Recent history suggests Rex Ryan will likely be a head coach in the National Football League, as the two previous men who preceded him as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens are now running their own teams.
As Marvin Lewis begins his fifth season at the helm of the Cincinnati Bengals and Mike Nolan starts his third year leading the San Francisco 49ers, Ryan returns for his third season in Charm City.
Ryan is clearly one of the best at what he does in the NFL, as the Ravens? finished last season with the top-ranked defense, a major reason why they went a franchise-best 13-3.
The dominating performance allowed opponents to average a league-low 12.6 points per game catapulted Ryan in the discussion for a number of coaching vacancies during the offseason, most notably with the San Diego Chargers, which ultimately hired Norv Turner. Ryan was disappointed about losing the job to a coach who has a career record of 58-82-1, but acknowledges he is content in his role with the Ravens.
“I?m past all of that and ready to roll,” said a leaner Ryan, who at 290 pounds has lost 60 pounds during the last year and a half. “If that happens and I get an opportunity [to be a head coach], that?s great. But right now we?ve got a lot of football to go and we?re focused on getting this team to the exact spot we were at a year ago. The only difference is beating those teams in the playoffs and moving on. That?s where our focus is right now.”
Ryan, 44, joined the Ravens in 1999 when Brian Billick was hired as head coach. Ryan worked his way up Billick?s staff before taking over for Nolan in 2005. Ryan proved his worth that season, as the Ravens defense ranked fifth in the NFL despite losing middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed ? both perennial Pro Bowl selections ? for 10 and six games, respectively.
“Rex does a great job of realizing what you do well, and using you for the better and not exposing you,” linebacker Bart Scott said. “We all do some things great, we all do things badly.”
Ryan also has a family pedigree in his favor as his father, Buddy Ryan, was the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, and his twin brother, Rob, is the defensive coordinator with the Oakland Raiders. Rex Ryan got his first NFL job working with his father when he served as linebackers coach in 1994 with the Cardinals.
Before arriving in the NFL, Rex Ryan was a defensive coordinator on the college level for seven years before returning to the college ranks after leaving the Cardinals. He was the defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati in 1996 and 1997 before taking the same position at the University of Oklahoma the next season. He joined Billick?s staff the following year.
In his two seasons as defensive coordinator, Ryan has gained the respect of everyone in the organization.
“I think Rex has a great idea of what everyone?s strengths and weaknesses are,” defensive end Trevor Pryce said. “For everybody on this team, whatever you do best, you?re going to find a way to give every body a shot to make a play. I?ve played in defenses that don?t have that mentality, so it?s a breath of fresh air. But now, it?s the norm.”
