It likely is a surprise for Ryan, who wrongly predicted a couple of times where Payton would coach in 2023. On January 7, Ryan suggested Payton and retired QB Tom Brady could unite in New Orleans. Three weeks later, Ryan said the Commanders were a dark horse team to watch for in the Payton sweepstakes.
Ryan might be Payton’s second option as he looks to fill out his coaching staff in Denver. Per a December 2022 report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Payton planned on hiring Vic Fangio at DC when he got back into coaching. Fangio and the Dolphins agreed on terms for him to become their defensive coordinator in early February.
Payton apparently isn’t scarred after his first run with a Ryan brother ended in disaster. From 2013-2015, Rob Ryan was the Saints’ defensive coordinator. The run started strongly, and Ryan even became something of a folk hero in New Orleans as the team rebounded with a strong defense after a historically bad 2012 season.
He turned around a defense that allowed an NFL record 7,042 yards in 2012 into the No. 4-ranked unit in 2013. The defense turned back into a pumpkin in 2014 and Ryan was fired 10 games into the 2015 season after an ugly 47-14 loss to Washington.
Payton has a mixed bag of success at picking defensive coordinators. When he became New Orleans head coach in 2006, he brought along Gary Gibbs. That marriage ended after back-to-back ugly defensive seasons in 2007 and 2008.
Gregg Williams was hired in 2009 and had the most success of any coordinator. His tenure ended even worse than Ryan’s, however, both on and off the field. Fans are still terrorized by 49ers tight end Vernon Davis exposing the defense in a 36-32 divisional round loss.
Even worse, after that season the organization became embroiled in the “Bountygate” saga. Williams was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and reinstated 11 months later. Payton’s punishment was arguably even harsher; he was also suspended for the 2012 season and then had Kevin James play him in a bad Netflix movie based on that lost season in 2022.
Ryan was last a defensive coordinator from 2005-2008 with the Baltimore Ravens. He was hired as head coach of the New York Jets in 2009 and spent six seasons as Jets head coach. He then served as head coach for the Bills from 2015-2016.
It would be fascinating to see how two big personalities such as Payton and Ryan would gel. While there’s no questioning Ryan’s resume, he and Payton together could be a highly combustible union.
In 2011, The Star-Ledger’s Steve Politi wrote an article called “America’s most controversial coach” about Ryan in which he called the then-Jets head coach “an egotistical blowhard.” (h/t CNN.com)
Neither is afraid of ruffling opponents’ feathers and might ruffle each other’s as well.
With Payton as head coach, the Broncos should be much more entertaining to watch on offense next season. With Ryan as the defensive coordinator, the best show might come from the sideline.
