Report: Rex Ryan Once Broke Rob Ryan's Nose and Went to Jail After College Fight

The Buffalo News’ Tim Graham published a story Sunday on Rex Ryan's life and transformation from young china-shop bull to older bull in charge of china shops.

Graham’s reporting covers Rex’s final season with the New York Jets—a dark, 4-12 year his mother Doris says nearly killed the “Joy of Rex” (meaning his general vitality, but also a fantastic name for a Rex Ryan musical).

The story also dives into Rex’s unique relationship with his brother Rob, defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and the other half of pro football’s reigning Bash Brothers. There are quotes to illustrate how much the two men care for each other, and how they’re more than just brothers. (“We’re tight as we can be, closer than blood,” Rob told Graham.)

But even close brothers are still, well, brothers, and the most spectacular anecdote is an oral history from the Ryan brothers about that one time Rex popped Rob in the face and went to jail because he didn’t want to play wingman for the evening. 

The two were attending Southwestern Oklahoma State at the time of the incident. As the brothers tell it, the incident began when Rob needed a buddy to step up and entertain his date’s friend for a night out on the town. Rex—then smitten with his wife-to-be, Michelle—turned Rob down. 

Things quickly escalated to man-wrasslin’ and haymakers, according to the Ryans:

"

Rob: I was a solo rider and had a babe on line. But she had a friend. I said, “You know, come on. Be a team player.”

Rex: I said, “Dude, I’m staying at home today.”

Rob: So after a few hundred beers I said, “You need to help out.” [Rex] didn’t, so I was pissed and got in a wrestling match with him. I think he was a lot more sober than I was.

Rex: I was bigger and was just going to throw his ass down. But he reversed me and got on top. So we went at it. We ended up outside, and here he comes.

Rob: I ran after him, and he had a right hand waiting for me. I never saw it coming. Still haven’t seen it.

Rex: I got him good, and it was over. I felt terrible. I couldn’t believe I hit my brother like that.

"

Rex said he then drove off in their shared car, his shirt bloody and torn. He just wanted to be away from the situation and blow off steam. That’s when the cop showed up.

"I get pulled over by a cop. He sees me and doesn’t know what he’s got," Rex told Graham. "I said, 'I just got in a fight with my brother. You can take me back there and he’ll explain it.'" 

Rex was taken to jail. There, the police phoned Rob, who told them to keep him for the night. Tough love, some would say—or a pissed-off brother with a bloody face and fast-developing hangover. Either/or.

All tallied, Rob hobbled off nursing a broken nose and a broken ankle. Both brothers had black eyes and a lot of explaining to do the next week, when they went to watch their father, Buddy Ryan, coordinate the Chicago Bears defense to a Super Bowl XX victory in New Orleans.

No documentation of the Ryan brothers’ fight was readily available, but after some digging, I believe I’ve found a picture taken during the melee.

@DrCarson73

Sigh. What will those Ryan boys get up to next? 

Dan is on Twitter, pitching the "Joy of Rex" to Rodgers and Hammerstein.