Ryan made the most of back-up role in the NFL

He completed more passes for more yards and more touchdowns in the NFL than any University of Tennessee quarterback not named Peyton Manning.

And yet you won’t find his name anywhere in the UT lists of passing statistics.

Pat Ryan is that rare athlete who accomplished much more at the pro level than in college.

He played 12 years with the New York Jets and part of another with the Philadelphia Eagles.

But when asked about his days in Neyland Stadium, Ryan chuckles.

“There isn’t much to tell,’’ he said.

Thus, it is as a Jet and not a Vol that Ryan will be inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame on July 9.

“People can say what they want,’’ said Ryan, “but being a back-up in the NFL is not a bad gig.’’

Ryan prepped for that role by being a back-up at Tennessee.

He came to UT from Oklahoma City, then the coach who recruited him left. The Vols changed offenses and Ryan, a drop-back thrower, was out of vogue. He lettered as a senior in 1977, but Jimmy Streater got most of the playing time.

It wasn’t a plausible resume for a 12-year NFL quarterback, but that’s what happened.

“I had a coach here named Lide Huggins,’’ Ryan said, “and he got my name in the mix.

“I was a drop-back passer at the time when it seemed like everybody in the country was running a veer or wishbone.

“So there weren’t a lot of throwers except for West Coast guys. The pool was a little shallower back then.’’

The Jets picked Ryan in the 11th round of the 1978 draft, no doubt leaving their fans scratching their heads. The odds were long, but the rest was up to Ryan.

The Jets were looking for a third-team QB and Ryan had a good training camp.

“A really good training camp,’’ he said.

“I went out there and made a lot of plays,’’ he said. “I realized, yeah, I did remember how to play the game.’’

Ryan lasted with the Jets through 1989, mostly backing-up Ken O’Brien. He started 19 games in that span. The Jets’ 11-8 record in those games indicates Ryan was getting something done.

There were several stretches when Ryan stepped to the forefront.

In 1984, he started 11 games, during which the Jets went 6-5.

“Starting and being the back-up is night and day,’’ Ryan said. “The second game was at Pittsburgh on Thursday night, national television, and I stunk it up.

“I come out the next Sunday (at home) not knowing what to expect and, lo and behold, I about got booed out of the stadium.

“You can’t have thin skin up there.’’

In 1986, Ryan got a playoff start and led the Jets past Kansas City. He started four games in ‘88.

“I was a back-up,’’ he said, “but also a little bit like a co-starter. That’s how I handled it and that’s how the team handled it. They treated me very well.’’

He said he never got a serious itch to find another club where he might be the No. 1 guy.

“I was pretty realistic,’’ he said. “I felt I was pretty good but I wasn’t of the mindset I was one of the elite quarterbacks that’s going to go to another team and burn it up.’’

Ryan figured his career was over when he was cut in 1990. He’d been back in Knoxville more than a year when Philadelphia called during the 1991 season after Randall Cunningham got hurt.

He played four games in an Eagles uniform. The rust showed.

“My time in Philadelphia wasn’t much fun,’’ Ryan said. “I was ready to go.’’

Go back to Knoxville and build houses. Ryan had gotten into the construction business, essentially building a house each offseason, as a transition to life after football.

Then the Tennessee Titans called. They didn’t need a quarterback but announcer Mike Keith, who had started his career in Knoxville, needed a radio analyst. Ryan thoroughly enjoyed his six seasons (1999-2004) alongside Keith.

“That was a lot of fun,’’ he said. “I didn’t have a clue what I was doing originally.’’

Ryan still dabbles in broadcasting. He also follows his son Jake, a quarterback at Austin Peay.

And nearly 20 years later, he looks back on a back-up’s career with satisfaction.

“I feel good about what I did,’’ he said. “I did a lot more than a lot of people thought I would or could.’’