Rob Ryan

Biography

Rob Ryan, a Super Bowl-winning coach with 36 years of experience enters his second season at USC. In his 35 years of coaching, including 24 seasons in the NFL, 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), Baltimore Ravens (2021) and Las Vegas Raiders (22-24). Throughout his career, Ryan coached multiple Pro Football Hall of Famers and All-Pros. In 2025, Ryan coached LB Desman Stephens who led the Trojans with 89 tackles on the season. He also collected 3 TFLs for minus 6 yards, a forced fumble and a QB hurry. LB Eric Gentry recorded 75 tackles, including 7 for loss of 26 yards (with 3 sacks for minus 15 yards), 4 forced fumbles, 2 PBUs and 12 QB hurries. His 4 forced fumbled led the Big Ten and were no. 3 in the nation. Gentry was a Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist and was a 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl invitee. Prior to arriving at Troy, Ryan most recently served as a senior defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-24. During the 2022 season, Ryan helped guide DE Maxx Crosby to his second Pro Bowl selection after recording 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 beca