Rex Ryan was apparently trying to do more than just help his twin brother out when he hired Rob to his coaching staff with the Buffalo Bills last season.
Gay Myers of the New York Daily News was told by a source that Rex “dedicated the 2016 season to resurrecting the reputation of his brother Rob.” While Rob was not formally given the title of defensive coordinator with the Bills, he was essentially the co-head coach and was given plenty of power over the team.
According to the report, Buffalo’s staff became “dysfunctional” because Rex was so concerned with propping up his brother. Meyers notes that Rex came across like a “coach with a death wish” with the way he carried himself behind closed doors.
Rob Ryan was fired by the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys before being hired by his brother. Like Rex, Rob is a defensive-minded coach. With two supposed defensive gurus at the helm, the Bills finished in the middle of the NFL in both total team defense and points allowed per game last season.
When we heard reports like this one toward the end of the season, it became clear that the Ryan brothers may have dug their own graves together. You have to commend Rex for trying to help out his family, but it proved costly in the end.
