Redskins hire Rob Ryan as inside linebackers coach

The Washington Redskins have hired longtime NFL defensive guru Rob Ryan as inside linebackers coach.

The team announced the move Wednesday, a day after promoting Kevin O’Connell to offensive coordinator on coach Jay Gruden’s staff. Ryan most recently served as the Buffalo Bills’ assistant head coach for defense in 2016.

Before Buffalo, Ryan served as defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints from 2013-2015, Dallas Cowboys in 2011 and 2012, Cleveland Browns in 2009 and 2010 and Oakland Raiders from 2004-2008. His 2013 Saints’ defense ranked second in passing defense and fourth in points allowed.

Redskins players should be excited to work with a personality like Ryan, and some players are already expressing their approval of the hire on social media. Ryan started his coaching career in 1987 as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky. While he has worked in several different capacities on defense, he has worked with linebackers for the majority of his career.

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The 56-year-old takes over a role on a defense that ranked 17th in the league last season. Defensive co-ordinator Greg Manusky will return for a third season after the Redskins spoke with several potential candidates for the job but never hired a replacement.
Ryan is the second ex-coordinator the team hired to bolster the defense, joining secondary coach Ray Horton. Ryan was a coordinator in Oakland, Cleveland, Dallas and New Orleans. He last spent time as a position coach with New England from 2000 to ’03, working with the linebackers. Ryan’s long, flowing hair and penchant for colorful quotes will provide the Redskins’ defense with more personality, if nothing else. But what they need most is a change in success. Washington’s defense hasn’t finished in the top 10 in points or yards allowed since 2009.

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