About Joe Ryan
Joe was born on Staten Island and lived his entire life on the Island. During his lifetime he made many contributions to Staten Island football, not only as a star player, but also as a coach and counselor.
Joe transferred to New Dorp High School in his junior year in 1950 because the high school he was attending did not have a football team. Although he was a sandlot football legend he wanted to participate in a more organized program. Unfortunately, Joe had to continue sandlot football for the 1950 season because a coach’s strike that year cancelled New Dorp’s entire football season. He realized his goal in his senior year, however, when he starred on New Dorp’s winning football team and scored 11 touchdowns in seven games. He was inducted into New Dorp High School’s Hall of Fame in 1993.
As a result of his success at New Dorp, Joe won a four-year college scholarship to play football for Villanova University (PA). In addition to being a star center, linebacker and eventual captain of the team, he also earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. After graduation, Joe was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the draft and played linebacker in each of their preseason games. Prior to the start of 1957 NFL season, the Bears released him. Before he was able to sign with any other NFL team, Joe was drafted into the Army and spent two years playing with the Fort Dix football team.
After his discharge from the Army in 1959, he suited up for the Philadelphia Eagles and played on their NFL championship team. Joe joined the New York Titans of the American Football League in the 1960 season and played defensive end. The Titans eventually became the New York Jets of the National Football League. After leaving professional football, Joe became player-coach for the Jersey City Giants. Joe also became senior recreation director at Mount Loretto on Staten Island and began his teaching career on the Island. In 1968, Joe began teaching at the newly opened Susan Wagner High School on Staten Island. In 1971, Joe started the varsity football program at Susan Wagner High School, and had the team in the playoffs four years later. During his 12 seasons at Susan Wagner, he guided the team to championships in 1976, 1977, and 1982, as well as his last year as coach in 1983.
Joe took the next two years off from coaching to follow the football career of his son Denis who played football at Columbia University in Manhattan. In 1986 he returned to coaching, working for eight years as offensive coordinator for the McKee High School team.
In 1994, he became the first varsity football coach at St. Joseph by the Sea High School, and coached that team for eight seasons. After leaving the head coaching position at St. Joseph by the Sea, he became an assistant coach at Xaverian High School for two seasons prior to his untimely death on January 20, 2003.
Joe was posthumously inducted into the Staten Island Hall of Fame on November 22, 2003. He also received the Tom O’Connor Community Award for service to youth and community on Staten Island, at the Fred Fugazzi Memorial Award Dinner on March 6, 2004.
