New England, which continues to shape his coaching philosophy, as he expressed in his 2023 Patriots Hall of Fame speech.
“We held each other accountable, built trust, and understood enough to communicate what needed to be said,” Vrabel noted. “Every day, I strive to recreate that environment wherever I coach. I can’t guarantee success, but I’ll keep trying because nothing is more vital than the team.”
NFL Nation reporter Mike Reiss contributed to this report.
