'Hard-working, humble guy': Ryans lauds ex-teammate Watt ahead of Ring of Honor game

When first-year Houston Texans head coach Demeco Ryans was a sought-after name for the job, a former teammate and next-door neighbor of his didn’t waste time endorsing him. The teammate? Former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, whom the franchise will enshrine in its Ring of Honor on October 2nd when it hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"J.J. [Watt] has always been a humble guy – hard-working, humble guy," Ryans, who played with Watt on the vaunted “Bulls On Parade” defense in 2011, said on the Texans website. “We were neighbors there for a little while.”

Back in January, Watt took to X to vouch for his former comrade after the latter finished interviewing with the Texans.

"As rookie in Houston, I bought my first house across the street from DeMeco because if Meco thought it was the right place to live, it was the right place to live for me," the three-time National Football League (NFL) Defensive Player of the Year said.

"Captain, leader, smart, tough, personable, crushed it as DC … He will be a great head coach."

According to a Houston Daily story published on July 24, Watt gave a glowing assessment of Houston’s eventful offseason, which was highlighted by the hiring of Ryans.

“You got to give him a long leash to give him the ability to build his process, to build his program, [and] to get the guys he wants,” Watt said in the report.

While Ryans is determined to beat the Steelers – for whom Watt’s younger brother, T.J., plays – for his first career home victory, he wants the elder Watt to have a memorable return to NRG Stadium as well.

“I can't think of another guy who's had such a great career, done so much in the league that he's respected by everybody in the league, just by his style of playing and the man that he is,” the coach said, per the Texans.