Broncos Interviewed Rex Ryan for Defensive Coordinator Role, per Report

The former Jets and Bills head coach may be headed from the studio back to the sideline.

Sean Payton has started to put together his staff with the Broncos, and he’s eyeing an intriguing candidate for one of the team’s top roles: Rex Ryan.

Jay Glazer reported Sunday morning that Payton recently interviewed Ryan to be Denver’s defensive coordinator.

Ryan has been out of the NFL’s coaching ranks since 2016, when he served as the head coach of the Bills. He’s since gone on to become an analyst at ESPN, making regular appearances on Sunday NFL Countdown.

Prior to his move to television, Ryan amassed an extensive résumé in the league, most notably during head coaching stints with the Jets (2009–14) and Buffalo (2015–16). He also spent nearly a decade with the Ravens during the early 2000s as a defensive assistant, including three years as defensive coordinator. 

A little Sunday morning scoopage: new Broncos head coach Sean Payton interview a surprise candidate this week to be his defensive coordinator, ESPN’s Rex Ryan @NFLonFOX

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) February 12, 2023

Payton, one of the most coveted coaching candidates of this hiring cycle, was hired by Denver last month. The Super Bowl XLIV champion spent the 2022 season away from the sidelines in a television role with Fox after coaching the Saints from 2006 to ’11 and 2013 to ’21. 

In joining the Broncos, Payton will seek to turn around a franchise that underperformed after making a blockbuster trade for quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason. Denver hired former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to serve as head coach, but ultimately fired him after a 4–11 start in his first year on the job. The Broncos went onto finish the season 5–12.

Despite some of the shortcomings of Denver’s roster last year, the defense impressed, ranking seventh in the league in yards allowed per game (320.0) and tied for 14th in scoring defense (21.1). Whomever Payton chooses for the job will inherit a talented group that likely will serve as the Broncos’ backbone in 2023.