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Rob Ryan is heading back to college football.
The longtime NFL assistant coach and brother of former Jets and Bills head coach Rex Ryan was named the new linebackers coach at USC on Saturday. USC needed a linebackers coach after former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz was named the head coach at Fresno State following the 2024 season.
“Rob Ryan is one of the most accomplished defensive coaches in NFL history,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said in a statement. “With over two decades of NFL experience, he will immediately bolster our staff as we continue our climb here at USC. He has coached some of the NFL’s top players, including numerous Hall of Famers and All-Pro selections. We’re thrilled to welcome Coach Ryan and his family to our program.”
The job at USC will be Ryan’s first in college football since 1999 when he was in his final season of a three-year tenure as Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator. Since then, he’s been a defensive assistant for eight different franchises and was the defensive coordinator for the Raiders, Browns, Cowboys, Saints and Bills in that time.
Ryan has been serving as a defensive assistant for the Raiders over the last three seasons. It was his second stint with the Raiders after he was the team’s defensive coordinator from 2004 through 2008.
Ryan’s hire comes days after the school signed defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to a new contract. Lynn was hired from UCLA to run the Trojans’ defense after the 2023 season.
Lynn took over for the fired Alex Grinch after USC’s defense was abysmal during the 2023 season. Though USC finished the 2024 season at 7-6, the defense improved from 2023. Two seasons ago, USC allowed 71 plays per game and 6.1 yards per play as opposing teams scored 34.4 points per game. In 2024, USC allowed 65 plays per game for 5.8 yards each and gave up 24.1 points a game.
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