Ryan Nielsen

Assistant

Team: BUFType: DefensiveTenure: 1 year (2025-2026)

Coaching Timeline

Why does coaching matter?

CFB

Southern California

Volunteer Assistant

20021 yr

CFB

Ole Miss

Defensive Line

2005-073 yrs

CFB

Central Connecticut State

Defensive Coordinator

2008-092 yrs

CFB

Tennessee-Martin

Special Teams

20101 yr

CFB

Northern Illinois

Defensive Line

20111 yr

CFB

Northern Illinois

Co-Defensive Coordinator

20121 yr

CFB

NC State

Defensive Line

20131 yr

CFB

NC State

Def. Run Game Coordinator

2014-163 yrs

New Orleans Saints

Defensive Line

2017-204 yrs

New Orleans Saints

Defensive Line

20211 yr

New Orleans Saints

Defensive Coordinator

20221 yr

Atlanta Falcons

Defensive Coordinator

20231 yr

Jacksonville Jaguars

Defensive Coordinator

20241 yr

Buffalo Bills

Other Notable Asst.

20251 yr

Team Info

Season	Role	Team	Record	HC	OC	DC	QB1	QB2	RB1	WR/TE 1	WR/TE 2
2025	Sr. Defensive Assistant	BUF	12-5	Sean McDermott	Joe Brady	Bobby Babich	Josh Allen(16.00)	Mitchell Trubisky(2.00)	James Cook(16.00)	Khalil Shakir(14.75)	Dalton Kincaid(10.75)
2024	Defensive Coordinator	JAX	4-13	Doug Pederson	Press Taylor	Ryan Nielsen	Trevor Lawrence(9.50)	Mac Jones(8.25)	Tank Bigsby(13.75)	Brian Thomas Jr.(16.75)	Parker Washington(16.75)
2023	Defensive Coordinator/DL	ATL	7-10	Arthur Smith	Dave Ragone	Ryan Nielsen	Desmond Ridder(13.25)	Taylor Heinicke(4.50)	Bijan Robinson(17.00)	Drake London(15.75)	Kyle Pitts(17.00)
2022	Defensive Coordinator	NO	7-10	Dennis Allen	Pete Carmichael	Ryan Nielsen	Andy Dalton(14.00)	Jameis Winston(3.00)	Alvin Kamara(15.00)	Chris Olave(14.75)	Juwan Johnson(16.00)
2021	Other Notable Asst.	NO	9-8	Sean Payton	Pete Carmichael	Dennis Allen	Jameis Winston(6.50)	Trevor Siemian(5.50)	Alvin Kamara(13.00)	Marquez Callaway(16.75)	Deonte Harty(12.25)

Coach Impact

Percentiles

New Orleans Saints (2022)

Defensive Coordinator(Promoted — was Defensive Line here)

Promoted within team — delta reflects year-over-year change

	Before (2021)	First Year (2022)	Delta
DEFENSE
EPA	-0.103⁹⁴	-0.062⁸²	▲ +0.041³²
Succ%	39.1%⁹⁵	41.3%⁷⁹	▲ +2.2%²⁵
RZ P/V	4.3⁹⁷	4.6⁸⁹	▲ +0.2³²
3&Out%	35.2%⁸³	32.6%⁶²	▼ -2.6%³⁴
TO Rate	2.3%⁷³	1.2%⁶	▼ -1.1%⁶
Pass EPA	-0.077⁹¹	-0.077⁹⁰	0.000⁴⁸
Rush EPA	-0.190⁹⁷	-0.060⁴⁵	▲ +0.130⁶
YAC OEX	0.29⁷³	0.22⁸²	▼ -0.08⁶⁴
xRY	4.38¹⁴	4.63³	▲ +0.25²⁶
RYOE	-0.94¹⁰⁰	-0.17⁸³	▲ +0.77⁶

Atlanta Falcons (2023)

Defensive Coordinator/DL

	Before (2022)	First Year (2023)	Delta
DEFENSE
EPA	0.081¹²	-0.048⁷⁶	▼ -0.129⁹³
Succ%	49.0%²	39.2%⁹³	▼ -9.8%¹⁰⁰
RZ P/V	5.4²³	4.8⁷⁴	▼ -0.6⁸⁷
3&Out%	28.0%²⁵	34.9%⁸⁰	▲ +6.9%⁸⁸
TO Rate	1.5%¹⁹	1.5%¹⁹	0.0%⁴⁹
Pass EPA	0.131²⁰	0.044⁵¹	▼ -0.087⁷⁸
Rush EPA	-0.013²⁰	-0.185⁹⁷	▼ -0.172⁹⁸
YAC OEX	0.32⁷⁰	0.43⁵⁶	▲ +0.10⁴¹
xRY	4.21²⁸	4.18³²	▼ -0.03⁶⁴
RYOE	0.37²⁹	-0.51⁹⁷	▼ -0.88⁹⁴

Jacksonville Jaguars (2024)

