Maybe Brian Daboll won’t lose his play-calling offensive coordinator after all.
The Texans are zeroing in on 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to be their next head coach, according to NFL Network.
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The deal isn’t done just yet, but NFL Network reported that Ryans “has emerged as a top candidate” for the job, and he is “expected to meet with Houston at some point next week after the game. There is mutual interest. And if all goes well, he could be their next head coach.”
Of course, “the game” in this case is Sunday’s 49ers-Eagles NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia.
This is notable for Daboll — who is entering his second year as the Giants’ offensive-minded head coach — because his play-calling offensive coordinator, Mike Kafka, got a second interview with the Texans, down in Houston this week. Kafka, who hadn’t received head coaching interest before this offseason, also interviewed once with the Panthers and once with the Colts.
The Panthers hired former Colts head coach Frank Reich. Meanwhile, the Colts’ job remains open — and they’re bringing in Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale for a second interview Saturday. Martindale has no other known head coaching interest in this hiring cycle.
Even if Kafka sticks around East Rutherford — which would be big for Daboll — the Giants could lose quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney. He will interview to be the Buccaneers’ play-calling offensive coordinator, under former Jets coach Todd Bowles.
So Davis Webb, the Giants’ third-string quarterback in 2022, might wind up being Daniel Jones’ position coach in 2023. If, that is, Webb decides he wants to transition to coaching — and if Daboll deems him a worthy replacement for Tierney, should he get the Bucs’ coordinator job. (Tierney has no other known offensive coordinator interest in this hiring cycle.)
Kafka was a first-time play caller in 2022, but he and Tierney (and Daboll) helped transform Jones, who is now in line for a lucrative second contract this offseason.
As for Ryans, he has thrived in two seasons as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. He was previously their inside linebackers coach. Ryans, who played inside linebacker for the Texans from 2006-11, became the 49ers’ coordinator after Robert Saleh was hired as the Jets’ head coach.
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Ryans finished his playing career with the Eagles from 2012-15. On Sunday, he’ll try to beat them and reach the Super Bowl — with a head coaching job in Houston perhaps coming after that.
In terms of the Giants’ 2023 regular season schedule, they won’t face any of these four teams — Colts, Panthers, Bucs, Texans — who have shown interest in Kafka, Martindale, and Tierney.
In addition to NFC East games, the Giants’ home opponents are the Rams, Seahawks, Patriots, Jets, and Packers. Their road opponents: Cardinals, 49ers, Bills, Dolphins, Raiders and Saints.
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Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com.
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