NFL Rumors: Matt Burke Expected to Be Hired as Texans DC on DeMeco Ryans' Staff

The Houston Texans are expected to hire Matt Burke as their defensive coordinator under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Burke was the Arizona Cardinals' defensive line coach this season, and he has previous defensive coordinator experience, serving in that role with the Miami Dolphins from 2017 to 2018.

The 46-year-old Burke has also spent time as an assistant coach with the Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets.

Houston fired head coach Lovie Smith after going 3-13-1 in 2022, making him the Texans' second consecutive one-and-done head coach, joining David Culley in 2021.

When counting interim head coaches, the Texans are set to have their fifth different head coach in the past four seasons, but Ryans has the makings of a more permanent solution.

The 38-year-old Ryans was a second-round draft pick by the Texans in 2006, and he went on to spend six years in Houston as a linebacker before finishing his career with the Eagles from 2012 to 2015.

Ryans was a two-time Pro Bowler, one-time first-team All-Pro and the 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year before breaking into coaching in 2017.

He spent six seasons as an assistant in San Francisco, including each of the past two seasons as defensive coordinator.

With Ryans calling the defensive plays, the Niners ranked third in total defense and ninth in scoring defense in 2021, and first in both categories this season.

Ryans figures to have a significant hand in the defense in Houston due to his background, so it can be argued that his defensive coordinator hire is secondary, but it doesn't hurt to have an experienced coach like Burke on the staff.

Burke has coached at the NFL level in a variety of roles since 2004, which was before Ryans even entered the league as a player.

As well regarded as Ryans is as a coach despite his relative lack of experience, Burke could be invaluable to him when he needs advice and guidance from someone who has essentially seen and done it all in the coaching ranks.

The Texans are averaging less than four wins per season over the past three campaigns, but they seem to finally have a quality staff in place, and there may be brighter days ahead within a winnable AFC South Division.