HOUSTON – When the San Francisco 49ers lost in the NFC championship title game to the Philadelphia Eagles, two days later the Texans hired DeMeco Ryans as their new head coach.
That game also marked the final one under contract for veteran 49ers defensive passing game specialist-secondary coach Cory Undlin. With his deal with the 49ers expired and Ryans joining the Texans on a six-year contract, Undlin immediately emerged as a strong candidate to join the Texans’ coaching staff.
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Undlin is expected to join the Texans as defensive passing game coordinator-secondary coach, according to league sources.
The Texans previously hired former Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach Matt Burke as defensive coordinator and he and Undlin worked together with the Philadelphia Eagles before Undlin was hired as the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator.
Undlin, 51, has been an assistant coach for the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Eagles, Lions and 49ers.
Undlin earned Super Bowl rings with the Patriots as a defensive assistant in 2004 and with the Eagles in 2017 as a defensive backs coach.
The Texans hired former 49ers offensive passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator, retained special teams coordinator Frank Ross, hired 49ers defensive quality control coach Stephen Adegoke as safeties coach as the replacement for Joe Danna, who’s now the Buffalo Bills safeties coach, hired 49ers chief of staff Nick Kray for the same position in Houston and retained head strength and conditioning coach Mike Eubanks, according to sources. Indianapolis Colts offensive line coach Chris Strausser, after the Texans didn’t retain offensive line coach George Warhop, and Cleveland Browns defensive line coach Chris Kiffin are both top candidates for jobs with the Texans, according to sources.
“We want a diverse coaching staff, and that’s not only diversity in race, but diversity in experience,” Ryans said during his introductory press conference. “We want experienced coaches, some coaches with not so much experience. We want coaches who are great teachers. That’s the one thing we’re looking for, most importantly, is great teachers. We want guys who are positive, bring positive energy. We want guys who can connect with players.
“If you can connect with players, you can lead players. But if you can’t connect, there is no way you can coach those guys. We want guys who are bringing energy, doing it in a fun way, guys who are truly committed to working together. No egos allowed, no energy vampires allowed. We want a positive culture.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to KPRC 2 and click2houston.com