Report: DeMeco Ryans emerging as frontrunner for open Denver Broncos head coaching job

DeMeco Ryans is emerging as one to the final candidates for the open Denver Broncos job.

The former Alabama star turned NFL All-Pro and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator has been highly-sought after by many franchises, but Mike Klis of 9News is reporting the Broncos are hot on bringing Ryans to Denver.

“San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has emerged as a top candidate to become the Denver Broncos’ next head coach,” wrote Klis.

“Other Broncos’ head coach candidates remain in the mix including Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, former New Orleans Saints’ head coach Sean Payton and former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts’ head coach Jim Caldwell, according to a source. But Ryans appears to be a top choice.”

Of course, Ryans is preparing for the NFC Championship Game at the moment, but it seems as if he’s made a strong impression on the Broncos. Whether he’s the guy in Denver or not remains to be seen — there’s strong competition — but it looks like a gig is in his near future regardless.

JJ Watt tweets message of support for DeMeco Ryans as head coach candidate

Meanwhile, recently retired NFL great J.J. Watt is supporting the aforementioned DeMeco Ryans as a head coach candidate.

The two men played together with the Houston Texans where Ryans was a linebacker and Watt was a rookie defensive end out of Wisconsin. Ryans, a former Alabama star, transitioned to coaching in 2017 with the 49ers as a defensive quality control coach.

Ryans is obviously receiving great head coaching interest, and Watt wrote why Ryans is a great candidate.

“As (a) 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,” Watt wrote on Twitter in response to the news of Ryans’ interview with the Texans. “Captain, leader, smart, tough, personable, crushed it as DC… He will be a great head coach.”

Ryans became the inside linebackers coach for the 49ers in 2018 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2021.

Ryans was the No. 33 overall pick (second round) in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Alabama by the Texans. He played with Houston through the 2011 season before he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012.

Ryans finished his career with the Eagles and was released in February 2016. The former First-Team All-Pro linebacker subsequently retired and joined the coaching ranks.

Ryans finished his NFL career with 970 total tackles, 735 solo tackles, 13.5 sacks, 41 pass deflection, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown.

Ryan was the defensive rookie of the year in 2006, picking up right where he left off from Alabama.

Ryans won the Lott Trophy in 2005 and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year that same season.

He was an unanimous All-American and First-Team All-SEC during his final year with the Crimson Tide.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.