INDIANAPOLIS: Similar career paths have been followed by several NFL players.
That really holds true for a few former Alabama football players. Eli Ricks and Josh Jobe, two former Crimson Tide defensive backs, are now Philadelphia Eagles players, while Marlon Humphrey and Jalyn Armour-Davis are Baltimore Ravens players.
But until a little more than a year ago, none of those types of duos’ relationships ever progressed to the point where one was tutoring the other.
When Ryans was appointed head coach of the Houston Texans in January of last year, DeMeco Ryans and Christian Harris found themselves in a peculiar scenario. Ryans, a former University of Alabama linebacker for the Houston Texans, was set to take over as head coach of Houston, while Harris, another former University of Alabama linebacker for the Houston Texans, was a member of the defensive room.
Although a little injury derailed his promising 2022 season, the third-round pick showed promise.
In 2023, Ryans took Smith’s spot, and Harris developed into one of Houston’s top defensive players. With 65 solo tackles at the end of the regular season, he just fell short of teammate Blake Cashman in terms of combined tackles. Additionally, Harris’s efforts enabled the Texans to move up the defensive rankings from among the worst in 2022 to the upper half of the league in 2023.
Ryans stated at the NFL Scouting Combine that Harris’s future was “sky’s the limit” going into 2024. In the same vein as San Francisco 49ers linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, with whom Ryans served in a variety of defensive coaching capacities from 2017 to 22, Ryans also mentioned Harris.
“Christian is one of the fastest linebackers that I’ve had a chance to work with,” Ryans stated. “Very explosive, instinctive player.”
Additionally, Ryans views Harris’ career path differently than most others do. Harris had numerous challenges during his first two NFL seasons. Due to injuries, he missed the first five games of his rookie campaign. He also had a new defensive coordinator, head coach, and other new defensive teammates when the 2023 season began.
Harris will have some consistency for the first time this season. According to Ryans, that might serve as a launchpad for even greater achievement in 2024.
Ryans remarked, “I consider last year to be Christian’s rookie year.” “I’m excited to see him build off of what he did last year.”
