Jan 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans walks off the field after defeating the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans addressed the media about the 49ers’ Super Bowl defeat in addition to what he is searching for in the team’s next round of prospects. He has been with the 49ers since 2017 and served as their defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022 prior to accepting the primary position with the Texans.
Given how long he has been a member of the franchise, the Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime victory was a devastating loss. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, Ryans even detailed his reaction when Patrick Mahomes tossed Mecole Hardman the game-winning touchdown, causing him to “fall on the floor.”
When the Kansas City Chiefs scored the touchdown at the end of the game, Ryans remarked, “I literally fell on the floor.” “I was in it, and naturally, I felt like I was still a part of it.”
Ryans was with the 49ers in 2020 when they fell to the Chiefs once more, thus this wouldn’t be his first Super Bowl loss with the franchise. He spoke of his intense want to see the club win, praising head coach Kyle Shanahan in particular, saying it hurt “like I was there and still a part of it.”
“Kyle puts in a lot of work, and he deserves to win the Super Bowl, so I really wanted to see him and those guys win,” Ryans remarked. “I felt like I was there and still a part of it, and it was unfortunate to see them come up short.”
Since Shanahan became head coach, the 49ers have unquestionably been among the best teams in the league since they are a contender every single season. Despite their two appearances, they have yet to air a Super Bowl, which may have contributed to Ryan’s assessment that the loss was a “heartbreaker.”
