‘Special group,’ Texans coach DeMeco Ryans hosts youth from Fifth Ward Church of Christ summer enrichment program

HOUSTON – When DeMeco Ryans was drafted by the Texans, he became a member of the Fifth Ward Church of Christ.

The former Pro Bowl linebacker joined a church steeped in history as the oldest Black church in the city of Houston that had its roots in 1930s tent revivals with evangelist Marshall Keeble.

Ryans quietly joined the church as a rookie and the congregation was initially unaware that the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, second-round draft pick and Pro Bowl linebacker was a professional football player.

And Ryans along with his wife, Jamila, and children continue to be active in the church to this day. Ryans is on the board of the Discovery Youth Foundation, a summer enrichment program for teens.

Ryans and the Texans hosted the youth Thursday morning on the first day of training camp.

“Yeah, the kids are all out today with Fifth Ward Church of Christ, their summer enrichment program,” Ryans said. “It a summer enrichment program that has been going on over the past 15, 20 years now. It was important for me to have them come out today to just get out and see something different, see the guys out here in practice. I know they been working hard on all their programs.

“They’re at the gym. So, it is good to see them get out here and just representing Fifth Ward and what that means to me. I’m excited to have them out there. They are a special group and excited to have them out today.”

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