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Texans make major defensive change before Titans matchup, and it’s the exact opposite of the move that saved their 2025 season

DeMeco Ryans and the Texans are 0-4 and desperate for a spark before facing Robert Saleh's Titans. Houston has been in this exact spot before, and the history is hard to ignore.

By Easton Freeze · A to Z Sports

Published: Thursday, 8 October 2026 at 6:14 PM

Key Things to Know

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is taking over defensive play-calling duties from coordinator Matt Burke.
The change comes as the winless 0-4 Texans prepare to play the 0-4 Titans in Week 5.
The move reverses the 2025 decision where Ryans handed defensive play-calling to Burke after starting 0-3.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Wednesday that he is taking back defensive play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Matt Burke. The change comes ahead of the winless 0-4 Texans' Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, who are also entering the game with an 0-4 record.

The decision reverses a move from early in the 2025 season, when Ryans handed play-calling to Burke during an 0-3 start. Following that previous switch, Houston defeated Tennessee 26-0, won 12 of its next 14 games, and finished the year with the NFL's top scoring defense.

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