Rob Ryan reflects on early years with Belichick, Patriots
One of the NFL’s most colorful figures, Rob Ryan, joined Zolak & Bertrand from Radio Row just minutes before news of his return to the NFL was announced.
Ryan will join the Washington Redskins as their inside linebackers coach, news he foreshadowed in his Sports Hub sit down.
Ryan has not coached in the NFL since working on his brother Rex’s staff in Buffalo in 2016.
“I know I’m great, but nobody else did, so I’ve been out for a while,” Ryan quipped. “I never lost a game in the last two years, so I’m on a roll.”
Before Ryan’s destination was publicly announced, Albert Breer asked him if he would have any interest in returning to New England, where he worked under Bill Belichick from 2000-2003. Ryan indicated he has heard the Patriots plan to promote from within to replace defensive play-caller Brian Flores, who is expected to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins after the Super Bowl.
“Bill knows what he’s doing, he’s had a plan with these coaches leaving. He’s had extra coaches in the building that I’ve heard are going to replace him,” Ryan said.
But perhaps Ryan didn’t always trust Belichick’s judgment on football related matters. Their first year together, 2000, the Patriots went 5-11.
“The first year, I’m like, ‘man, I don’t know if this guy knows what he’s doing.’ But I’ve never been that great of a judge of talent,” Ryan cracked.
Ryan left the Patriots after Super Bowl XXXVIII to become the defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders.
“File that one under a poor decision,” he joked.
You can watch the full interview here: