Rob Ryan on his time with the Saints: ‘I did a damn good job and got fired for it’

Rob Ryan knows the New Orleans Saints defense was one of the worst in the NFL the last two seasons. He also realizes that he was the team’s defensive coordinator during that period.

But Ryan feels he is not to blame for the unit’s struggles in recent years. In fact, he said in an interview with The MMQ that posted Friday, he got fired from that gig midway through last season after doing what he considers to be a very good job.

“I need to be in a multiple system,� said Ryan, who is now assistant head coach/defense for twin brother Rex with the Buffalo Bills. “I was hired to be in a multiple system in New Orleans, and I did a damn good job and got fired for it.�

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A longtime assistant coach, Ryan became the Saints’ defensive coordinator in 2013 and the team went on to finish fourth in overall defense that year. But after that, Ryan said, “there are two years that don’t have my signature on them, and it’s the last two years in New Orleans. And that’s just the truth.�

Ryan said the organization made some player personnel changes with which he didn’t agree, and tried installing a defense that didn’t work. When asked who made those decisions, Ryan said, “ I think everything starts with the head coach and goes higher than that.�

Saints Coach Sean Payton told “PFT Live� on Friday, “The idea that it wasn’t [Ryan’s] defense, or that he wasn’t in charge of it, is silly.�

Ryan faulted himself for standing by and not trying to take control of the situation.

“The biggest mistake I think I made in New Orleans was sitting on my hands and collecting a paycheck, instead of going in, knowing it was wrong and fixing it.,� he said. “When we wanted to change the philosophy of the defense, I should have ... been a [jerk] like everybody else would have been. That’s the truth.

“Instead, I tried to toe the company line: I’ll do it, I’ll advance it, I’ll slow the plan down because we’ve got new players here. But that’s not what I believe. That’s not who I am. Hey, I did it to myself too.�

Ryan added: “I did the best job I could. Under the circumstances, trust me, I did the best job I could. I’ll be better anywhere else. [Pause] I’ll be great anywhere else. But it was unfortunate.�

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