4. AFC East incentive
According to reports, Ryan’s first choice for his next job was to head to Atlanta and take over a team that was a win away from claiming the NFC South and advancing to the postseason. It looks like after a second interview, Falcons management wasn’t convinced Ryan was the right fit to take the reins.
By going to Buffalo, Ryan has a chance to remain in the AFC East, a division he’s quite familiar with. Adding even more intrigue to the mix, Ryan has a chance to face his former team, the Jets, twice a year. We’ll continue to get awesome Bill Belichick-centric speeches and hear Ryan drool over Tom Brady.
This hire makes Ryan the first coach to change teams within the same division since Bill Parcells did so by moving to the Jets back in 1997, per ESPN Stats & Information. Of course, Parcells was at the helm of New England the prior season.
