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DeMeco Ryans taking over defensive play-calling duties from Matt Burke as Texans try to climb out of 0-4 hole

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced Wednesday he will assume defensive play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Matt Burke, a shift aimed at addressing the team’s 0-4 start and persistent defensive struggles. The move comes after Houston surrendered 399 total yards and five second-half touchdowns to the Dallas Cowboys in their latest loss, with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott dominating the offense without a single turnover.

The Texans’ defense has also allowed key late-game plays, including Josh Allen’s game-winning touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer in Week 1 and Daniel Jones’ scoring throw to Laquon Treadwell in Week 3, while their explosive-play allowance has worsened from 14th to 28th in the league this season. Ryans emphasized ownership of the issue, stating communication breakdowns would be his responsibility to resolve, though he praised Burke’s work and framed the change as a way to streamline defensive execution moving forward.

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