The locker room was still buzzing with excited chatter and scattered cheers when DeMeco Ryans spoke on Sunday. The Houston Texans had just locked in a playoff spot after a hard-fought 20–16 win, and with it came something Houston fans have learned not to take for granted: another week of football. The postseason is here. 

Formerly a star linebacker for Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was named a unanimous All-American, now-41-year-old head coach Ryans stepped into the postgame press conference equipped with the knowledge of exactly what he needed to say.

“The light is shining bright on the Texans, but that light is really reflective of our guys’ belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Ryans told reporters at the postgame news conference after the win. 

“That’s what has driven our team, and I’m so proud of our guys and thankful to the Lord for allowing us to allow our lights to shine through Him,” Ryans continued. “All praise and honor goes to Him.” 

That is the differentiating factor about Ryans. Faith is not a postseason accessory for him. He has been pointing to Jesus for years, even back when the cameras were smaller and the spotlight was somewhere else. 

In a Sports Spectrum story about his time with the 49ers, Ryans talked about grace and why he tries to keep Scripture in front of him in the middle of long hours and long weeks.

“That’s why we’re all here, and that’s by the grace of God,” Ryans said in that interview. “We can get caught up in our work, a lot of long hours, a lot of long days, but you can’t forget what sustains us, and that’s Jesus Christ.” 

He has also spoken openly about how his faith was instilled in him. 

“I’m so happy for my mom instilling that into me at a young age,” he told Sports Spectrum, before adding, “that’s the only thing that truly matters… our relationship with Jesus Christ.” 

Even Ryans’ own one-line self-description carries that same tone. In his bio on X, he refers to himself as a “God fearing husband, father and coach working to be better than my former self.” 

If you have followed this Texans team the last couple of seasons, you have heard similar language from Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. 

After the Texans’ wild-card win over the Browns last year, Stroud described a locker room where faith is front and center. 

He said, “I think definitely God is at the forefront of our minds, and we play for an audience of One.” 

Then, he pointed directly at his head coach.

“I’m blessed enough to have a leader like DeMeco who is open with his faith,” Stroud said. 

Now the calendar turns again. The Texans head to Pittsburgh for the wild-card round on Monday night, Jan. 12, at 7:15 p.m. Central, with the whole city getting that familiar mix of nerves and excitement. 

There is something sweet about the timing, too. This franchise has never made a Super Bowl. The story is unfinished. That is part of why Houston loves them, and part of why this moment has weight.

So here we are, heading into a playoff week with a head coach who unabashedly says “Jesus” aloud in rooms where people usually keep faith tucked away. Let his story serve as a reminder that God meets people in ordinary and extraordinary places alike, including locker rooms, plane rides, and Monday night kickoffs.

Matthew 5 says, “Let your light shine before others.” Ryans essentially preached that without even trying to preach it. He just thanked the Lord and kept it moving.

Houston gets another game. Another opportunity. Another week to watch what God might do with a team that keeps giving Him the credit.

Feature Photo: User eschipul on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons