Frank Ryan (American football)
Encyclopedia
Frank Beall Ryan is a retired American football
quarterback
in the National Football League
who played for the Los Angeles Rams
(1958
-1961
), Cleveland Browns
(1962
-1968
) and Washington Redskins
(1969
-1970
). Although he led the Browns to their last National Football League title in 1964
, Ryan is best remembered for being perhaps the only Ph.D.
in mathematics
to play in the league, completing a doctorate at Rice University
.
in Fort Worth, Texas
, Ryan went to Rice University, but was unable to establish himself during the course of his collegiate career
, splitting time behind center
with King Hill
, who was receiving most of the snaps
.
Given his desire to continue toward a Ph.D., Ryan originally decided not to play professional
football after the Rams chose him in the fifth round of the 1958 NFL Draft
. However, he changed his mind after he was able to enroll at both UCLA
and University of California, Berkeley
in pursuit of the advanced degree.
a handful of games in competition with teammates Billy Wade
and Zeke Bratkowski
. In 1961
, he and future Hall of Famer
Ollie Matson
connected on a 96-yard touchdown
reception
, establishing a new team record. However, the arrival of highly-touted newcomer Roman Gabriel
made Ryan expendable, with the veteran becoming part of a multi-player deal with the Browns on July 12, 1962, his 26th birthday.
Jim Ninowski
, Ryan moved into the starting slot on October 28 when Ninowski broke his collarbone while being tackled
by Pittsburgh Steelers
' defensive lineman Eugene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb
. With no other candidates to compete with, Ryan established his leadership and held on to the starting role for much of the next six seasons. In his first full season as a starter, 1963
, Ryan threw for 2,026 yards and 25 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions
, helping the Browns to a 10-4 record. Thirteen of those touchdowns went to Gary Collins, who tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns that year.
, Ryan established himself as one of the league’s best passers. He threw for 2,404 yards and repeated his 1963 performance by completing 25 touchdown passes, which was enough to lead the league. Ryan had excellent company on the Browns offense: fullback
Jim Brown
; wide receiver
s Collins and Paul Warfield
; and an outstanding offensive line led by future Hall of Famers Lou Groza
and Gene Hickerson
. But Ryan was also a clutch performer during the Browns’ memorable 10-3-1 season. Needing a win in the December 12 regular season finale against the New York Giants
to clinch a berth in the NFL title game, Ryan completed 12 of 13 passes for five touchdowns and ran for a sixth touchdown in the 52-20 win. Two weeks later in the championship game against the Baltimore Colts
, Ryan hit Collins for three touchdowns to win the title, 27-0 (the last Browns championship to date).
Ryan was rewarded for his performance with the first of three straight Pro Bowl
appearances. Unfortunately, on the first play of the second half, he suffered a severe shoulder injury in the game after the combined 800-pound trio of Packer
Willie Davis, Lion
Roger Brown and Colt
Gino Marchetti
converged on the signal caller. Speculation persists to this day that Marchetti went out of his way to injure Ryan due to the perception that the quarterback ran up the score
in the championship, with Marchetti's statement that he wanted "one more shot" at Ryan also fueling the rumors. However, a study of the film by Cleveland coaches in the weeks after the game exonerated Marchetti.
, throwing for only 1,751 yards and 18 touchdowns. While his shoulder had completely healed, a sore elbow
in training camp and an injured arch
early in the regular season played a role in his completing fewer than half of his passes during the campaign. Those struggles resulted in a continuing cool relationship with Browns' fans, who booed him often during home contests. Part of Ryan's decline can also be traced to the absence of second-year wide receiver Paul Warfield, who missed much of the season after suffering a double fracture of the collarbone in the team's first exhibition game.
, he bounced back with a superb season, leading the league with 29 touchdown passes and finishing second with 2,976 yards despite playing with intense pain. Ryan's output helped alleviate the absence of the legendary Jim Brown, who had retired prior to the start of training camp.
season opener, Ryan's injury woes continued as he sprained both ankles in a 21-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys
. Battling through that malady, along with shoulder and knee troubles, Ryan led the team to a 9-5 record to reach the playoffs
.
