Football - Basketball - Track & Field

Graduated: 1950

Accomplishments

• UHS Football - Undefeated Season

  • 47 Game Winning Streak

• UHS Basketball - County Championship

• UHS Track & Field - 1949 Pole Vault State Champion

Teams

• National Football League - Philadelphia Eagles & Chicago Bears

  • Selected in the second round of the 1954 NFL draft,

• College - University of Illinois

  • Member of the 1952 Rose Bowl Team

College Career - After graduating from high school, Ryan attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he joined the football team. His style of play lead to him being referred to as a "daring young Irishman". Perhaps the highlight of his collegiate football career was playing in the 1952 Rose Bowl, the first nationally televised college football game, where he caught a touchdown pass. Ryan's touchdown was Illinois' final score of the game and was part of a dominant Rose Bowl performance by the team that the University of Illinois Alumni Association would go on to name one of the top ten moments in Illini football history.

Professional Career - In 1954, he was selected in the second round of the 1954 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. However, his entry into the NFL was delayed as he enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1954 to 1956. Ryan ultimately played for the Eagles during the 1956 and 1957 seasons, but partway through the 1958 season, he left the team for the Chicago Bears.