Texans’ Cal McNair, Hannah McNair confident in DeMeco Ryans’ culture despite slow start: ‘We’re in a really good spot’

HOUSTON – The Texans overhauled their offense during the offseason and installed a different playbook after hiring new offensive coordinator Nick Caley as the replacement for Bobby Slowik.

They knew they would lean on one of the top defenses in the NFL.

And the two-time defending AFC South champions were extremely confident as they set their ambitions on emerging as a Super Bowl contender after losing in the AFC divisional round each of the past two seasons.

An 0-3 start came as a surprise to many, including all parts of the organization.

Since that point, though, the Texans have won three of their past four games and are now 3-4 heading into a pivotal Sunday home game against the Denver Broncos.

Texans principal owner Cal McNair and team foundation vice president Hannah McNair, his wife, expressed confidence in the direction of the team and coach DeMeco Ryans’ leadership during a visit with Houston police for National First Responder Day.

“We’re early in the season, so we’re still sorting through it,” Cal McNair said. “Had sort of a slow start and now we’re picking up the pace. So, it’s really interesting. I was talking to DeMeco the other day about culture and psychology actually. We spend so much of our time on the culture, and DeMeco, as he keeps evolving and getting better and better as a coach, he recognizes that and that part of his activity is growing. So, you’re seeing that as he messages the team and keeps the team on the right path.

“It’s really important as we move forward through the season because each week it changes. And this week’s message is that he spends a lot of time internally talking to the team is different from last week’s and so it’s interesting to see how that evolves over time. I think we’re in a really good spot as a team. Sometimes, when you start 0-3, teams can split apart. Ours didn’t. The team has been really strong. He’s been really strong, and we’re really happy with where we are and what’s in front of us."

One week after being stomped by the Seattle Seahawks, the Texans trounced the San Francisco 49ers with a resurgent effort by an offense led by quarterback C.J. Stroud.

The Texans are down in the AFC South standings, which are led by the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts. The Texans have two more home games the next two weeks, following the Broncos with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Texans expect to get Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins back from a concussion, per a league source. And wide receiver Christian Kirk has been running and is trending toward being back from a strained hamstring, per a league source.

“We would love to see all of our players,” Texans foundation vice president Hannah McNair said. “We’re missing quite a few to injuries. We’re hoping to get them back. But we’re just focused on Denver on Sunday, and trying to get that win.”

The Texans hired Ryans, a former Pro Bowl linebacker and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, after one-and-done campaigns with Lovie Smith and David Culley,

Since Ryans took over after his stint as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator, the Texans have improved as a franchise and are now coming off consecutive division titles.

“It was easy,” Cal McNair said. “We knew him as a player and had studied him in college and had watched him in his coaching career and he just stepped into it and of course you never know, you know what what’s gonna happen and and we’re just really glad to see where we are now.”

“I think it’s a big testament to DeMeco is how he’s kept the team focused,” Hannah McNair said. “That is really hard to do when you’re losing. And so that it’s a testament to him being head coach and being able to keep the building together and all the guys focused on what’s important. I think that’s incredible.”

The NFL trade deadline is coming up. Texans general manager Nick Caserio has been one of the most aggressive personnel executives in the NFL as far as pursuing and executing trades. Will the Texans make a move?

“I think with the deadline coming up you’ll see teams start communicating more and if something makes sense, you know, Nick is always very active trying to make the roster better, whether it’s in February and March or or here we are in November, you know, he’s always working with coach (Ryans) always trying to make the team better,” Cal McNair said. “So, if there’s something that makes sense, I’m sure they’ll find a way to do it.”

The Texans will induct co-founder Janice McNair, the widow of the late owner Bob McNair, into their Ring of Honor on Sunday. She’ll join Bob McNair, Andre Johnson and J.J. Watt as the fourth honoree in franchise history.

The Texans will induct co-founder Janice McNair into the team’s ring of honor at halftime of Sunday’s game. She will join her late husband Bob McNair, Hall of Famer Andre Johnson, and J.J. Watt, who was inducted two years ago.

“She’s been everything,” Cal McNair said. “She’s been who we model so much of what we do. And we’re here today because of her and she and dad believed in giving back to community and being part of the community and so that’s sort of you know a big part of why we’re here, why we’re so glad to give back and recognize our first responders here today.

The Texans were joined by Toro, cheerleaders, Tim Settle Jr., Ed Ingram, Haggai Ndubuisi, ND Kalu, Tim Jamison, Dylan Horton, Mario Edwards Jr. and Tommy Togiai.

The McNairs, along with several players, cheerleaders and Toro, visited one of the Houston Police Department’s precincts Tuesday morning. With Chevron, the Texans donated $5,000 to the Houston Police Foundation and the Houston Firefighter Foundation.

“How can we thank them? How can we appreciate them?” Hannah McNair said. “They’re always willing to go into danger for us. So, this is just our small way of being able to say thank you.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com