. Browns' head coach
Blanton Collier
replaced Ryan with Bill Nelsen
, who went on to lead the team to a division title. The official conclusion of Ryan's time with the Browns came on September 9, 1969 when he was released, but new Redskins' coach Vince Lombardi
quickly signed Ryan as a backup.
, Ryan returned for the last of his 13 years in the NFL in 1970
before officially announcing his retirement on April 13, 1971.
during the first part of his playing career, and in 1965, he earned his Ph.D. from Rice. His thesis was titled, "Characterization of the Set of Asymptotic Values of a Function Holomorphic
in the Unit Disc." He started teaching at Rice during his career and, during his time with the Browns, held a position as an assistant professor at the Case Institute of Technology, teaching undergraduate courses and conducting research in complex analysis
.
Ryan’s second career was fodder for many jokes by sportswriter
s. Red Smith
wrote that the Browns' offense consisted of a quarterback who understood Einstein’s
theory of relativity
and ten teammates who didn’t know there was one. Ryan was somewhat put off by the focus on his academic life, as he considered himself to be a regular football player.
when he was named Director of Information Services for the U.S. House of Representatives. While there, he helped advance the computer age in politics by playing an integral role in establishing the body's first electronic voting system. Ryan resigned that post to become athletic director
at Yale University
on March 7, 1977. He served in that position for ten years before resigning to become the school's Associate vice President for Institutional Planning. Ryan was a member of the Rice Board of Governors from 1972 to 1976, and he was recognized as a distinguished alumnus in 1987. Now retired, he lives in Grafton, Vermont
.
Another Browns quarterback received a "professional doctorate"; Dr. Dave Mays
, DDS
, played for the team in 1976
and 1977
.
with 134 touchdowns. His 81.43 passer rating
is third-best, behind Milt Plum
and Bernie Kosar
.
Ryan's career numbers (including years with the Rams and Redskins): 1,090 completions in 2,133 attempts for 16,044 yards, 149 touchdowns and 111 interceptions. Ryan also rushed for 1,358 yards and six touchdowns on 310 carries.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who played for the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
(1958
1958 Los Angeles Rams season
The 1958 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 21st year with the National Football League and the 13th season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:-Standings:...
-1961
1961 Los Angeles Rams season
The 1961 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 24th year with the National Football League and the 16th season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:- Standings :...
), Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1962
1962 Cleveland Browns season
The 1962 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 13th season with the National Football League.-Exhibition schedule:-Regular season schedule:-Standings:-References:...
-1968
1968 Cleveland Browns season
The 1968 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 19th season with the National Football League.The Browns made it to the playoffs for the 2nd straight year thanks to a 8-game winning streak and the brillant play of quarterback Bill Nelsen who replaced Frank Ryan as the starting quarterback prior to...
) and Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(1969
1969 Washington Redskins season
The 1969 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 5-9 record from 1968, and they did by hiring legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Huff came out of retirement to play for Vince Lombardi.-Offseason:During Super Bowl III,...
-1970
1970 Washington Redskins season
The 1970 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 7-5-2 record from 1969.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Division standings:-References:...
). Although he led the Browns to their last National Football League title in 1964
NFL Championship Game, 1964
The 1964 National Football League championship game was the 32nd annual championship game. The NFL title game was held on December 27, 1964 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio before a crowd of 79,544...
, Ryan is best remembered for being perhaps the only Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
to play in the league, completing a doctorate at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
.
Early years
After attending R. L. Paschal High SchoolR. L. Paschal High School
R. L. Paschal High School is a secondary school located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. It is part of the Fort Worth Independent School District and descendant of the city's first secondary school, Fort Worth High School, which opened in 1882. Robert Lee Paschal, an attorney from North...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Ryan went to Rice University, but was unable to establish himself during the course of his collegiate career
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, splitting time behind center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
with King Hill
King Hill
Stuart King Hill is a retired American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Chicago Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Minnesota Vikings...
, who was receiving most of the snaps
Snap (football)
A snap starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage.-Action:...
.
Given his desire to continue toward a Ph.D., Ryan originally decided not to play professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
football after the Rams chose him in the fifth round of the 1958 NFL Draft
1958 NFL Draft
The 1958 National Football League Draft was held on December 2, 1957 and January 28, 1958 .This was the last year in which the Lottery Bonus pick was used.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
. However, he changed his mind after he was able to enroll at both UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in pursuit of the advanced degree.
Los Angeles Rams
Ryan spent the first four years of his career primarily in a reserve capacity, but did startStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
a handful of games in competition with teammates Billy Wade
Billy Wade (football player)
William James Wade is a longtime Nashville celebrity and civic leader. He is considered one of the all-time great American football quarterbacks, having been a star in the National Football League. He is also considered one of the greatest athletes in Nashville and Vanderbilt University history...
and Zeke Bratkowski
Zeke Bratkowski
Edmund Raymond "Zeke" Bratkowski is a former All-American quarterback at the University of Georgia from 1952 to 1953. He also had a fourteen year career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, L.A. Rams and Green Bay Packers, followed by a 26-year coaching career...
. In 1961
1961 Los Angeles Rams season
The 1961 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 24th year with the National Football League and the 16th season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:- Standings :...
, he and future Hall of Famer
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
Ollie Matson
Ollie Matson
Ollie Genoa Matson II was an American Olympic medal winning sprinter and professional American football running back who played in the National Football League, in 1952 and from 1954 to 1966...
connected on a 96-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
reception
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
, establishing a new team record. However, the arrival of highly-touted newcomer Roman Gabriel
Roman Gabriel
Roman Ildonzo Gabriel, Jr. is a former American football player. The son of a Filipino immigrant, he was the first Asian-American to start as an NFL quarterback and is considered by many to have been one of the best players at that position during the late 1960s and early 70s.Gabriel attended and...
made Ryan expendable, with the veteran becoming part of a multi-player deal with the Browns on July 12, 1962, his 26th birthday.
1962-1963
Acquired to back up starting quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jim Ninowski
Jim Ninowski
James Ninowski, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He played college football at Michigan State University and was drafted in the fourth...
, Ryan moved into the starting slot on October 28 when Ninowski broke his collarbone while being tackled
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
by Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
' defensive lineman Eugene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb
Eugene Lipscomb
Eugene Allen Lipscomb was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League and a professional wrestler.-Early life:...
. With no other candidates to compete with, Ryan established his leadership and held on to the starting role for much of the next six seasons. In his first full season as a starter, 1963
1963 Cleveland Browns season
The 1963 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 14th season with the National Football League.-Exhibition schedule:-Regular season schedule:-Standings:-References:...
, Ryan threw for 2,026 yards and 25 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
, helping the Browns to a 10-4 record. Thirteen of those touchdowns went to Gary Collins, who tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns that year.
1964
In 19641964 Cleveland Browns season
The 1964 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 15th season with the National Football League. The Browns' championship is the most recent championship by a professional sports team in the Cleveland area.-The Upset Heard 'Round Pro Football World:...
, Ryan established himself as one of the league’s best passers. He threw for 2,404 yards and repeated his 1963 performance by completing 25 touchdown passes, which was enough to lead the league. Ryan had excellent company on the Browns offense: fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
; wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s Collins and Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
; and an outstanding offensive line led by future Hall of Famers Lou Groza
Lou Groza
Louis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
and Gene Hickerson
Gene Hickerson
Robert Gene Hickerson was a former American Football offensive guard who played for the Cleveland Browns in a fifteen-year career from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1973. Hickerson was a six-time Pro Bowler from 1965 to 1970...
. But Ryan was also a clutch performer during the Browns’ memorable 10-3-1 season. Needing a win in the December 12 regular season finale against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
to clinch a berth in the NFL title game, Ryan completed 12 of 13 passes for five touchdowns and ran for a sixth touchdown in the 52-20 win. Two weeks later in the championship game against the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
, Ryan hit Collins for three touchdowns to win the title, 27-0 (the last Browns championship to date).
