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Matt Burke on losing play-calling: Sometimes you have to try to spark a change

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has reassumed defensive play-calling duties after just one season, pulling the role away from coordinator Matt Burke. The move marks a return to Ryans’ original structure from his first two seasons, though it also reflects a shift in the team’s fortunes: the Texans have plummeted from last year’s top-ranked defense (No.

1 in yards allowed, No. 2 in points allowed) to a struggling unit currently ranked 20th in yards and 27th in points.

Burke acknowledged the disappointment in a press conference, noting the team’s 0-4 start and the need for change. While he remains involved in game planning, the adjustment comes as Houston seeks to reverse its early-season struggles and find a path to improvement.

Burke framed the change as a necessary step, emphasizing that stagnation can’t continue when results aren’t meeting expectations. Though the impact of the play-caller switch remains uncertain, both men have agreed to maintain their collaborative approach.

The Texans will look to Sunday’s game as a potential turning point, hoping the shift in responsibility sparks the turnaround they desperately need after a dismal start.

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