59 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No.59?

USA Today

10-07-2025

The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast.
Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 59 since the inaugural season in 2002.
Texans players to wear No. 59
No. 59 currently belongs to no one and to be honest, likely won't be worn again. Although his number isn't "retired" like J.J. Watt and Andre Johnson, the most famous player to don the jersey currently calls NRG Stadium home on Sundays when he's running up and down the sidelines trying to get his team together.
Do you still not know who it is? Don't worry, you'll see in a second.
Best Player: DeMeco Ryans
If you were to consider Mercilus as the G.O.A.T of the jersey, it's a fair debate, but Ryans was the first real defensive star in franchise history. While Mario Williams was the No. 1 overall pick in 2006 and eventually became a fixture of Gary Kubiak's defense, Ryans took the Texans' by storm, earning the nickname "Cap" within several weeks of his tenure of OTAs.
A second-round pick out of Alabama, the Texans shifted the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year inside to middle linebacker in hopes of making him a more sure-fire tackler. That led to a 156-tackle rookie season, including 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. For his efforts, Ryans was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. The folllowing season, he was named to his first Pro Bowl roster.
Over his six seasons, Ryans averaged over 114 tackles and 8.4 tackles for loss. He was the anchor of the defense during the rebuilding era under Kubiak, and eventually helped Houston reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 2011 before being traded to Philadelphia ahead of the 2012 campaign.
Overall, Ryans still ranks No. 1 all-time in solo tackles in Texans' history. His 72 tackles for loss are among the top five, while his six forced fumbles rank in the top 10. After leaving in 2012, Ryans returned to NRG Stadium to replace Lovie Smith as head coach in 2023. Since his return, the Texans have gone 20-14 during the regular season, won two AFC South titles and two wild-card round games while being underdogs.
Add in his coaching and Ryans clears as the G.O.A.T. of No. 59. Houston probably won't place his number in the Ring of Honor since its respect for Mercilus is too high, but the man himself likely gets the nod should he lead the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance.