Rob Ryan named new USC linebacker coach

(The following is a USC press release)

LOS ANGELES—Rob Ryan, a Super Bowl-winning coach with 35 years of experience, has been named USC’s assistant head coach for defense/linebackers coach, head coach Lincoln Riley announced today (Jan. 18). 

“Rob Ryan is one of the most accomplished defensive coaches in NFL history,” said Riley. “With over two decades of NFL experience, he will immediately bolster our staff as we continue our climb here at USC. He has coached some of the NFL’s top players, including numerous Hall of Famers and All-Pro selections. We’re thrilled to welcome Coach Ryan and his family to our program.”

In his 35 years of coaching, including 24 seasons in the NFL, Ryan has served as the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders (2004-08), Cleveland Browns (2009-10), Dallas Cowboys (2011-12) and New Orleans Saints (2013-15), while also holding coaching positions with the Arizona Cardinals (1994-95), New England Patriots (2000-03), Buffalo Bills (2016), Washington Redskins (2019), Baltimore Ravens (2021) and Las Vegas Raiders (22-24).

Ryan most recently served as a senior defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-24.

During the 2022 season, Ryan helped guide DE Maxx Crosby to his second Pro Bowl selection after recording career bests in tackles (88), tackles for loss (22) and sacks (12.5). Crosby’s 88 tackles are the most in a single season by a Raiders defensive lineman, and he became only the second defensive lineman in franchise history to record 20+ tackles for loss in a single season. He also worked with four-time Pro Bowler DE Chandler Jones, who finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Under the guidance of Ryan, the defense ranked 19^th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (122.8 yards per game) and saw a slight improvement in tackles for loss (68) and stuffs (39) from the previous year.

In 2023, Ryan helped lead a unit that allowed just 331 points, the ninth best mark in the NFL and the fewest points allowed by the Raiders in a single season since 2002 (304). The Raiders defense also recorded 5 defensive touchdowns in 2023, the second most in the league and tied for the third most in a single season in franchise history – the most since 2000 (6). Ryan also helped lead the defense to a major improvement from the first half of the season to the second half after Antonio Pierce became the interim head coach in Week 9. From Week 9-18, the Raiders defense ranked first in the NFL points allowed per game (16.0), tied for third in sacks (30), first in defensive touchdowns (4) and tied for 10^th in takeaways (14).

In 2024, Ryan helped Crosby earn his fourth Pro Bowl nod as he finished third in the NFL in tackles for loss (17) despite missing four games. As one of the league’s best pass rushers, Crosby finished the season with 45 tackles, including 17 for loss with 7.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits and 5 passes defended in 12 games before a season-ending ankle surgery. Crosby has tied 12 other Raiders with 4 Pro Bowl appearances, which ranks seventh in franchise history. LB Robert Spillane notched a team-leading  and career-high 158 tackles, including 10 for loss with 2 sacks, 7 deflected passes and 2 interceptions.

Ryan spent the 2021 season as the inside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens. During his time with the Ravens, Ryan helped guide LB Patrick Queen as he led the team with 98 tackles. Ryan’s position group was instrumental to the No. 1 ranked run defense in the NFL (84.5 yards per game).

In 2019, Ryan coached inside linebackers for the Washington Redskins, helping guide LB Jon Bostic to a career-high 105 tackles. He also tutored rookie LB Cole Holcomb, who finished second in the NFL among rookie defenders with 101 tackles.

During the 2016 season, Ryan served as the Buffalo Bills’ assistant head coach/defense under his twin brother, head coach Rex Ryan. The defense ranked sixth in the NFL in passing defense (223.9 yards per game), eighth in sacks (39) and produced 4 Pro Bowlers in DT Kyle Williams, LB Lorenzo Alexander, LB Zach Brown and CB Stephon Gilmore.

From 2013-15, Ryan served as defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. 

In 2013, Ryan led a Saints’ defensive unit that finished fourth in the NFL in total defense (305.7), a 28-place improvement from the prior season. The unit ranked in the Top 10 in many defensive categories, including second in pass defense (194.1), fourth in sacks (49), fourth in scoring defense (19.0) and ninth in third down conversion percentage (34.7). Ryan helped S Kenny Vaccaro earn Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team honors after leading the secondary with 77 tackles. He also mentored DE Cameron Jordan as he was selected to his first Pro Bowl after ranking fifth in the league with a career-high 12.5 sacks.

In 2014, He guided LB Curtis Lofton to a career-high 144 tackles, the fourth-most in the NFL, while DE Cameron Jordan recorded 7.5 sacks.  

In 2015, Ryan led a defensive unit that was among the youngest in the NFL and helped mentor a rookie class that included LB Stephone Anthony and LB Hau’oli Kikaha. Under the guidance of Ryan, Anthony finished with 112 tackles, first among rookies, and was named to the All-Rookie Team, while Kikaha recorded 4 forced fumbles to tie for second in the NFL and rank first among rookies. Ryan helped DE Cameron Jordan earn his second Pro Bowl selection after finishing with 10 sacks.

