Saints History Between Sean Payton, Rob Ryan, and Rex Ryan

Former New Orleans coach Sean Payton has interviewed Rex Ryan for a defensive coordinator spot in Denver. Saints fans have seen this type of combination before.

Bob Rose | Feb 19, 2023

Saints History Between Sean Payton, Rob Ryan, and Rex Ryan /

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Former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton continues to put together his staff as head coach of the Denver Broncos.

Payton has already pulled Zach Strief (offensive line) and Declan Doyle (tight ends) off the New Orleans staff to join him in Denver. He also hired Mike Westhoff to coach the Broncos special teams. Westoff was Payton's special teams coach for the Saints in 2017 and 2018. Other New Orleans assistants Ronald Curry and Kevin Petry interviewed with the Broncos, but will remain with the Saints in 2023.

Another former coach with some intriguing ties is the reported frontrunner for the Broncos defensive coordinator position. Current ESPN analyst and former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan interviewed with Payton and the Broncos on Saturday. He and Vance Joseph are considered the two leading candidates for the position.

Ryan was also a very successful defensive assistant and coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens from 1999-2008 before being hired by the Jets in 2009. He's been out of coaching since 2016.

Rex Ryan has never worked with Sean Payton or for the New Orleans Saints. It's his family connection to Payton that creates the most intriguing storyline if hired.

Rex's fraternal twin brother, Rob Ryan, was Payton's defensive coordinator in New Orleans from 2013 to 2015. Rob has been a highly regarded NFL assistant for 25 years. However, his least successful stint among his nine NFL employers was with the Saints.

After a yearlong suspension in 2012, Payton hired Rob Ryan as his defensive coordinator in 2013 to take the place of fired Steve Spagnuolo. In his first season with the Saints, Ryan's defense ranked fourth in total defense and second against the pass for an 11-5 New Orleans squad.

After that strong start, the New Orleans defense declined rapidly under Rob Ryan's watch. The Saints were 28th in points allowed, 31st in total yardage, and ranked close to the bottom of the NFL in most categories in 2014.

In 2015, the New Orleans defense ranked dead last in points allowed and 31st in total yards, rushing yards, and passing yards. Payton fired Ryan 10 games into the 2015 campaign after giving up 130 points and 1,409 yards during a three-game stretch.

Ryan was replaced by Dennis Allen at mid-season, who remained defensive coordinator until taking over the head coaching spot last year. The 2015 New Orleans Saints gave up the ninth-most yards in NFL history during a 16-game season and second most points in franchise history.

Nov 24, 2014; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan on the sidelines against the Baltimore Ravens. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

More than just the defensive struggles, Payton and Ryan had an obvious disconnect on the sideline. They were a volatile mixture from the start that clearly didn't get along.

Sean Payton is a huge personality. It's one of the things that made him so beloved in New Orleans. Both Ryan brothers have equally large personalities, which is a big reason why the Payton-Rob Ryan combination was a failed experiment.

Could a Payton-Rex Ryan team fare any different in Denver? If hired, it could at least provide a source of entertainment for Saints fans outside of their own team.

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