Defensive Coordinator

	Before (2023)	First Year (2024)	Delta
DEFENSE
EPA	-0.035⁷¹	0.121⁵	▲ +0.156¹
Succ%	42.7%⁶²	45.3%²⁶	▲ +2.6%²⁰
RZ P/V	5.0⁵⁴	5.4²²	▲ +0.4²⁶
3&Out%	35.1%⁸²	20.9%¹	▼ -14.2%¹
TO Rate	2.3%⁷²	0.7%¹	▼ -1.6%¹
Pass EPA	-0.021⁷⁷	0.211⁴	▲ +0.232¹
Rush EPA	-0.072⁵¹	-0.039³⁰	▲ +0.033³⁸
YAC OEX	0.50⁴⁴	0.48⁴⁶	▼ -0.02⁵⁸
xRY	3.67⁷⁵	4.55⁵	▲ +0.89¹²
RYOE	0.39²⁹	0.04⁵¹	▼ -0.35⁷⁹

Core Efficiency - Defensive

PercentilesGraph

Pass/Rush Splits - Defensive

PercentilesGraph

Year	Role	Team	% Pass	Pass EPA	Pass Succ%	Pass SOS	xYAC OEX	YAC OEX	% RB Rush	Rush EPA	Rush Succ%	Rush SOS	xRY	RYOE	% QB Rush	QB Rush EPA
2024	Defensive Coordinator	JAX	57.4%	0.211	47.6%	-0.010	0.19	0.48	36.7%	-0.039	40.7%	-0.030	4.55	0.04	5.9%	0.600
2023	Defensive Coordinator/DL	ATL	56.5%	0.044	40.8%	-0.027	0.01	0.43	37.0%	-0.185	35.5%	-0.013	4.18	-0.51	6.4%	0.290
2022	Defensive Coordinator	NO	55.8%	-0.077	40.1%	0.003	-0.11	0.22	38.1%	-0.060	41.4%	0.015	4.63	-0.17	6.1%	0.205

Season

Role

Team

Record

QB1

QB2

RB1

WR/TE 1

WR/TE 2

2025

Sr. Defensive Assistant

12-5

Josh Allen(16.00)

Mitchell Trubisky(2.00)

James Cook(16.00)

Khalil Shakir(14.75)

Dalton Kincaid(10.75)

2024

Defensive Coordinator

4-13

Trevor Lawrence(9.50)

Mac Jones(8.25)

Tank Bigsby(13.75)

Brian Thomas Jr.(16.75)

Parker Washington(16.75)

2023

Defensive Coordinator/DL

7-10

Desmond Ridder(13.25)

Taylor Heinicke(4.50)

Bijan Robinson(17.00)

Drake London(15.75)

Kyle Pitts(17.00)

2022

Defensive Coordinator

7-10

Dennis Allen

Pete Carmichael

Ryan Nielsen

Andy Dalton(14.00)

Jameis Winston(3.00)

Alvin Kamara(15.00)

Chris Olave(14.75)

Juwan Johnson(16.00)

2021

Other Notable Asst.

9-8

Sean Payton

Pete Carmichael

Dennis Allen

Jameis Winston(6.50)

Trevor Siemian(5.50)

Alvin Kamara(13.00)

Marquez Callaway(16.75)

Deonte Harty(12.25)

	Before (2021)	First Year (2022)	Delta
DEFENSE
EPA	-0.103⁹⁴	-0.062⁸²	▲ +0.041³²
Succ%	39.1%⁹⁵	41.3%⁷⁹	▲ +2.2%²⁵
RZ P/V	4.3⁹⁷	4.6⁸⁹	▲ +0.2³²
3&Out%	35.2%⁸³	32.6%⁶²	▼ -2.6%³⁴
TO Rate	2.3%⁷³	1.2%⁶	▼ -1.1%⁶
Pass EPA	-0.077⁹¹	-0.077⁹⁰	0.000⁴⁸
Rush EPA	-0.190⁹⁷	-0.060⁴⁵	▲ +0.130⁶
YAC OEX	0.29⁷³	0.22⁸²	▼ -0.08⁶⁴
xRY	4.38¹⁴	4.63³	▲ +0.25²⁶
RYOE	-0.94¹⁰⁰	-0.17⁸³	▲ +0.77⁶

Before (2021)

First Year (2022)

