Rex Ryan As New Buffalo Bills Head Coach: Hire A Mistake? Former NY Jets Better Suited For Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers?

The Buffalo Bills have a new head coach: Rex Ryan — but have they made a huge mistake? The NFL team announced today the former New York Jets coach would become their 18th head coach, and that they had finalized their deal that is thought to be worth more than $5 million a year for the defensive specialist. Ryan was also head coaching option for the Atlanta Flacons and San Francisco 49ers — who parted ways with Mike Smith and Jim Harbaugh respectively — but who were beaten to the punch by the Bills, who, following a change in ownership, had been ditched by coach Doug Marrone (who had an out clause in his contract) after the 2014 season ended. But the hire has raised eyebrows around the league, as the Bills are set to introduce their new coach on Wednesday. 

.@BuffaloBills announce hiring of Rex Ryan: https://t.co/nQHlTd4FrI pic.twitter.com/GC5Pt4ZRZA

— NFL (@nfl) January 12, 2015

As reported by NFL.com's Kevin Patra, new Bills owner Terry Pegula said in a statement: "'Rex brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position that we feel will be a tremendous benefit to our players and the entire Bills organization."

"He was very impressive during the interview process, as were many of the candidates to which we spoke. And we feel Rex is the best fit for our team."

"We look forward to his leadership and expertise in directing our team to the playoffs and bringing a championship to Buffalo for our fans."

Patra called the hire "odd", adding "given what he went through the last few years in New York."

First look at Rex in #Bills gear. Blue and red looks good on him! pic.twitter.com/bwpoeLe8WX

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 12, 2015

As The Associated Press report, Ryan is known as "a defensive specialist, and noted for a brash personality and having a deep loyalty to his players."

The problem, of course, was Ryan's record with the Jets, who he had taken to two AFC championship games in his first two season, but had failed to get to the playoffs since. He had "a 50-52 record, including 4-2 in the playoffs, in six seasons coaching the Bills' AFC East rival. He was fired along with general manager John Idzik following a 4-12 finish last season."

NBC's ProFootball Talk's Michael David Smith says: "The big question facing Ryan will be the big question that always faced him with the Jets: Does he have a quarterback in place? If he does, the Bills should be in first place. If he doesn't, Ryan's tenure in Buffalo may look a lot like his tenure with the Jets."

Rex Ryan takes charge of team with excellent defense and mediocre quarterback. Again https://t.co/RlFleJ0A4n

— Tom Lutz (@tom_lutz) January 12, 2015

AP add that "Ryan was also a coaching candidate in Atlanta and San Francisco."

According to The New York Daily News's Manish Mehta, Ryan took the Bills job after Atlanta didn't commit to second interview quickly enough for the coach's liking.

Says Mehta, "Ryan would have canceled his trip to Buffalo Thursday morning if the Falcons had committed to bringing him back for a second sit-down, according to sources, but there was hesitation on the team's part."

Ryan joins a Bills organization who were known for their defensive prowess behind new defensive coordinator and former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. And, as The Bleacher Report's Giancarlo Ferarri-King says, "it will be interesting to see how that marriage between him and Ryan plays out, assuming he stays with the team next season."

As ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, the Bills are likely to hire 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman to work with Rex.

Bills expected to hire former 49ers OC Greg Roman as new OC to go along with Rex Ryan, per sources. The two worked together in Baltimore.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 11, 2015

But, as NBC Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio says, "Ryan eventually may regret the decision not to wait for an answer from a team in a lesser division with a better quarterback and overall offense."

It's a sentiment echoed by ESPN's Ian O'Connor, who says "this wasn't the smart play for a coach who can't afford to swing and miss in Buffalo." 

What do you think? Was this the right move for Rex and the Bills? Would he have been better off going to Atlanta or San Francisco?

While the #Jets seem to have settled on Dan Quinn as their top coaching choice, Rex Ryan decided on the wrong job. https://t.co/PIfuReUuwT

— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) January 12, 2015