Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has come a long way in his two decades coaching football. And you can count his former boss Rex Ryan among the most proud to see him succeeding.
In an emotional segment on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, the former head coach-turned-analyst broke down and cried after seeing a feature on Lynn’s work building a school in Africa.
“That’s who he is,” the former Jets and Bills head coach said with tears in his eyes. “He’s a difference-maker… I was with him for eight years and I’m so proud of him.”
Rex’s emotional reaction even caused the other analysts to cry along with him.
Rex Ryan got emotional talking about how proud he is of his friend and former assistant coach, Anthony Lynn. pic.twitter.com/MtJv4dxyrN
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 1, 2019
Rex and Lynn first connected when he recruited Lynn to be his running backs coach with the Jets upon being hired in 2009. Lynn worked his way up the coaching ranks and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2013.
When Rex was hired by the Buffalo Bills in 2015, he once again hired Lynn, to the same position. In 2016, Lynn was promoted to interim offensive coordinator and later interim head coach when Rex was fired.
After that season in Buffalo, Lynn was hired as head coach of the Chargers, where he quickly went 21-11 in his first two years. Last year the Chargers went 12-4 – tied for the most wins in the AFC, but losing the division and the No. 1 seed on tiebreakers to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chargers may not be having the best year, but Rex is going to remain proud of his friend regardless.
