Rex and Rob Ryan; A Fish Story

If you’re a fan of NFL football, you probably know something about the Ryans.  Buddy Ryan was an NFL coach from 1968 to 1995; his two sons Rex and Rob are both current NFL coaches for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively.  The fraternal twins are known for their big mouths, playful banter, and love of football.  They were recently able to demonstrate all of those qualities in an episode of Reel Time: Where the Pros Hook Up.  The fishing show displays the Ryans, yes, fishing – but it also gives the outside world a look into their off-the-field relationship and individualized personalities.

Just South of Houston, the brothers met up to hop on a boat in the early morning.  From the first moment, their rivalry is evident. After all, the two have been competing since the day they were born: with the family, in the classroom, and, of course, on the field.  The episode generally labels Rob as the instigator of the chatter, but there’s no denying Rex’s ability to hurl insults right back.  At the core of their relationship, though, the love they share for each other is evident.  Never is there a jab at one not reciprocated by a laugh from the other.

Before even making it on the boat, the brothers are already yapping about the biggest fish they’ve ever caught. Rob is boasting about his lucky shoes.  Rex is sporting a Jets sweatshirt, while Rob opts for a Kobe Bryant jersey and a black hat that says “Nice Guys Wear White Hats.”  The two play some wiffle-ball in anticipation of the morning ahead – do they ever stop competing?

Rex jokes that the rule to sit at the Ryan family table used to be having won a Super Bowl.  After Rob won two Super Bowls, he explains that the ante has been raised – now two Super Bowls are required to sit at the table.

Throwing up against the windy banks, the brothers go after red fish, with the goal to get their catches into the boat.  They release everything they catch, and the atmosphere is friendly.

Rob catches the first fish, but that only ups the chatter.  Rob claims to have once caught a 450 pound fish before, only to be met with a joke from Rex that Rob weighs 450 pounds – not the fish.

When Rex finally catches one, Rob refers to it as a minnow.  With the score even at one, the conversation switches to the family business: football.  Rex is quick to credit their father for the interest, passion, and intensity with which they view football.  The conversation is interrupted as Rex pulls in a second fish to take the lead. Both agree it’s not as big as the kind of fish they are planning on catching.

Rob credits the opportunity to coach in the NFL to college experience.  Coaching with his dad and brothers was a precursor to working with Bill Belichick.  As always, Rob is quick to point out that he is the brother with two super bowls.  While Rob has been all over the league the past decade, he seems very optimistic about his chances down in New Orleans.  His focus is on returning to another Super Bowl with the Saints.  Rex acknowledges a tough 2012 season with the Jets, but with the addition of Marty Mornhinweg as offensive coordinator, Rex seems to think the sky is the limit.  With two AFC championship losses in the rearview mirror, the Jets are setting their sights on the big game.

Spend five minutes with these brothers and you’ll understand not only their competitive nature but the passion they share for their programs.  They don’t want to compete: they want to win.

The two were recently featured on a list of top ten NFL families.  The Ryans rang in at tenth, something Rob considers “one heck of an accomplishment.”  The family as a whole has six Super Bowl rings.

With the fish no longer biting, the group shifts to another area of the lake in hopes of finding more redfish.  The winds are hindering their odds of making a big catch.  Fishing with blue crabs instead of shrimp is an adjustment, and Rob manages to pull in the biggest haul of the day- a large redfish.  The Ryans laugh comparing their fish sizes, clearly enjoying each other’s company.

At the end of the trip, we’ve been given the rare opportunity to see two football geniuses off the field just enjoying some family time.  While both are strikingly competitive and hell-bent on capturing more Lombardi trophies, the two share a love not only for the game and for their teams but for each other, too.  The Ryans are a special pair.  The league is lucky to have them.