Rob Ryan returned to the Silver and Black in 2022 and enters his third season as the Raiders' senior defensive assistant, bringing 34 years of coaching experience to the position, including 23 seasons in the NFL ranks.

Rob Ryan returned to the Silver and Black in 2022 and enters his third season as the Raiders' senior defensive assistant, bringing 34 years of coaching experience to the position, including 23 seasons in the NFL ranks.

Ryan has served as the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders (2004-08), Cleveland Browns (2009-10), Dallas Cowboys (2011-12) and New Orleans Saints (2013-15), while also holding coaching positions with the Arizona Cardinals (1994-95), New England Patriots (2000-03), Buffalo Bills (2016), Washington Redskins (2019) and Baltimore Ravens (2021).

Last season (2023), Ryan helped lead a unit that allowed just 331 points, the ninth best mark in the NFL and the fewest points allowed by the Raiders in a single season since 2002 (304). The Raiders defense also recorded five defensive touchdowns in 2023, the second most in the league and tied for the third most in a single season in franchise history – the most since 2000 (6). Ryan also helped lead the defense to a major improvement from the first half of the season to the second half after Antonio Pierce became the interim head coach in Week 9. From Week 9-18, the Raiders defense ranked first in the NFL points allowed per game (16.0), tied for third in sacks (30), first in defensive touchdowns (4) and tied for 10th in takeaways (14).

In his first season since rejoining the Silver and Black (2022), Ryan helped guide DE Maxx Crosby to his second Pro Bowl selection after career bests in tackles (88), tackles for loss (22) and sacks (12.5). Crosby's 88 tackles are the most in a single season by a Raiders defensive lineman and he became only the second defensive lineman in franchise history to record 20+ tackles for loss in a single season. He also worked with four-time Pro Bowler DE Chandler Jones, who finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Under the guidance of Ryan, the defense ranked 19th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (122.8 yards per game) and saw a slight improvement in tackles for loss (68) and stuffs (39) from the previous year.

Ryan spent the 2021 season as the inside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens. During his time with the Ravens, Ryan helped guide LB Patrick Queen as he led the team with 98 tackles. Ryan's group was instrumental to the No. 1 ranked run defense in the NFL (84.5 yards per game).

In 2019, Ryan coached inside linebackers for Washington, helping guide LB Jon Bostic to a career-high 105 tackles. He also tutored rookie LB Cole Holcomb, who finished second in the NFL among rookie defenders with 101 tackles.

In 2016, Ryan served as the Buffalo Bills' assistant head coach/defense under his brother Rex Ryan. The defense ranked sixth in the NFL in passing defense (223.9 yards per game) and eighth in sacks (39) and produced four Pro Bowlers in DT Kyle Williams, LB Lorenzo Alexander, LB Zach Brown and CB Stephon Gilmore.

From 2013-15, Ryan served as defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints…In 2015, Ryan led a defensive unit that was among the youngest in the NFL and helped mentor a rookie class that included LB Stephone Anthony and LB Hau'oli Kikaha. Under the guidance of Ryan, Anthony finished with 144 tackles, first among rookies, and was named to the All-Rookie Team, while Kikaha recorded four forced fumbles, tied for second in the NFL and ranked first among rookies.

Ryan helped DE Cameron Jordan earn his second Pro Bowl selection after finishing with 10 sacks. In 2014, Ryan guided LB Curtis Lofton to a career-high 144 tackles, the fourth-most in the NFL, while DE Cameron Jordan recorded 7.5 sacks.

In 2013, Ryan led a Saints' defensive unit that finished fourth in the NFL in total defense (305.7), a 28-place improvement from the prior season. The unit ranked in the top-10 in many defensive categories, including sacks (49-fourth), pass defense (194.1-second), scoring defense (19.0-fourth) and third down conversion percentage (34.7-ninth). Ryan helped S Kenny Vaccaro earn PFWA All-Rookie Team honors after leading the secondary with 77 tackles and saw DE Cam Jordan selected to his first Pro Bowl after ranking fifth in the league with a career-high 12.5 sacks.

