DeMeco Ryans is in his sixth season with the 49ers and second as the team's defensive coordinator. He spent the previous three seasons (2018-20) as the 49ers inside linebackers coach. Ryans also served as the team's defensive quality control coach in 2017.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, Ryans and the 49ers defense ranked third in the NFL in 2021, allowing 310.0 total yards per game. San Francisco also was sixth in the NFL, surrendering 206.5 passing yards per game. San Francisco saw eight different players record an interception on the season, as CB Emmanuel Moseley finished with a career-high 11 passes defensed and one interception. The Niners forced 22 fumbles on defense in 2021, the most in the NFL and the most in a single season by the 49ers since 1994. DL Nick Bosa finished the season leading the team with a career-high 15.5 sacks. His sack total ranked fourth in the NFL among all players as he was selected to the Pro Bowl. DL Arden Key also registered a career-high 6.5 sacks on the year.
Ryans helped the 49ers defense rank fifth in the NFL total yards allowed per game (359.0) and seventh in rush defense (118.9) in 2020. LB Fred Warner earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors and was selected to his first Pro Bowl as he led the team with a career-high 125 tackles, while adding 1.0 sack, a career-high two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and six passes defensed.
In 2019, Ryans helped guide San Francisco's defense which ranked second in the NFL in total yards allowed per game (281.8), the fewest total yards allowed per game by the team since 1997 (250.8). The 49ers defense also ranked first in the NFL in forced fumbles (21) and sixth in takeaways (27). LB Fred Warner started all 16 games and led the team with 118 tackles, while also adding 3.0 sacks, one interception (returned for a touchdown), three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and nine passes defensed.
Under Ryans' guidance in 2018, Warner started all 16 games as a rookie and led the team with 123 tackles, while adding one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and six passes defensed. His 123 tackles ranked third among all rookies and 12th in the NFL. Warner also became the first rookie since 2000 to begin his career with 10-or-more tackles in four consecutive games, according to Gamebook Statistics. Additionally, Ryans worked with LB Elijah Lee, who set career highs in tackles (67), sacks (1.0), forced fumbles (one) and passes defensed (two).
Originally drafted in the second round (33rd overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft, Ryans played for Houston (2006-11) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2012-15). He appeared in 140 games (139 starts) throughout his career and registered 735 tackles, 46 passes defensed, 13.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries and seven interceptions.
During his 10-year career, Ryans was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and PFWA Rookie of the Year in 2006, First-Team All-Pro in 2007 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009.
A native of Bessemer, AL, Ryans played linebacker at the University of Alabama (2002-05). As a senior, he was a unanimous All-American selection, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and earned First-Team All-SEC honors in 2005. Ryans also earned defensive MVP honors in the 2006 Cotton Bowl and was selected as the 2005 Lott Trophy recipient for his combination of athletic excellence and off-the-field achievements.
Ryans and his wife, Jamila, have three children: two sons, MJ and Micah, and one daughter, Xia.
