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Rob Ryan did a masterful job this season as the Saints' defensive coordinator. So well, in fact, that he probably deserved a shot at a head-coaching gig. To date, he hasn't even gotten an interview, which likely has nothing to do with his football acumen and everything to do with his physical appearance. Specifically, all the hair.
Last week, there was a report that Ryan will need a wig trim if he wants to be a head coach.
Twin brother Rex -- who also happens to be the Jets coach -- was asked recently if the shoulder-length flowing locks might be the glass ceiling impeding Rob's career.
"Maybe that's it." Ryan told the New York Post. "I told him, 'Dude, how about you go get a haircut? It makes no difference.' I said, 'You can wear the Fu Manchu if you're bald.' ...
Hopefully, this is one of the things that motivates him to do so. ... You tell me one other reason why he doesn’t have a [head-coaching job] right now with the kind of job he did."
Rex not only keeps his hair short, but he had lap-band surgery several years ago and dropped 100 pounds. Still, he remains mystified by by the lack of opportunities for his brother.
“It’s amazing,” Rex said. “Everybody knows he can coach. I’m just really shocked he didn’t get an interview at least. I thought he’d get a [head-coaching] job. I guess it wasn’t his time. Hopefully, his time is coming. ...
“It was one of, in my opinion, the greatest coaching jobs in the history of the National Football League,” Rex continued. “You go from 32nd in the league, and they were closer to 33rd in the league than 31st, improve 130-something yards a game and 10 points a game. He doesn’t get an interview? They had more injuries than any team in the league. He had to make adjustments constantly based on personnel. I just thought it was one of the greatest coaching jobs.”
According to Football Outsiders, the Saints improved from 32nd in 2012 (28th vs. the pass, 30th vs. the run) to 10th in 2013 (6th, 20th).
Who knows, maybe after every other potential candidate politely declines the Browns' advances, they'll be forced to interview Rob Ryan, hair and all.
