clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Rex Ryan hires brother Rob Ryan as Bills assistant head coach, defense

Twin brothers Rex Ryan and Rob Ryan will be coaching together in 2016 for the Buffalo Bills; the last time they did so was in 1994-95, when the two sons worked for their father, Buddy Ryan, in Arizona.

Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan has added his twin brother, Rob Ryan, to his coaching staff in Buffalo, according to a report from FOX reporter Alex Marvez.

The Bills confirmed the news late on Sunday night with an official announcement, confirming that Ryan will hold the role of assistant head coach/defense. In that writeup, Chris Brown writes: "Ryan is expected to help oversee the defense and assist with offseason preparations and game planning during the season."

No change in the role of defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman has been announced, and the Bills still have assistant head coach/running backs Anthony Lynn on staff, as well - though he has interviewed for a couple of head coach openings already this offseason.

Rob Ryan, you may recall, was fired as the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints earlier this year. After the firing, he traveled to Buffalo and helped the Bills prepare for some NFC opponents in the latter part of the season.

Now, the two Ryan brothers will be coaching together again for the first time since the 1994-95 seasons, when both were Arizona Cardinals assistants working under their father, Buddy Ryan. Rex coached the defensive line and linebackers on those teams, while Rob was the defensive backs coach.