Former Jets and Bills head coach Rex Ryan is "considered the favorite" to become the next Denver Broncos defensive coordinator, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday.
The news comes days after Ryan, currently an ESPN analyst, met with Broncos HC Sean Payton to discuss the position. Among a handful of known interviewees, the 60-year-old "emerged as a top candidate" following the sitdown, per Rapoport.
The son of legendary Buddy Ryan — creator of the famed 46 defensive front — Rex has over two decades of NFL coaching experience, beginning with the Ravens in 1999. He was promoted to coordinator in 2006 and took home PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year honors as Baltimore boasted the league's top-ranked defense, which notched 60 sacks and 40 takeaways.
Ryan spun the success into a head-coaching gig with New York, who twice reached the AFC Championship Game (2009, 2010) under his watch. He then spent two seasons (2015-16) as Buffalo's boss, finishing his career with a cumulative 65-68 record, including a 4-2 playoff mark.
Although out of football for the last half-decade, Ryan is widely regarded as an all-time defensive mastermind, no different than ex-Broncos Wade Phillips or Vic Fangio. His fire-and-brimstone attitude and aggressive mentality — "if you take a swipe at one of ours, we'll take two swipes at one of yours," he once said — could be the cure for what ails an organization that's turned complacent since Super Bowl 50.
But while Ryan might be Payton's preference, he's hardly Denver's only option. The team has also interviewed Seahawks associate HC Sean Desai and Saints co-DC Kris Richard and is meeting Friday with former Broncos HC and Cardinals DC Vance Joseph.
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