Syracuse football is turning to a seasoned NFL and college veteran to lead its quarterback room. Sean Ryan has been hired as the Orange’s new quarterbacks coach, bringing with him nearly 30 years of coaching experience and a résumé that includes two Super Bowl rings.
Ryan most recently served as a senior defensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins, but his coaching roots are deeply planted on the offensive side of the ball - particularly when it comes to developing quarterbacks and wide receivers. That dual-threat coaching background gives Syracuse a versatile mind in the building as the program continues to shape its identity under head coach Fran Brown.
The move comes after a stretch of shuffling within the Syracuse offensive staff. Nunzio Campanile opened the 2024 season as the quarterbacks coach but transitioned to tight ends coach midway through the 2025 campaign. Michael Johnson briefly stepped in to handle quarterback duties, but now the job officially belongs to Ryan - a coach with a proven track record of molding signal-callers at both the collegiate and pro levels.
Let’s take a closer look at the path that brought Ryan to Central New York.
Ryan began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at Albany in 1998 before stints at Colgate, Boston College, Columbia, and Harvard. At Columbia, he worked with both the running backs and quarterbacks, while also handling special teams and recruiting duties - a clear sign early on that he was a coach comfortable wearing multiple hats.
His big break came in 2007 when he joined the New York Giants as an offensive quality control coach. From there, he climbed the ladder quickly.
Ryan was part of the Giants’ staff during their Super Bowl-winning seasons, first as a wide receivers coach and later as a quarterbacks coach. He worked closely with Eli Manning during some of the most productive years of the quarterback’s career, helping to guide an offense that thrived in high-pressure playoff moments.
After his time in New York, Ryan continued to build his reputation as a quarterback whisperer. He held QB coach roles with the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers between 2017 and 2022 - working with a range of quarterbacks, from rising stars to established veterans. That kind of experience is invaluable for a college program like Syracuse, where quarterback development is often the difference between bowl eligibility and a long offseason.
Ryan also spent time as an offensive analyst at South Carolina in 2023 before shifting to a defensive assistant role with the Dolphins in 2024 and 2025. That recent defensive experience adds another layer to his coaching profile - giving him a unique perspective on how to attack opposing defenses and anticipate what’s coming.
For Syracuse, this hire signals a commitment to high-level quarterback development. Ryan brings with him not only NFL pedigree but also a deep understanding of what it takes to win - both in the pros and in the college game. With his arrival, the Orange add a coach who has seen it all: Super Bowl Sundays, college Saturdays, and everything in between.
As Fran Brown continues to shape the future of Syracuse football, bringing in someone with Ryan’s background could be a pivotal step in building a more dynamic, efficient, and confident offense.