Titans GM Ran Carthon reflects on Texans coach, former 49ers colleague DeMeco Ryans: ‘Great man, great leader’

INDIANAPOLIS – When DeMeco Ryans joined the coaching ranks in 2017 with the San Francisco 49ers, he wasn’t the only new employee.

Ryans was hired that year as a defensive assistant before emerging later as the architect of the San Francisco 49ers’ top-ranked defense. It was the same year that the 49ers hired future Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon as a director of pro personnel. The work colleagues and new hires became close friends

Now, Ryans, 38, is the Texans’ head coach and Carthon, 42, is running the Titans’ personnel department.

Both are highly regarded in NFL circles and are friendly competitors in the AFC South division.

“I think DeMeco is going to be great,” Carthon told KPRC 2. “One thing I know about DeMeco, he’s a great man and, above all, he is a great leader. I think when you have that about you mixed in with his knowledge of the game I think it’s a recipe for success. Great family friend, I see him like my little brother. I always root for him except for twice a year. If we need playoff help, I’ll root against him. DeMeco is going to be just fine.”

The friendship between Ryans and Carthon has grown throughout the years.

And Ryans expressed confidence that Carthon, the son of former NFL running back Maurice Carthon, is primed for big things.

“We have a great relationship, our families are really close,” Ryans said. ‘Ran is a great friend, a great mentor to me. I know Ran will be an awesome GM for the Titans because first and foremost he’s a great man. Ran is very relatable, very personable. Everybody is Ran’s best friend. He can connect with anyone.

“He always has a big smile on his face. Ran knows talent. Ran knows how to evaluate talent, and working with him, we were constantly talking about different players, who we would acquire, who we wouldn’t acquire. There were a lot of conversations over the years with Ran. I am pulling for Ran to do an outstanding job except for two games out of the year. It’ll be fun competing against him.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com