Reports: Broncos’ Sean Payton Interviewed Rex Ryan For Defensive Coordinator Position

Nearing completion of his duties for FOX Sports will allow Sean Payton to devote all of his attention to the Denver Broncos. Payton has been busy meeting with possible prospects to complete his assistant coaching staff in Denver while making the rounds over Super Bowl weekend.

Rex Ryan, a former head coach of the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, is one of those contenders, said insider Jay Glazer.

Sunday morning, Glazer published an article titled “A little Sunday morning scoopage: incoming Broncos head coach Sean Payton interviewed a surprise candidate this week to be his defensive coordinator, ESPN’s Rex Ryan.”

It would make sense if Payton brought Ryan to Denver. From 2013 through 2015, Payton’s defensive coordinator in New Orleans was Rob Ryan, Rex’s twin brother.

Rex was one of the best defensive brains in the NFL when he quit coaching to take a lucrative job with ESPN after being fired from Buffalo.

Ryan enjoyed early success as a head coach with the Jets but failed to repeat it with the Bills. With unsuccessful head coaches who later became defensive coordinators, the Broncos have a history of creating a stir.

Wade Phillips, who once referred to himself as a “lousy” head coach but an effective coordinator, is a good place to start. However, Phillips was undoubtedly an excellent defensive coordinator, as seen by the Broncos’ triumph in Super Bowl 50.

Ryan has a long history as a coach. He is the son of the renowned Buddy Ryan, who created the infamous 46 defence for the 1985 Chicago Bears. After working as the team’s defensive line coach for the previous five years, he was hired as the prestigious Baltimore Ravens’ first defensive coordinator in 2005.

Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2005 to 2008 before becoming the head coach of the New York Jets.

In New York, Ryan compiled a record of 46-50 in six seasons and led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010.

He was fired by the Jets in 2014 after going 4-12 and became the head coach of the Bills for two seasons from 2015-16.

Ryan has been an analyst for ESPN since 2017.  As an ESPN commentator, he continues to be heavily involved in the trends and advancements of the NFL despite having left the coaching ranks for a while.

Payton prioritises coordinator candidates with some experience and name recognition, obviously. Vic Fangio could have been wooed to Denver by Payton, but it’s possible that the scars from the recent past were too deep to heal.

Ryan becoming the defensive coordinator would be a major coup.

 

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