Ryan spent two seasons as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator from 2011-12, working with OLB DeMarcus Ware who recorded double-digit sacks totals and earned Pro Bowl honors in both seasons. In 2011, Ryan helped Ware to his sixth Pro Bowl selection and fourth All-Pro First Team recognition after finishing second in the NFL with 19.5 sacks, the second most during his career. Ryan also helped second year LB Sean Lee lead the team with 105 tackles. In 2012, Ryan led a defense that produced 2 Pro Bowl selections in DE Anthony Spencer and Ware (his seventh-consecutive Pro Bowl). Spencer posted a career-high 11 sacks while Ware led the team with 11.5 sacks, making the Cowboys one of three teams in the NFL to have two players with 11-plus sacks.

From 2009-10, Ryan served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. During his first season with the Browns, Ryan led a defensive unit that ranked eighth in the NFL in sacks (40).

In 2010, the Browns’ defense tied for eighth in the NFL with 19 interceptions and Ryan saw 6 different players post multiple takeaways. Cleveland also ranked 13^th in points allowed (20.8). Ryan guided a secondary that included rookie CB Joe Haden, who tied for fifth in the NFL and second among rookies with a career-high 6 interceptions. Ryan also mentored rookie S T.J. Ward, who finished first among all rookies and sixth among all defensive backs in the NFL with 123 tackles. Both players were named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. Under Ryan’s guidance, the Browns defense allowed the fourth-fewest rushing touchdowns (7). 

Ryan earned his first NFL defensive coordinator position with the Raiders and spent five seasons (2004-08) with the organization, where, during that span, his units ranked sixth in the NFL in pass defense (199.2). He helped produce a pair of Pro Bowlers: DE Derrick Burgess and CB Nnamdi Asomugha. In 2005, Ryan saw Burgess named to his first Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with a career-high 16 sacks. In 2006, Ryan oversaw a defense that led the NFL in pass defense and ranked third in total defense. The Raiders defense under Ryan also ranked fourth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per play, fifth in defense inside the 20, tied for fifth in defensive touchdowns and fifth in net passing yards per play. Ryan’s defensive schemes in 2006 also helped Burgess record 11 sacks and play in his second straight Pro Bowl and DT Warren Sapp record 10 sacks, an NFL high for defensive tackles. In addition, the defensive schemes helped CB Nnamdi Asomugha post a career-high 8 interceptions to tie for third in the league. 

Prior to the Raiders, Ryan spent four years (2000-03) as the linebackers coach for the New England Patriots. He was part of 2 Super Bowl championship teams (XXXVI and XXXVIII). Ryan’s unit contributed to one of the best scoring defenses in franchise history in 2001, as the Patriots allowed just 14.9 points per game and recorded 29 interceptions to rank first in the NFL in both categories. New England’s run defense also ranked fourth in the league (89.6). In 2003, Ryan’s squad helped the Patriots defense rank first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (238) while ranking seventh overall in the NFL in total defense (291.6 yards per game). Ryan mentored Pro Bowlers LB Willie McGinest and LB Tedy Bruschi.

From 1997-99, Ryan coached college ball and was Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator, where he led the Cowboys defense to continually rank among the best in the nation. He was named Coordinator of the Year by The Sporting News in 1997. In his first season at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys defense finished among the nation’s  Top 20 in turnover margin, rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense, allowing just 302.7 yards per game. It was an over 100-yard improvement per game from the year before. The Cowboys produced an 8-4 record and concluded the year with an Alamo Bowl appearance. Following the season, DB R.W. McQuarters was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the NFL Draft. In 1998, the Cowboys were second in the nation in sacks with 41. In 1999, Oklahoma State was ranked 10^th in the nation in total defense.

Ryan served as defensive coordinator at Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) in 1996, where the Blue Dragons led the nation in total defense (228 yards per game) and in sacks (56). His defense also set a national record by forcing 49 turnovers.

Ryan originally entered the NFL coaching ranks in 1994 as defensive backs coach on his father’s staff with the Arizona Cardinals. He was with the club or 2 years (1994-95). With Ryan as his position coach, CB Aeneas Williams earned two trips to the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995. The 1994 Cardinals ranked second in the NFL total defense, second in run defense and third in pass defense. In 1995, the Cardinals led the NFL with 32 interceptions and 42 total takeaways. 

Ryan was a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky in 1987 and at Ohio State in 1988. Ryan then spent five seasons at Tennessee State, where he coached running backs (1989-91), linebackers (1992) and the defensive line (1993).

Ryan played outside linebacker at Southwestern Oklahoma State (1981-82). He is the son of NFL defensive coaching legend Buddy Ryan. His twin brother, Rex, was a head coach in the NFL for the New York Jets (2009-14) and Buffalo Bills (2015-16).

Ryan’s hiring is contingent upon completion of a successful background screening.