DeMeco Ryans reacts to having hometown street renamed in his honor: 'I finally found the road to success'

To this day, even as he’s made a name for himself as an NFL head coach, DeMeco Ryans remains one of Alabama‘s most beloved linebackers to have never played under Nick Saban. And now, when the former Crimson Tide star returns home to Bessemer, he will do so by driving down his own street.

Ryans, the 40-year-old former unanimous All-American who played in Tuscaloosa from 2002-05, was back in his hometown this weekend as Bessemer, Ala. city officials formally renamed Fairfax Avenue — the street on which Ryans was raised — as DeMeco Ryans Street, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

“This street may carry my name but it represents the journey, the support, and the shared work of so many, starting with my parents,” Ryans said during a packed press conference, per Wilson. “For them, being able to purchase a home here, allowing us to grow up here, thank you for all the hard work and sacrifice that you guys have done for me. … I guess I finally found the road to success.”

Ryans signed with Alabama in 2002 as a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com out of Jess Lanier (Bessemer) High, where he was an all-state selection his senior season.

“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to have a street named after me,” Ryans said, per Wilson. “This recognition means more than words can express. Thank you to everyone here who made this possible. I vividly remember running up and down these streets playing in the middle of the road, playing football, playing basketball. It was definitely a lot of fond memories growing up here. And to all my wonderful neighbors who showed up today, thank you. We had wonderful neighbors. You knew you couldn’t get in any trouble because they’d tell your parents on you.

“This just shows what it takes. It takes a village to raise children, and I had a village here on Fairfax, and it was a lot of great moments, a lot of great people, a lot of great friendships. Just a lot of support. And I’ll always remember Bessemer for this support. I’ll always remember all of you for the love you guys have shown me. And now to have this sign here is such a huge honor.”

Bessemer mayor honors Ryans: ‘You have been such an inspiration to us in this city’

Once in Tuscaloosa, Ryans improved every season en route to being named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Lott Trophy winner as a senior in 2005. He’d then be drafted by the Houston Texas as the No. 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Of course, it was in the NFL where Ryans really made his mark, earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 when he led the NFL with 126 solo tackles and 156 total tackles. Ryans was also a two-time Pro Bowl selection (2007 and 2009) during his six-year run with the Texans before finishing his NFL career with the Philadelpha Eagles (2012-15). After his playing career ended, Ryans got into coaching with the San Francisco 49ers, where he went from a quality control coach (2017) to defensive coordinator (2021-22) before the Texans hired him to be the program’s eigth career head coach.

Ryans is 20-14 with two AFC South divisional titles during his first two seasons as Houston’s head coach, and once again has a potential playoff team entering the 2025-26 season.

Ryans was honored by Bessemer city mayor Kenneth E. Gulley during the street renaming ceremony this weekend.

“You have been such an inspiration to us in this city and such an inspiration to all of these young men that you see behind you,” Gulley said. “We have followed your career from Little League to Jess Lanier High School to the University of Alabama to the Houston Texans to the Philadelphia Eagles, and we’ve also followed it from San Francisco and now to the Houston Texans. And we are so, so proud of you. And one thing that I am most proud of is that you are so proud of Bessemer, Alabama.”