Ryan was rewarded for his performance with the first of three straight Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearances. Unfortunately, on the first play of the second half, he suffered a severe shoulder injury in the game after the combined 800-pound trio of Packer
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
Willie Davis, Lion
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
Roger Brown and Colt
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
Gino Marchetti
Gino Marchetti
Gino John Marchetti is a former professional American football player in the National Football League. A defensive end, he played in 1952 for the Dallas Texans and from 1953 to 1966 for the Baltimore Colts.-Early years:...
converged on the signal caller. Speculation persists to this day that Marchetti went out of his way to injure Ryan due to the perception that the quarterback ran up the score
Running up the score
In North American sports, "running up the score" occurs when a team continues to play in such a way as to score additional points after the outcome of the game is no longer in question and the team is assured of winning...
in the championship, with Marchetti's statement that he wanted "one more shot" at Ryan also fueling the rumors. However, a study of the film by Cleveland coaches in the weeks after the game exonerated Marchetti.
1965
Ryan’s numbers dropped in 19651965 Cleveland Browns season
The 1965 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 16th season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Exhibition schedule:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-References:...
, throwing for only 1,751 yards and 18 touchdowns. While his shoulder had completely healed, a sore elbow
Elbow
The human elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint—the ginglymus or hinge joint in the middle of the arm. Three bones form the elbow joint: the humerus of the upper arm, and the paired radius and ulna of the forearm....
in training camp and an injured arch
Arches of the foot
-External links:* * *...
early in the regular season played a role in his completing fewer than half of his passes during the campaign. Those struggles resulted in a continuing cool relationship with Browns' fans, who booed him often during home contests. Part of Ryan's decline can also be traced to the absence of second-year wide receiver Paul Warfield, who missed much of the season after suffering a double fracture of the collarbone in the team's first exhibition game.
1966
In 19661966 Cleveland Browns season
The 1966 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 17th season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:The following were selected in the 1966 NFL Draft.-Exhibition schedule:-Regular season schedule:-Standings:-References:...
, he bounced back with a superb season, leading the league with 29 touchdown passes and finishing second with 2,976 yards despite playing with intense pain. Ryan's output helped alleviate the absence of the legendary Jim Brown, who had retired prior to the start of training camp.
1967
On January 25, 1967, Ryan underwent an operation to repair the remaining effects of his injury. The surgery eliminated the pain, but also affected his throwing motion. In the 19671967 Cleveland Browns season
The 1967 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 18th season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:The following were selected in the 1967 NFL Draft.-Exhibition schedule:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-Playoffs:-References:...
season opener, Ryan's injury woes continued as he sprained both ankles in a 21-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Battling through that malady, along with shoulder and knee troubles, Ryan led the team to a 9-5 record to reach the playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1967
The NFL playoffs following the 1967 NFL season culminated in the 1967 title game on New Year's Eve, and determined who would represent the league against the American Football League champions in Super Bowl II....
.
1968
Ryan's tenure as the Browns' starting quarterback came to an abrupt end following a 1-2 start to the 1968 season1968 Cleveland Browns season
The 1968 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 19th season with the National Football League.The Browns made it to the playoffs for the 2nd straight year thanks to a 8-game winning streak and the brillant play of quarterback Bill Nelsen who replaced Frank Ryan as the starting quarterback prior to...
. Browns' head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Blanton Collier
Blanton Collier
Blanton Long Collier was an American football coach who led the University of Kentucky and the Cleveland Browns...
replaced Ryan with Bill Nelsen
Bill Nelsen
William Keith Nelsen was a former football player who played collegiately for the University of Southern California and professionally with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. He was known for his leadership ability and ability to play with pain, having endured a series of knee...
, who went on to lead the team to a division title. The official conclusion of Ryan's time with the Browns came on September 9, 1969 when he was released, but new Redskins' coach Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
quickly signed Ryan as a backup.
Washington Redskins
Despite throwing only one pass during the 1969 season1969 Washington Redskins season
The 1969 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 5-9 record from 1968, and they did by hiring legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Huff came out of retirement to play for Vince Lombardi.-Offseason:During Super Bowl III,...
, Ryan returned for the last of his 13 years in the NFL in 1970
1970 Washington Redskins season
The 1970 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 7-5-2 record from 1969.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Division standings:-References:...
before officially announcing his retirement on April 13, 1971.
