Former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans took home the Assistant Coach of the Year award at the NFL Honors ceremony.
Ryans was in the running for the award with Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
The 49ers lost Ryans this offseason after he took the head coaching job with the Houston Texans, but his final year as San Francisco’s DC was sensational. His defense led the NFL in points and yards allowed.
While the defense was loaded with talent, Ryans had to navigate a slew of injury issues. They still had the NFL’s top run defense despite a host of injuries along the defensive interior. The 49ers also lost starting CB Emmanuel Moseley in Week 5, and had to shuffle their secondary a couple different times.
In an NFL so heavily geared toward offense, Ryans coordinating a defense that allowed 16.3 points and 300 yards per game made him an easy choice for the Assistant Coach of the Year honor. He received 35 of 50 first-place votes.
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