Rex Ryan

Lore & Background

Rex Ryan and his fraternal twin, Rob, were born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on December 13, 1962, to Doris and Buddy Ryan. When the boys were aged two, their parents amicably divorced. Following the divorce, their mother attended the University of Chicago to earn her doctorate. Rex, Rob, and their older brother Jim moved with her to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she secured an administrative position at the University of Toronto. By the time Rex was a teenager, Doris sent the brothers to live with their father, who was the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings. In 1978, when Buddy was hired by the Chicago Bears as their defensive coordinator, the family settled in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and the brothers attended Stevenson High School. Rex went on to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University alongside Rob, played as a defensive end, and graduated in 1986. He was inducted into the university's Hall of Fame in 2011. After graduating, Ryan secured a job as a graduate assistant at Eastern Kentucky, then became assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at New Mexico Highlands, defensive coordinator at Morehead State, worked for his father with the Arizona Cardinals, defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, defensive coordinator at Oklahoma, and defensive coordinator at Kansas State for a month in 1999. He joined the Baltimore Ravens in 1999, became defensive coordinator in 2005, and assistant head coach in 2008. He accepted the Jets' head coaching position for the 2009 season. In his first two seasons, he led the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances. After a 4–12 record in 2014, he was fired. He was then hired as the Bills' head coach, lasting two years before being fired at the end of the 2016 season. He currently serves as an analyst for ESPN, including on Sunday NFL Countdown.

In Their Own Story

The press conference room hummed with tension as cameras flashed against the green backdrop. Rex leaned forward, adjusting his tie, eyes locked on the reporters ahead. He spoke of matchups not just in terms of stats, but of wills colliding under stadium lights. Outside, the practice field buzzed with the thud of pads and the whistle of coaches, a stark reminder that words were merely prelude to the physical battle awaiting them on the gridiron.

Reader's Guide

Rex Ryan is known for his outspoken manner and boisterous attitude. He led the Jets to consecutive AFC Championship Games in his first two seasons but never finished above .500 thereafter. His tenure with the Bills ended after two seasons. He is the son of former head coach Buddy Ryan and twin brother of Rob Ryan.

Did You Know?

• Rex Ryan and his fraternal twin Rob were born in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
• Ryan's only Super Bowl ring came as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.
• He was inducted into Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Hall of Fame in 2011.