Academic career
Ryan attended graduate schoolGraduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
during the first part of his playing career, and in 1965, he earned his Ph.D. from Rice. His thesis was titled, "Characterization of the Set of Asymptotic Values of a Function Holomorphic
Holomorphic function
In mathematics, holomorphic functions are the central objects of study in complex analysis. A holomorphic function is a complex-valued function of one or more complex variables that is complex differentiable in a neighborhood of every point in its domain...
in the Unit Disc." He started teaching at Rice during his career and, during his time with the Browns, held a position as an assistant professor at the Case Institute of Technology, teaching undergraduate courses and conducting research in complex analysis
Complex analysis
Complex analysis, traditionally known as the theory of functions of a complex variable, is the branch of mathematical analysis that investigates functions of complex numbers. It is useful in many branches of mathematics, including number theory and applied mathematics; as well as in physics,...
.
Ryan’s second career was fodder for many jokes by sportswriter
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
s. Red Smith
Red Smith (sportswriter)
For other uses, see: Red Smith Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith was an American sportswriter who rose to become one of America's most widely read sports columnists.-Career:After graduating from Green Bay East High School, site of Packers home games until 1957, Smith moved on to...
wrote that the Browns' offense consisted of a quarterback who understood Einstein’s
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
theory of relativity
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
and ten teammates who didn’t know there was one. Ryan was somewhat put off by the focus on his academic life, as he considered himself to be a regular football player.
Post-NFL career
Soon after his retirement from the Redskins, Ryan remained in the nation's capitalWashington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
when he was named Director of Information Services for the U.S. House of Representatives. While there, he helped advance the computer age in politics by playing an integral role in establishing the body's first electronic voting system. Ryan resigned that post to become athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
on March 7, 1977. He served in that position for ten years before resigning to become the school's Associate vice President for Institutional Planning. Ryan was a member of the Rice Board of Governors from 1972 to 1976, and he was recognized as a distinguished alumnus in 1987. Now retired, he lives in Grafton, Vermont
Grafton, Vermont
Grafton is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was founded as Thomlinson, but renaming rights were auctioned in 1791. The high bidder, who reportedly offered "five dollars and a jug of rum," changed the name to Grafton after...
.
Another Browns quarterback received a "professional doctorate"; Dr. Dave Mays
Dave Mays (American football)
Dave Mays is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1976...
, DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
, played for the team in 1976
1976 Cleveland Browns season
The 1976 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 27th season with the National Football League. The Browns were coached by second year coach Forrest Gregg, and ended their season with a record of 9–5, being third in their division. The team's top draft choice was running back Mike Pruitt. Brian Sipe...
and 1977
1977 Cleveland Browns season
The 1977 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 28th season with the National Football League. With one game left in the season, head coach Forrest Gregg was fired and replaced by Dick Modzelewski.-NFL Draft:The following were selected in the 1977 NFL Draft....
.
Statistics
Ryan ranks fourth all-time among Browns quarterbacks with 13,499 passing yards and second behind Brian SipeBrian Sipe
Brian Winfield Sipe is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League from 1984 to 1985....
with 134 touchdowns. His 81.43 passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
is third-best, behind Milt Plum
Milt Plum
Milton Ross Plum was an American football quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns , Detroit Lions , Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants of the National Football League.-Career:...
and Bernie Kosar
Bernie Kosar
Bernard Joseph "Bernie" Kosar, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Kosar played for the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993 and then finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.-Early life and high school career:A Hungarian-American...
.
Ryan's career numbers (including years with the Rams and Redskins): 1,090 completions in 2,133 attempts for 16,044 yards, 149 touchdowns and 111 interceptions. Ryan also rushed for 1,358 yards and six touchdowns on 310 carries.
External links
- Terry Pluto, “Browns Town 1964: Frank Ryan,” Clevelandbrowns.com, 6 Sept. 2004
- Career statistics at pro-football-reference.com
- Bob Dolgan, “Quarterback Had Brains, But Game Still Smarted,” 12 Sept. 2004, ‘’The Plain Dealer’’ (warning: will attempt to print automatically)
- Frank Ryan's football cards
Other sources
- Grossi, Tony (2004). Tales from the Browns Sideline. (Champaign, Ill.): Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-713-9
- Stewart, Todd, ed. (2004) Cleveland Browns 2004 Media Guide. New York: National Communications Group