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

J.J. Watt supported San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator 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 received head coach interest ahead of the 49ers Divisional Round playoff game 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.

The Texans were one of four interviews scheduled for Ryans ahead of San Francisco’s playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. Ryans interviewed with the Denver Broncos and has upcoming discussions with the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts.

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.

Ryans played in just three playoff games (two with the Texans in 2011 and one with the Eagles in 2013). But he grabbed a postseason interception with the Eagles in their 2013 Wild Card loss to the New Orleans Saints.

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.

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