The Patriots have added Brendan Daly to their coaching staff to serve as a defensive assistant, the team announced on Wednesday.
Daly, who has 17 years of coaching experience (eight in the NFL), has a defensive line background, most recently coaching the position for the Vikings during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
He began his NFL coaching career in Minnesota, serving as a defensive assistant/defensive line coach from 2006-08 before coaching for three seasons in St. Louis as the defensive line coach. He and current Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels crossed paths for one season with the Rams.
A former college tight end at Drake, Ryan has previous college coaching stops at Oklahoma State and Villanova, among other schools.
Given his defensive line background, Ryan may work closely with current Patriots defensive line coach Patrick Graham.