Ryan spent two seasons as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator from 2011-12, working with OLB DeMarcus Ware who recorded double-digit sacks totals and earned Pro Bowl honors in both seasons. In 2012, Ryan led a defense that produced two Pro Bowl selections in DE Anthony Spencer and Ware. Spencer posted a career-high 11 sacks while Ware led the team with 11.5 sacks, making the Cowboys one of three teams in the NFL to have two players with 11-plus sacks. In 2011, Ryan helped Ware to his sixth Pro Bowl selection and fourth first-team All-Pro recognition after finishing second in the NFL with 19.5 sacks…Ryan also helped second year LB Sean Lee lead the team with 102 tackles.

From 2009-10, Ryan served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. In 2010, the Browns' defense tied for eighth in the NFL with 19 interceptions and Ryan saw six different players post multiple takeaways…Ryan guided a secondary that included rookie CB Joe Haden, who tied for fifth in the NFL and second among rookies with a career-high six interceptions. Ryan also mentored rookie S T.J. Ward, who finished first among all rookies and sixth among all defensive backs in the NFL with 105 tackles. Both players were named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Under Ryan's guidance, the Browns defense allowed the fourth-fewest rushing touchdowns (seven). During his first season with the Browns, Ryan led a defensive unit that ranked eighth in the NFL in sacks (40).

Ryan earned his first NFL defensive coordinator position with the Raiders and spent five seasons (2004-08) with the club, helping produce a pair of Pro Bowlers DE Derrick Burgess and CB Nnamdi Asomugha. In 2006, Ryan oversaw a defense that led the NFL in pass defense and ranked third in total defense. The Raiders defense under Ryan also ranked fourth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per play, fifth in defense inside the 20, fifth (tie) in defensive touchdowns and fifth in net passing yards per play. Ryan's defensive schemes in 2006 also helped Derrick Burgess record 12 sacks and play in his second straight Pro Bowl and Warren Sapp record 10 sacks, an NFL high for defensive tackles. In addition, the defensive schemes helped Nnamdi Asomugha post a career high eight interceptions. In 2005, Ryan saw Burgess named to his first Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with a career-high 16 sacks.

Prior to the Raiders, Ryan spent four years (200-03) as the linebackers coach for the New England Patriots…Ryan was part of two Super Bowl championship teams (XXXVI and XXXVIII). In 2003, Ryan's squad helped the Patriots defense rank first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (238) while ranking seventh overall in the NFL in total defense (291.6 yards per game). Ryan's unit also contributed to one of the best scoring defenses in franchise history in 2001, as the Patriots allowed just 14.9 points per game and produced Pro Bowlers Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi.

Ryan originally entered the NFL coaching ranks in 1994 as defensive backs coach on his father's staff at Arizona. He also coached Cardinals cornerbacks and safeties in 1995. With Ryan as his position coach, CB Aeneas Williams earned two trips to the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, the Cardinals led the NFL with 32 interceptions and 42 total takeaways. The 1994 Cardinals ranked second in the NFL total defense, second in run defense and third in pass defense.

From 1997-99, Ryan was Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator, where the Cowboys defense continually ranked among the best in the nation. He was named Coordinator of the Year by The Sporting News in 1997. In 1999, they were ranked 10th in the nation in total defense. In 1998, they were second in the nation with 41 sacks. In his first season at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys defense finished among the nation's top-20 in turnover margin, rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense, allowing just 302.7 yards per game…It was an over 100-yard improvement per game from the year before and helped the Cowboys produce an 8-4 mark and an Alamo Bowl berth.

Ryan was a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky in 1987 and at Ohio State in 1988. Ryan then spent five seasons at Tennessee State, where he coached running backs (1989-91), linebackers (1992) and the defensive line (1993).

He served as defensive coordinator at Hutchinson Community College in 1996, where they led the nation in total defense (228 yards per game) and in sacks (56)…His defense also set a national record by forcing 49 turnovers.

PERSONAL: Ryan played three seasons as an outside linebacker at Southwestern Oklahoma State…He is the son of NFL defensive coaching legend Buddy Ryan…His twin brother, Rex, was a head coach in the NFL for the New York Jets (2009-14) and Buffalo Bills (2015-16)…Rob and his wife, Kristin, have two sons, Joseph and Matthew, and a daughter, Dimitria.