Bills Ex Rex Ryan Interviews for Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Job

Former Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan reportedly interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys, who are looking to fill the defensive coordinator role Dan Quinn vacated.

The Dallas Cowboys raised eyebrows when they interviewed former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer for their open defensive coordinator gig. Zimmer had been out of the sport for two seasons, which isn’t a death sentence but could put a dent in his candidacy.

Being away from a coaching position isn’t going to disqualify any of Dallas’ candidates.

On Wednesday, Josina Anderson reported that former Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan interviewed for the Cowboys’ opening.

Dec 24, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan (wearing vest) on the sideline during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at New Era Field. The Dolphins beat the Bills 34-31 in overtime / Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan preceded current Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott, calling the shots for the Bills from 2015 to 2016. He hasn’t held a professional coaching job since.

The eccentric defensive mind quickly took his character to television joining ESPN in 2017, where he currently resides.

Ryan is perhaps best known for the physical, dynamic defenses from his time as head coach of the New York Jets (2009–2014). He took Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez to back-to-back AFC Championship Games, but couldn’t get over the hump. The brightest moment of his coaching career was taking down Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the 2010 AFC Divisional Round.

Before his stay in the Big Apple (or a dozen miles northwest), Ryan was a well-respected defensive mind who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens. He began his stint in Baltimore as a defensive line coach in 1999 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005 and assistant head coach in 2008.

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Few are doubting Ryan's acumen, and his resumé speaks for itself, but his defenses in Buffalo never cracked the top 10 by expected points added per play or success rate. If he’s to get the job, he’ll do so with the pressures of a lame-duck head coach in Mike McCarthy and a defense that fared well in the regular season.

He’ll be compared to Quinn, of course, but he’ll be measured by his ability to stop San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and the branches of his tree. Quinn couldn’t, and almost a decade away from NFL employment, Ryan may not be able to, either.