That marked Ryan’s third Super Bowl appearance. The 2013 third-rounder was a backup cornerback in Super Bowl XLIX but a starter by the time the Patriots returned to a Super Bowl two years later.
Ryan played every Patriots defensive snap in their historic comeback past the Falcons, parlaying that season into a three-year, $30M Titans contract.
A Rutgers alum, Ryan started 124 games and suited up for 19 playoff contests. Primarily playing cornerback in New England and Tennessee, Ryan was one of the top tacklers at the position during this NFL period.
That helped a transition to safety commence during his Giants tenure. The Giants picked up Ryan late in the 2020 offseason and handed the New Jersey native an extension months after that signing.
During Ryan’s final Titans season (2019), the team voyaged to its first AFC championship game since 2002. Ryan helped the cause by making 113 tackles — 31 more than any other corner registered that season — as primarily a slot defender.
The COVID-19-marred 2020 offseason led to several veterans lingering in free agency for months, as visits were shut down for an extended period. Ryan belatedly landed with the Giants on August 31, 2020, soon completing the transition to a safety role.
Teaming with Xavier McKinney in 2021, Ryan notched a career-high 117 tackles in his second Giants season. Ryan’s two Giants years overlapped with ex-Patriots special teams coordinator Joe Judge’s New York tenure.
The team moved on shortly after hiring Joe Schoen as GM, cutting Ryan and letting Jabrill Peppers join the Patriots in free agency. The Giants have since passed on re-signing ex-Ryan safety teammates McKinney and Julian Love, effectively starting over at the position.
The Buccaneers gave Ryan an opportunity in 2022, but a foot fracture limited his on-field work in Tampa. Ryan played in nine games with the Bucs, starting six, but the team did not bring him back in 2023.
The 49ers reached out to Ryan following Hufanga’s injury, encouraging him to go on a booked cruise with his family before joining the team for the stretch run. After playing 12 defensive snaps over his first three 49ers games, Ryan was on the field for every San Francisco defensive play in Week 17 as the team wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
He then played 100% of the 49ers’ defensive snaps against the Packers in the divisional round.
Yes, Ryan was the closest defender in coverage on Mecole Hardman‘s game-winning touchdown — one that wrapped the NFL’s longest Super Bowl — but the veteran safety/slot defender provided the 49ers with some pivotal reps leading up to that point.
Over his career, Ryan earned just more than $69M. The Titans authorized Ryan’s biggest contract, one he played out in the late 2010s, but he earned more than $15M with the Giants as well.
