Jeff Fisher, Ryan brothers share deep-rooted history

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Jeff Fisher's NFL playing career, which basically spanned from 1981-84, was spent as a defensive back and return specialist on the Chicago Bears. The late, great Buddy Ryan was the defensive coordinator for those teams. It was Ryan who retained Fisher as a defensive assistant while he spent the 1985 season on injured reserve, then hired Fisher as a defensive backs coach when he became head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles the following year. Ryan then promoted Fisher to defensive coordinator in 1988, making him -- at that point only 30 years old -- the youngest such coach in the NFL.

Rex Ryan, now head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and his twin brother, Rob, his…