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Eatman: After Long Wait, Ryan Named DC
After Long Wait, Ryan Named DC
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow nickeatman on Twitter
IRVING, Texas - The wait is over.
After interviewing for the position last Friday, Rob Ryan has officially been named defensive coordinator of the Cowboys on Wednesday.
The club issued the news with a press release, but did not make Ryan available to the media.
Ryan, who spent the last two seasons as Cleveland's defensive coordinator, and the previous five years with the same title in Oakland, will look to revamp a Cowboys unit that finished 23rd in total defense in 2010.
The brother of current Jets coach Rex Ryan, and the son of former Eagles coach and Cowboys-nemesis Buddy Ryan, Rob Ryan is also known for his aggressive approach and intense sideline-demeanor.
Before his five-year stint in Oakland, Ryan also coached under Bill Belichick in New England for four seasons. From 2000-03, he was the Patriots' linebackers coach and earned two Super Bowl rings.
Ryan was the third known candidate to interview for the position following the season. Last week, Jason Garrett met with Vic Fangio, Stanford's coordinator, and Greg Manusky, the former 49ers defensive coordinator.
After meeting with Garrett, both candidates signed with other teams as Fangio followed Jim Harbaugh to San Francisco while Manusky became the defensive coordinator in San Diego.
And when Paul Pasqualoni, the interim defensive coordinator for the final eight games last season, took the head coaching job at UConn, the Cowboys had to quickly move in another direction.
However, don't rule out that Ryan was the top candidate all along. He wasn't even allowed to interview until the Browns decided last Thursday to name Pat Shurmur their next head coach. Until then, Ryan was considered a candidate for the head coaching job. After Shurmur's hiring, it was decided the Browns would move in a different direction and Ryan would be able to interview for other positions. Consequently, he was in Dallas the following day.
Ryan returned to Valley Ranch on Wednesday after driving down from Cleveland with his family.
His hire breaks the mold of a cycle the Cowboys have used here lately, often bringing back former coaches. The current staff includes Hudson Houck, Dave Campo, Wade Wilson, Chris Boniol and even Jason Garrett as former coaches or players who had a previous stints with the team.
Adding Ryan should bring a freshness to the staff, and maybe even the entire defensive side of the ball.
With Ryan's hiring now complete, the Cowboys can move their attention to other assistant positions. It's been speculated that Ryan will bring in some assistants from Cleveland's staff. Two names being reported are defensive line coach Bryan Cox, an 11-year NFL veteran linebacker, and Jerome Henderson, who also played eight seasons in the league and spent the last two years as the Browns' defensive backs coach.
After Long Wait, Ryan Named DC
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow nickeatman on Twitter
IRVING, Texas - The wait is over.
After interviewing for the position last Friday, Rob Ryan has officially been named defensive coordinator of the Cowboys on Wednesday.
The club issued the news with a press release, but did not make Ryan available to the media.
Ryan, who spent the last two seasons as Cleveland's defensive coordinator, and the previous five years with the same title in Oakland, will look to revamp a Cowboys unit that finished 23rd in total defense in 2010.
The brother of current Jets coach Rex Ryan, and the son of former Eagles coach and Cowboys-nemesis Buddy Ryan, Rob Ryan is also known for his aggressive approach and intense sideline-demeanor.
Before his five-year stint in Oakland, Ryan also coached under Bill Belichick in New England for four seasons. From 2000-03, he was the Patriots' linebackers coach and earned two Super Bowl rings.
Ryan was the third known candidate to interview for the position following the season. Last week, Jason Garrett met with Vic Fangio, Stanford's coordinator, and Greg Manusky, the former 49ers defensive coordinator.
After meeting with Garrett, both candidates signed with other teams as Fangio followed Jim Harbaugh to San Francisco while Manusky became the defensive coordinator in San Diego.
And when Paul Pasqualoni, the interim defensive coordinator for the final eight games last season, took the head coaching job at UConn, the Cowboys had to quickly move in another direction.
However, don't rule out that Ryan was the top candidate all along. He wasn't even allowed to interview until the Browns decided last Thursday to name Pat Shurmur their next head coach. Until then, Ryan was considered a candidate for the head coaching job. After Shurmur's hiring, it was decided the Browns would move in a different direction and Ryan would be able to interview for other positions. Consequently, he was in Dallas the following day.
Ryan returned to Valley Ranch on Wednesday after driving down from Cleveland with his family.
His hire breaks the mold of a cycle the Cowboys have used here lately, often bringing back former coaches. The current staff includes Hudson Houck, Dave Campo, Wade Wilson, Chris Boniol and even Jason Garrett as former coaches or players who had a previous stints with the team.
Adding Ryan should bring a freshness to the staff, and maybe even the entire defensive side of the ball.
With Ryan's hiring now complete, the Cowboys can move their attention to other assistant positions. It's been speculated that Ryan will bring in some assistants from Cleveland's staff. Two names being reported are defensive line coach Bryan Cox, an 11-year NFL veteran linebacker, and Jerome Henderson, who also played eight seasons in the league and spent the last two years as the Browns' defensive backs coach.
