Report: Rob Ryan Fired as Cowboys' Defensive Coordinator After 8-8 Season

Report: Rob Ryan Fired as Cowboys’ Defensive Coordinator After 8-8 Season

by Doug Kyed on Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 7:55PM

Jerry Jones promised changes were coming to the Dallas Cowboys, and they’re starting to trickle in.

The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com. Dallas went 8-8 during the 2012 season. The Cowboys’ defense was ranked 19th in total yards, 19th against the pass and 22nd against the run.

Ryan is the twin brother of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan. They’ve served together at numerous times during their careers. They each played at Southwestern Oklahoma, then went on to Western Kentucky to serve as assistant coaches. They also coached together under their father, Buddy Ryan, on the 1994 and 1995 Arizona Cardinals.

Before coming to Dallas in 2011, Rob was the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders from 2004 to 2008 and the Cleveland Browns from 2009 to 2010. Ryan won two rings with the New England Patriots as linebackers coach from 2000 to 2003.