Twin brothers Rob and Rex Ryan are coaching together this season for the first time since they were on their father Buddy’s staff in 1995. They’re hoping to restore some luster to the Ryan name.
As the architect of the 1985 Bears, Buddy is one of the best defensive coordinators in NFL history, although he didn’t have great results as a head coach. Rex and Rob were both well-regarded defensive minds earlier in their career, but their defenses have struggled recently. Rob thinks this could be the year they restore the Ryan name to glory.
“Obviously, our family name is huge,” Rob told the Buffalo News. “You see those Top 10 things (on NFL Network) and Ryans are always a top-10 family . . . those Mannings are hard to beat out of the No. 1 spot. I think they might be there a while.
“Look, in coaching, everybody takes their lumps. I mean that is just the way it is. We want to get everything back. Do we want to win our sixth Super Bowl? Absolutely, and that is what we are going to fight to do every day.
“But, hey, a few years ago everybody was dumping on the Phillipses. I mean, shoot, I replaced Wade in Dallas. I mean he was out of work and then got back in, in Denver. He is an excellent football coach and he is a prideful man. He had an excellent coaching family -- his father [former Oilers and Saints coach Bum Phillips], his son [Washington tight ends coach Wes Phillips]. So, of course, there is a lot of pride in that. And we are Ryans and we believe in what our name is and what we are all about.”
Maybe the Bills’ defense will turn things around this season and restore the Ryan family name. Or maybe the Bills will miss the playoffs again, and both Ryans will be looking for work.