DeMeco Ryans enshrined in Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame

May 29, 2025 at 01:05 PM

Drew Dougherty

Texans TV Host

DeMeco Ryans is a Hall of Famer.

The Texans Head Coach was recently enshrined in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic's 2025 Hall of Fame Class.

As a senior linebacker at Alabama, Ryans' final college game was January 2, 2006 at the Cotton Bowl. He and the Crimson Tide squared off against the nation's top-ranked passing offense in Texas Tech. They stymied the Red Raiders, who entered the contest averaging 42 points per game, and triumphed 13-10.

Ryans was a big reason why. He finished that Cotton Bowl with 1.5 sacks, seven total tackles and was named the Felix R. McKnight Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game.

Just over three months later, the Texans drafted Ryans in the second round, and he was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006.

Ryans was thrilled to be enshrined.

"It is truly a blessing," Ryans said. "This is a special moment for me. You think back in college, my last college game, trying to play the game the right way. You never are thinking about the Hall of Fame and what it will lead to later down the road, but to just play with passion, play with energy and just doing what I was supposed to do and doing it the right way has led me to this moment. It's just truly a surreal moment."

Among the other enrshinees in the 2025 class were former Auburn running back and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson, as well as former Notre Dame running back Jerome Bettis. Jackson and Ryans were both born and raised in Bessemer, Alabama.

"Really thankful to the Cotton Bowl Committee for even thinking of me, to put me into this class and to do it with such great guys," Ryans said. "They have my hometown guy here in Bo Jackson. I watched Jerome Bettis. It's such a special class and I'm thankful to be a part of it."

Ryans and the rest of the 2025 class were enshrined last week, and you can read more about the honors HERE.