High School

Ryan was born in Tolono, Illinois. He attended Unity High School in Tolono, Illinois, from 1946 to 1950 and played both football and basketball. In addition, he won the Illinois State Pole Vault Title during the 1947–1948 school year. Ryan's pole vault championship assisted the high school track and field team in finishing tenth overall at the state meet.

College

After graduating from high school, Ryan attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he joined the football team. His style of play led 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.

NFL 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, left the team for the Chicago Bears