Rex Ryan tells of breaking brother Rob’s nose and ankle in a fight

We know enough about former NFL coach Buddy Ryan and his two football-coaching sons Rob and Rex to know that there must have been some wild times in that household.

Like the time that Rex broke Rob’s nose with a punch and his ankle wrestling around in a beer-fueled fight right before Super Bowl XX.

In an excellent story by Tim Graham of the Buffalo News on new Bills coach Rex, the story is told of the fight. They were both students at Southwestern Oklahoma State. The scuffle happened days before father Buddy Ryan, known for his great defenses, his bravado (if you wondered where the boys got it from) and punching an offensive coordinator on his own team during a game, coached the Chicago Bears’ defense in Super Bowl XX.

Rob had a date, who had a friend, and wanted Rex to come with and play wingman. Rex already had a girlfriend, who he’d later marry, so he said no.

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Rob Ryan, “after a few hundred beers” he told Graham, got angry and started wrestling with Rex. They wrestled for a while, eventually landing outside. That’s where Rex punched his brother, who is now the defensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints, according to Graham’s story.

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.”

According to the story, Rex Ryan left in the car and was wearing a ripped and bloody shirt when he was pulled over by police. The cop brought him into jail. Rex told the police that his brother could explain what happened.