The Redskins continue to interview defensive coordinator candidates, most recently speaking with Rob Ryan. Ryan is the former defensive coordinator for four different teams.
The Washington Redskins on Monday announced that they have interviewed Rob Ryan for the team’s defensive coordinator position.
The interview is the third confirmed by the Redskins this week, as Mike Pettine and Gus Bradley have also spoke with Washington about the position.
Ryan, 54, began his NFL coaching career with the Arizona Cardinals in 1994, serving two seasons as the team’s defensive backs coach.
During his time with the Cardinals, Ryan helped Pro Football Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams earn his first two trips to the Pro Bowl.
In 1994, Williams led the NFL in interceptions with nine and was named a first-team All-Pro during the 1995 season.
The Cardinals would rank No. 1 in the NFL in takeaways during the 1995 season with 42.
Ryan would join the college ranks for four seasons before returning to the NFL in 2000 as linebackers coach for the New England Patriots.
In his four seasons with New England (2000-03), the Patriots won two Super Bowls behind a defense led by linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest, who was named a Pro Bowler following the 2003 season.
The Patriots allowed just 238 points during the 2003 regular season – lowest in the NFL – before holding both the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts to 14 points each in the playoffs.
Ryan was named defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders for the 2004 season.
Ryan was named the USA Today All-Joe Coordinator of the Year for the 2006 season, as Oakland led the NFL in pass defense (150.8 yards per game) and ranked third in total defense (284.8).
In 2008, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was named to his first Pro Bowl after collecting 40 tackles along with nine passes defensed and a forced fumble.
The Cleveland Browns named Ryan their defensive coordinator for the 2009 season before the coach joined the Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff as defensive coordinator in 2011.
In his first season with the Cowboys, Ryan led a defense that improved its total defense ranking from 23rd to 14th.
The Cowboys were one of three teams to have two players record at least 10 sacks during the 2012 season, as DeMarcus Ware (11.5) and Anthony Spencer (11) hit the double-digit mark.
Ryan was named defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in 2013 and immediately made an impact, as the unit ranked fourth-overall in total defense (305.7 yards allowed per game) and points allowed per game (19). In the season prior to his arrival, the Saints allowed more than 28 points per game.
Additionally, the Saints’ 134.4-yard-per-game decrease from the 2012 season to the 2013 season marked the biggest single-year improvement since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
Ryan was assistant head coach/defense for the Buffalo Bills during the 2016 season.
