You have to hand it to the Buffalo Bills. They know how to make a splash in the infancy of their off season. While everyone else is concentrating on the playoffs, the Bills are still making themselves relevant. First there was the contract extension for General Manager Doug Whaley, now there is the addition of Rex Ryan’s twin brother Rob Ryan The move solidifies Terry and Kim Pegula’s support of Rex Ryan continuing his career as head coach of the Buffalo Bills.
The news of Rob Ryan’s hiring came late on Sunday night. Rob will be the assistant head coach/defense for the Bills. According to buffalobills.com, Rob will help oversee the defense, assist with offseason preparations and game planning during the season. It doesn’t appear his hiring will impact Bills Defensive Coordinator Dennis Thurman. Thurman just completed his first year with the Bills.
The 53-year-old has 18 years of coaching experience in the National Football League. He was also a member of the New England Patriots coaching staff in the early 2000's when the team won two Super Bowls. After being with the Patriots, Rob earned his first defensive coordinator job with the Oakland Raiders. He then moved onto the Cleveland Browns where he was the Defensive Coordinator from 2009–2010 and then the Dallas Cowboys from 2011–2012. He spent the last two years as the Defensive Coordinator for the New Orleans Saints before the team fired in the middle of the season.
Rob Ryan’s presence at a Buffalo Bills practice last month spawned speculation that he would become part of the coaching staff. At the time, Rex and others denied the claim. The last time Rex and Rob coached together was when they were assistants for the Arizona Cardinals in 1994–1995 when their dad was the Head Coach.
The Bills finished the 8-8 during Rex Ryan’s first season as head coach. The record kept the Bills out of the post season for the 16th consecutive year.