Oilers Bring Ryan Back to the NFL by Making Him Defensive Coordinator

HOUSTON —  Buddy Ryan, a former Philadelphia Eagle coach, signed a two-year contract as the Houston Oilers’ defensive coordinator on Friday.

Ryan interviewed with Oiler Coach Jack Pardee earlier Friday and returned to Tampa, Fla., before the announcement.

Pardee said he doesn’t feel threatened by Ryan’s ambition to be a head coach again.

“I don’t think I’d want a coach who didn’t want to be a head coach,” Pardee said. “If you want to be a head coach, you’d better be around a winner, and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

Oiler owner Bud Adams fired defensive coordinator Jim Eddy and secondary coach Pat Thomas after the team’s 41-38 loss to Buffalo in a wild-card playoff game Jan. 2. Eddy’s defense got much of the blame for allowing the Bills to rally from a 35-3 third-quarter deficit.