Jan 14, 2015 5 min read

New team. Same old brash and bold Rex Ryan.

The Buffalo Bills’ new coach opened his inaugural news conference with the team Wednesday by tapping the microphone and saying: “Is this thing on? Because it’s going to be on.”

Outlining his objectives, Ryan said the job is his last chance to prove himself.

He vowed to build the Bills into “a bully” and said he has an additional chip on his shoulder after being fired by the New York Jets. Ryan maintained the New England Patriots – the Jets – remain as the AFC East team he wants to beat the most.

Though he stopped short of guaranteeing Buffalo winning a Super Bowl, Ryan did “guarantee” winning a championship as being his sole pursuit.

“We’re not afraid of it,” Ryan said. “My message to the players is get ready. We’re going to be playing games in January and so forth. We’re going to build a bully and we’re going to see if you want to play with us for 60 minutes.”

The entertaining, provocative front comes as Bills search for relevance. Though coming off a 9-7 season, which matched Buffalo’s best finish in 10 years, the team still missed the playoffs to extend the NFL’s longest active drought to 15 seasons.

Ryan spent the previous six seasons with the Jets, where he had a 50-52 record, including 4-2 in the playoffs. He was fired along with general manager John Idzik following a 4-12 finish.

Ryan replaces Doug Marrone, who shocked the Bills by stepping down Dec. 31. The second-year coach opted out of his contract after Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the franchise in October.

Ryan made a veiled reference to Marrone’s departure by saying: “This football team deserves a loyal coach.”

Ryan’s background is on defense. He inherits a unit that has been among the NFL’s most aggressive over the past two years. Last season, Buffalo finished fourth in yards allowed, led the league with 54 sacks and produced three Pro Bowl linemen.

That’s not good enough for Ryan, who expects the defense to finish first next season. Many members of Ryan’s defensive staff with the Jets are expected to fill vacancies in Buffalo. That includes Dennis Thurman taking over as coordinator to succeed Jim Schwartz, whose contract was terminated by the Bills on Tuesday.

Ryan faces his biggest challenge on offense. The unit finished 26th in yards gained.

Kyle Orton, who replaced second-year starter EJ Manuel five games into the season, said he intends to retire, leaving Manuel as the only experienced quarterback currently on the Bills roster.

Ryan said he and his staff – including newly hired offensive coordinator Greg Roman – are beginning to evaluate the roster and it’s too early to make any determination.

Ryan is no stranger to Buffalo. His father, Buddy Ryan, previously served as the University at Buffalo’s defensive coordinator in the 1960s.

Raiders hire Del Rio: The Oakland Raiders have hired Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio as their new coach.

A person with knowledge of the deal said it was agreed to on Wednesday, not long after the team told interim coach Tony Sparano he would not get the job. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not been made.

ESPN first reported the hiring.

Del Rio replaces Sparano, who replaced the fired Dennis Allen and had hoped to keep the job.

Del Rio was head coach in Jacksonville for nine seasons before spending the past three as defensive coordinator in Denver.

Jets hire Bowles: The New York Jets have hired Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles as their head coach.

The team made the announcement Wednesday. The 51-year-old Bowles replaces Rex Ryan, who was fired, along with general manager John Idzik, on Dec. 29 after six seasons.

Bowles was a highly sought candidate after leading Arizona’s defense the last two seasons.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Bowles, who is a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey. He also served as the Jets’ defensive backs coach under then-coach Al Groh during the 2000 season.

Bowles beat out five other candidates who interviewed for the job, including Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and former Buffalo coach Doug Marrone.

The Jets hired former Houston director of college scouting Mike Maccagnan as their general manager Tuesday night.

49ers promote Tomsula: A person with direct knowledge of the agreement said the San Francisco 49ers have promoted longtime defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to head coach.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team hadn’t announced the deal following a more than two-week search that ended right in house.

Tomsula, a Homestead, Pa. native and Steel Valley High School graduate, replaces Jim Harbaugh, who parted ways with the Niners Dec. 28 in what the team called a “mutual decision.” Harbaugh was introduced as Michigan’s new coach two days later following a successful four-year stint during which the 49ers reached three straight NFC championship games and a Super Bowl.

ESPN first reported Tomsula’s promotion.