Ryans and his 49ers are preparing to play the Dallas Cowboys in the opening round of the playoffs. This season is Ryans' first as a defensive coordinator. He replaced Robert Saleh, who left San Francisco last year to become the head coach of the New York Jets.
"I've seen head coach qualities out of DeMeco when he was a player," head coach Kyle Shanahan said this past week, "when he was a quality control [coach], when he was a linebacker coach, and now when he is a coordinator. So he's always had those qualities. It's just about him getting the reps and getting the experience. It's a matter of time with him."
Ryans previously served as the team's linebackers coach from 2018-2020 and started his time on Shanahan's staff as a defensive quality control coach in 2017.
This season, the 49ers defense ranked No. 3 in total yards allowed, No. 6 in passing yards allowed, No. 7 in rushing yards allowed, and No. 10 in points allowed.
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