Robert Parmer
Footballguy
Rex Ryan has agreed to a new two-year contract with the Ravens, which will make him one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in the league, according to both general manager Ozzie Newsome and Ryan.
The deal was completed within the last couple of weeks after negotiations that started immediately after the season.
Ryan, who is in his eighth year as a Ravens assistant, had one year remaining on his contact, according to Newsome. Neither Newsome nor Ryan would release the salary figures of the new contract, but Ryan is expected to make between $1 million to $1.2 million per season.
Ryan reportedly was a serious candidate to become head coach of the Chargers in late February, but San Diego hired Norv Turner. "Sure I'm disappointed," Ryan told The Sun on Feb. 19, less than an hour after news broke about Turner. "But I would be disappointed if the Ravens made a Super Bowl run and I wasn't a part of it. We have some unfinished business here."
Last season, Ryan oversaw the NFL's top-ranked defense. The year before, which was Ryan's first as defensive coordinator, the Ravens had the league's fifth-ranked defense.
"I'm excited about it," said Ryan of the new contract. "Now, I don't have to worry about finding another job as a coordinator; I can just go out and worry about kicking butt. I'll be honest with you, it was weighing on me a little bit. I've spent eight years here in Baltimore. I can always go out and find a job as a defensive coordinator, but this is my home and these are our players.
"We have something special here, and I want to continue it. If I'm not a head coach somewhere in the league, there is no other place I'd rather be. Now, I'm just glad to get this out of the way, and focus. The contract is fair. It's what the Ravens always wanted and what I wanted."
Before getting a new contract, Ryan was believed to have been one of the lowest-paid defensive coordinators in the league. The two sides started to meet shortly after the Ravens lost, 15-6, to Indianapolis in the playoffs on Jan. 13, but they were far apart.
With the aid of coach Brian Billick, the two sides finally agreed to terms.
"It's negotiations, there are always discussions, always some extending guidelines," Newsome said. "We've always tried to get our assistant coaches to sign two-year deals before the start of the next season. I don't know where this deal is compared to Gregg Williams [Redskins] and Dom Capers [Dolphins] and some of the others at the top, but Rex Ryan has to happy with the compensation or he wouldn't have signed. Obviously, he is happy with the contract and finds it fair."
The deal was completed within the last couple of weeks after negotiations that started immediately after the season.
Ryan, who is in his eighth year as a Ravens assistant, had one year remaining on his contact, according to Newsome. Neither Newsome nor Ryan would release the salary figures of the new contract, but Ryan is expected to make between $1 million to $1.2 million per season.
Ryan reportedly was a serious candidate to become head coach of the Chargers in late February, but San Diego hired Norv Turner. "Sure I'm disappointed," Ryan told The Sun on Feb. 19, less than an hour after news broke about Turner. "But I would be disappointed if the Ravens made a Super Bowl run and I wasn't a part of it. We have some unfinished business here."
Last season, Ryan oversaw the NFL's top-ranked defense. The year before, which was Ryan's first as defensive coordinator, the Ravens had the league's fifth-ranked defense.
"I'm excited about it," said Ryan of the new contract. "Now, I don't have to worry about finding another job as a coordinator; I can just go out and worry about kicking butt. I'll be honest with you, it was weighing on me a little bit. I've spent eight years here in Baltimore. I can always go out and find a job as a defensive coordinator, but this is my home and these are our players.
"We have something special here, and I want to continue it. If I'm not a head coach somewhere in the league, there is no other place I'd rather be. Now, I'm just glad to get this out of the way, and focus. The contract is fair. It's what the Ravens always wanted and what I wanted."
Before getting a new contract, Ryan was believed to have been one of the lowest-paid defensive coordinators in the league. The two sides started to meet shortly after the Ravens lost, 15-6, to Indianapolis in the playoffs on Jan. 13, but they were far apart.
With the aid of coach Brian Billick, the two sides finally agreed to terms.
"It's negotiations, there are always discussions, always some extending guidelines," Newsome said. "We've always tried to get our assistant coaches to sign two-year deals before the start of the next season. I don't know where this deal is compared to Gregg Williams [Redskins] and Dom Capers [Dolphins] and some of the others at the top, but Rex Ryan has to happy with the compensation or he wouldn't have signed. Obviously, he is happy with the contract and finds it fair."