Delta

DEFENSE

EPA

-0.103⁹⁴

-0.062⁸²

▲ +0.041³²

Succ%

39.1%⁹⁵

41.3%⁷⁹

▲ +2.2%²⁵

RZ P/V

4.3⁹⁷

4.6⁸⁹

▲ +0.2³²

3&Out%

35.2%⁸³

32.6%⁶²

▼ -2.6%³⁴

TO Rate

2.3%⁷³

1.2%⁶

▼ -1.1%⁶

Pass EPA

-0.077⁹¹

-0.077⁹⁰

0.000⁴⁸

Rush EPA

-0.190⁹⁷

-0.060⁴⁵

▲ +0.130⁶

YAC OEX

0.29⁷³

0.22⁸²

▼ -0.08⁶⁴

xRY

4.38¹⁴

4.63³

▲ +0.25²⁶

RYOE

-0.94¹⁰⁰

-0.17⁸³

▲ +0.77⁶

	Before (2022)	First Year (2023)	Delta
DEFENSE
EPA	0.081¹²	-0.048⁷⁶	▼ -0.129⁹³
Succ%	49.0%²	39.2%⁹³	▼ -9.8%¹⁰⁰
RZ P/V	5.4²³	4.8⁷⁴	▼ -0.6⁸⁷
3&Out%	28.0%²⁵	34.9%⁸⁰	▲ +6.9%⁸⁸
TO Rate	1.5%¹⁹	1.5%¹⁹	0.0%⁴⁹
Pass EPA	0.131²⁰	0.044⁵¹	▼ -0.087⁷⁸
Rush EPA	-0.013²⁰	-0.185⁹⁷	▼ -0.172⁹⁸
YAC OEX	0.32⁷⁰	0.43⁵⁶	▲ +0.10⁴¹
xRY	4.21²⁸	4.18³²	▼ -0.03⁶⁴
RYOE	0.37²⁹	-0.51⁹⁷	▼ -0.88⁹⁴

Before (2022)

First Year (2023)

Delta

DEFENSE

EPA

0.081¹²

-0.048⁷⁶

▼ -0.129⁹³

Succ%

49.0%²

39.2%⁹³

▼ -9.8%¹⁰⁰

RZ P/V

5.4²³

4.8⁷⁴

▼ -0.6⁸⁷

3&Out%

28.0%²⁵

34.9%⁸⁰

▲ +6.9%⁸⁸

TO Rate

1.5%¹⁹

0.0%⁴⁹

Pass EPA

0.131²⁰

0.044⁵¹

▼ -0.087⁷⁸

Rush EPA

-0.013²⁰

-0.185⁹⁷

▼ -0.172⁹⁸

YAC OEX

0.32⁷⁰

0.43⁵⁶

▲ +0.10⁴¹

xRY

4.21²⁸

4.18³²

▼ -0.03⁶⁴

RYOE

0.37²⁹

-0.51⁹⁷

▼ -0.88⁹⁴

	Before (2023)	First Year (2024)	Delta
DEFENSE
EPA	-0.035⁷¹	0.121⁵	▲ +0.156¹
Succ%	42.7%⁶²	45.3%²⁶	▲ +2.6%²⁰
RZ P/V	5.0⁵⁴	5.4²²	▲ +0.4²⁶
3&Out%	35.1%⁸²	20.9%¹	▼ -14.2%¹
TO Rate	2.3%⁷²	0.7%¹	▼ -1.6%¹
Pass EPA	-0.021⁷⁷	0.211⁴	▲ +0.232¹
Rush EPA	-0.072⁵¹	-0.039³⁰	▲ +0.033³⁸
YAC OEX	0.50⁴⁴	0.48⁴⁶	▼ -0.02⁵⁸
xRY	3.67⁷⁵	4.55⁵	▲ +0.89¹²
RYOE	0.39²⁹	0.04⁵¹	▼ -0.35⁷⁹

Before (2023)

First Year (2024)

Delta

DEFENSE

EPA

-0.035⁷¹

0.121⁵

▲ +0.156¹

Succ%

42.7%⁶²

45.3%²⁶

▲ +2.6%²⁰

RZ P/V

5.0⁵⁴

5.4²²

▲ +0.4²⁶

3&Out%

35.1%⁸²

20.9%¹

▼ -14.2%¹

TO Rate

2.3%⁷²

0.7%¹

▼ -1.6%¹

Pass EPA

-0.021⁷⁷

0.211⁴

▲ +0.232¹

Rush EPA

-0.072⁵¹

-0.039³⁰

▲ +0.033³⁸

YAC OEX

0.50⁴⁴

0.48⁴⁶

▼ -0.02⁵⁸

xRY

3.67⁷⁵

4.55⁵

▲ +0.89¹²

RYOE

0.39²⁹

0.04⁵¹

▼ -0.35⁷⁹

Pass/Rush Splits - Defensive

PercentilesGraph

Year	Role	Team	% Pass	Pass EPA	Pass Succ%	Pass SOS	xYAC OEX	YAC OEX	% RB Rush	Rush EPA	Rush Succ%	Rush SOS	xRY	RYOE	% QB Rush	QB Rush EPA
2024	Defensive Coordinator	JAX	57.4%	0.211	47.6%	-0.010	0.19	0.48	36.7%	-0.039	40.7%	-0.030	4.55	0.04	5.9%	0.600
2023	Defensive Coordinator/DL	ATL	56.5%	0.044	40.8%	-0.027	0.01	0.43	37.0%	-0.185	35.5%	-0.013	4.18	-0.51	6.4%	0.290
2022	Defensive Coordinator	NO	55.8%	-0.077	40.1%	0.003	-0.11	0.22	38.1%	-0.060	41.4%	0.015	4.63	-0.17	6.1%	0.205