Rob Ryan Hired as Defensive Coach for Bills: Comments and Reaction

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FILE - In this April 9, 2014, file photo, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, left, and New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan talk to each other during NFL football pro day in Baton Rouge, La. The Ryan twins are best known for their defensive acumen. After four weeks, they are looking defenseless. Rex's Jets are 1-3, have lost three in a row and can't cover anyone in the passing game. Rob's Saints, he's the defensive coordinator under coach Sean Payton, have been even worse than Rex's bunch. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman, File)

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

The Ryan brothers will reunite on the sidelines for the first time in two decades, as Rob Ryan has agreed to join head coach Rex Ryan's defensive staff with the Buffalo Bills.

Rex Ryan released a statement on the news Sunday evening and appeared on ESPN Radio on Monday morning:

Buffalo Bills PR @BuffaloBillsPR
.@buffalobills HC Rex Ryan on naming Rob Ryan the team’s assistant head coach/defense: https://t.co/tj6h04Z42v

Joe Buscaglia @JoeBuscaglia
#Bills HC Rex Ryan on ESPN Radio on the defense: "We're going to do things much differently next year, and we're going to be much better"

Joe Buscaglia @JoeBuscaglia
#Bills HC Rex Ryan on ESPN Radio: We got a lot better yesterday because of my brother.

Joe Buscaglia @JoeBuscaglia
#Bills HC Rex Ryan on ESPN Radio: There's no way Rob is the more handsome brother.

On Tuesday, Alex Marvez of Fox Sports reported defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman is "expected to work more with [defensive backs] now while Rex/Rob run the defense."

The New Orleans Saints fired Rob Ryan in November after he served as the team's defensive coordinator for two-plus seasons. Under Ryan, the Saints defense sank to the bottom of the league in 2015, giving up the most points per game on the season (29.8).

Rex Ryan, hired as Buffalo's head coach in 2015 after six seasons as the head coach of the AFC East rival New York Jets, has eight defensive coaches on his staff.

Rob Ryan has been a full-time defensive coordinator every year since 2004 and jumped from the Oakland Raiders to the Cleveland Browns to the Dallas Cowboys before landing in New Orleans.

Rob and Rex Ryan last coached together from 1994 to 1995 under their father, Buddy Ryan, with the Arizona Cardinals, where Rob oversaw defensive backs and Rex coached the defensive line and linebackers.

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Rex Ryan's Bills finished 8-8 on the season, and although they missed the playoffs, they prevented the Jets from making it with a 22-17 win in Week 17. Still, Rex hasn't reached the postseason since the 2010 season.