YOU'RE HIRED!
Report: DeMeco Ryans has made a decision on Houston Texans defensive coordinator position
Feb 10, 2023, 11:34 am
It's a done deal. Photo by Getty Images.
Now that the Houston Texans have their head coach DeMeco Ryans secured, it's time for his staff to start taking shape. According to multiple reports, the team is hiring Matt Burke as defensive coordinator.
Once dubbed the most interesting man in the NFL, Burke spends his offseason climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, hanging out in Rwanda with gorillas or skydiving. Now, he’ll call Houston his home. https://t.co/QH3fyFVhgi
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 10, 2023
In 2022, Burke was the defensive line coach for JJ Watt and the Arizona Cardinals. In 2021, he was the game management coach for the Jets under head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh was the 49ers DC before DeMeco Ryans was promoted to the position in 2021.
Burke has previous experience as a defensive coordinator, as he was the Dolphins DC in 2017 and 2018. His team finished 16th and 29th in total defense those years respectively.
The Texans are also hiring Nick Kray as chief of staff, according to Aaron Wilson. Kray held the same position with San Francisco and was an administrative assistant to Kyle Shanahan.
#Texans new chief of staff is Nick Kray, per league sources. Previously 49ers' chief of staff for Kyle Shanahan and administrative assistant to the head coach, with prior stints at North Carolina State, Yale. Played defensive end at Eastern Illinois
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 10, 2023
Now the big question needs to be answered. Who's going to run this offense?
Houston has interviewed 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik, Bengals WRs coach Troy Walters, and Vikings assistant QBs coach Jerrod Johnson.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Dillon Brooks scored 19 points, Jalen Green added 18 and the short-handed Houston Rockets snapped a six-game skid with a 94-87 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
The Raptors led by four early in the fourth quarter before Houston used a 14-2 run to make it 77-69 with about 7 minutes to go.
Houston was up by four a couple of minutes later when Green made two 3-pointers to power a 9-3 spurt that extended the lead to 86-76.
The Rockets were without Fred VanVleet for a fifth straight game because of an ankle injury and Steven Adams was out because they played Saturday. All-Star Alperen Sengun left in the first quarter with back spasms.
Jeff Green and Jock Landale filled in for Sengun and Green had a season-high 14 points while Landale added 11 with a season-best 10 rebounds.
Immanuel Quickley had 20 points for the Raptors, who lost a fourth straight.
Takeaways
Raptors: Toronto missed Gradey Dick in the second half after he left the game with a neck bruise following a collision with Amen Thompson near the end of the second quarter. Dick, who averages 15.6 points, didn’t score before exiting the game.
Rockets: Although the Rockets escaped this one with a win, they desperately need VanVleet back to steady their offense and get them back on track.
Key moment
The Rockets trailed by four early in the fourth quarter when Jamison Battle was called for a foul on Jeff Green. The play was reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant 1 foul after officials ruled Battle hit Green in the groin area. Green made both free throws to start the big run that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
The Raptors made just 8 of 42 3-pointers.
Up next
The Raptors visit the 76ers on Tuesday night and Houston hosts the Suns on Wednesday.