Ryans takes over Texans defensive play-calling

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday he will take over defensive play-calling from coordinator Matt Burke, putting responsibility for the winless team’s defense back in his hands after Houston opened the 2026 season 0-4. Ryans said the change is intended to improve communication and prompt a response from a defense that has struggled to close out games. He described it as a shift in responsibility, not a criticism of Burke, whom he said had done an outstanding job. Ryans said that if communication is not working, he considers it his responsibility to fix it. The Texans have allowed 27.3 points per game through four games, compared with 17.3 per game in 2025, according to reports. Houston also ranks 20th in yards allowed per game and 26th in points allowed, one account reported. The team’s defensive performance has been especially costly late: reports said Houston held fourth-quarter leads in three of its four losses before conceding a score. The latest setback came Sunday, when the Texans lost 34-30 to the Dallas Cowboys. Houston led 30-27 late, but Dallas scored a game-winning touchdown with 40 seconds remaining, according to one report.