Patriots Nemesis Rex Ryan Joining Broncos, Coming to Gillette Stadium?

Might a familiar New England Patriots adversary be headed to Mile High?

Seven years after his unceremonious dismissal as coach of the Buffalo Bills, former Patriots nemesis Rex Ryan has reportedly emerged as a ‘top candidate’ to join newly installed head coach Sean Payton with the Denver Broncos.

Per a NFL Network report, Ryan would be joining Payton as Denver’s defensive coordinator. It was previously reported on Sunday that Ryan had interviewed with the Broncos for the position left vacant by the departure of Ejiro Evero to the Carolina Panthers.

Ryan is arguably best known for his tenure as head coach of the New York Jets from 2009-2014. Ryan immediately re-ignited the Pats-Jets rivalry during his introductory press conference, in which he infamously declared that he “wasn’t there to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings.” He initially lived up to the hype by winning three of his first five games against the Patriots, including a playoff game in 2010. Ryan’s Jets would go 1-7 against the Patriots over the next four years.

Since his bold declaration in 2009, Belichick has acquired three additional Super Bowl rings — all of which Ryan expectedly will decline to kiss, as well.

Still, in his first two seasons as Jets head coach, Ryan led the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances. However, much like his time in Western New York, Ryan’s remaining time with the Jets was more extensively marked by struggle than success. The Jets relieved him of his duties in Dec. 2014.

Ryan spent two seasons as head coach of the Bills, earning a 15-16 record. His time in Western New York came to an end on Dec. 27, 2016 following a Christmas Eve loss to the Miami Dolphins, which eliminated the Bills from playoff contention. He was succeeded by then-offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn for the final game of the season, before current coach Sean McDermott took the reins in 2017.

Still, Ryan is no stranger to being a pro-level defensive assistant. He joined the Baltimore Ravens in 1999, serving as their defensive line coach until 2004. In 2005, he became the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, and later was promoted to be the team's assistant head coach in 2008.

In his first year with the club, Baltimore’s defense was ranked second overall in the NFL and second in rushing yards allowed. By his second season, the Ravens' defense set NFL records for fewest points allowed (just over 10 points per game) and fewest rushing yards allowed with 60. Baltimore’s preventive unit allowed a combined 23 points in four playoff games en route to their victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. In Ryan’s nine collective years in Baltimore, the team’s defense never ranked lower than sixth overall.

Since being fired by the Bills in 2016, Ryan has remained away from the sidelines. The 60-year-old has worked as an analyst for ESPN, primarily on Sunday NFL Countdown.

With the Broncos slated to visit Gillette Stadium in 2023, both Payton and Ryan may be standing on the sidelines in opposition to Belichick, Bill O’Brien and the Patriots coaching staff.

Whether Belichick will be wearing his rings to welcome Ryan back to Foxboro is still a matter of conjecture.

Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots

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