At a Glance
- DeMeco and Jamila Ryans met in their church parking lot after Bible study and married in Houston
- Jamila works as a registered nurse while directing the couple’s foundation and raising four children
- The Texans coach credits his wife for wearing “a lot of hats” so he can focus on football
- Why it matters: Their partnership shows how NFL families balance high-pressure careers with community service and parenting
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and his wife Jamila built their life together in the same city where his NFL career began. The couple met in the parking lot of their church after Wednesday night Bible study, a story Jamila shared during a December 2025 interview with Houston Texans podcast host Hannah McNair.
“We just hit it off,” Jamila recalled. Years later, they married at The Bell Tower on 34th in Houston – a deliberate choice by the Houston native. “I’m a Houston girl through and through, and everything that I do, I want it to be in Houston,” she explained.
From Player to Coach: A Family Transition
DeMeco started with the Texans in 2006, later played for the Philadelphia Eagles, then returned to Houston as head coach in early 2023. Jamila told McNair the shift from player to coach brought new challenges for their family.
“As a player, I knew what he needed. I knew how to navigate that space,” she said. “But now as a coach, it’s just totally different. It’s so much pressure.”
The couple adapted together. “I’ve learned what he needs and how to approach it and how to help him get through it. We get through it together,” Jamila said.
Raising Four Kids While Building Careers
The Ryans welcomed four children: daughters Xia and Zuri, plus sons MJ and Micah. Jamila praised her husband’s parenting during the podcast interview.
“The way he teaches, it’s almost like coaching,” she observed. “Sometimes I have to tell him, ‘This is not your football team.'”
While some children explored sports, the parents encouraged independence. “That is not what you are supposed to do. You’re supposed to make your own footsteps,” Jamila said they tell the kids.
Professional Lives Beyond Football
Jamila maintains her own career as a registered nurse and serves as nonprofit director of the DeMeco Ryans Foundation. The couple established the Ryans Family Foundation to “invest in promising individuals from underserved communities through scholarships, purpose-driven programs, and partnerships that expand access to education and opportunity,” according to the foundation’s Instagram.
During a November 2025 community event, Jamila described her husband’s coaching philosophy to KPRC 2 Houston: “I think my husband’s biggest reason for coaching is to bless others. Football is a platform for him. In that platform, he is going to bless others. He’s going to spread the gospel.”
She emphasized his growth as a leader: “Just watching him do that has been the most amazing thing for my family because he’s been an excellent example for our four kids.”
Mutual Support System
DeMeco recognizes his wife’s critical role in their partnership. During an August 2025 appearance on the Chalk Talk podcast, he explained: “My wife is truly special. For me to be able to do what I do, work the hours that I work, as much time as this consumes, she has to wear a lot of hats. She does that really well.”
He continued: “I’m truly thankful and grateful for Jamila and just her spirit, who she is, what she represents, what she’s about. She’s so caring, so loving to everyone, and you can see her heart. She wears her heart on her sleeve. I need that balance. She balances me out very well.”
Key Takeaways
The Ryans’ story demonstrates how NFL coaching families balance demanding schedules with community service and child-rearing. Jamila’s dual role as healthcare professional and foundation director complements DeMeco’s football career, while their shared Houston roots keep them connected to the community that first brought them together in that church parking lot.
