Ryan Wendell enters his first season with the Los Angeles Rams as the offensive line coach after spending the last three seasons as an assistant offensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills.
Last season, Wendell helped the Bills' offensive line finish eighth in fewest sacks allowed (23) and sack rate (5.4%), 11th in pressures allowed and 11th in average time to throw (2.86 seconds). Wendell's group also helped the Bills' offense finish fourth in yards per game (397.6), seventh in rush yards per game (139.5), second in yards per rush (5.2), seventh in pass yards per game (258.1), and third in offensive points scored per game (26.88). Bills' tackle Dion Dawkins received Pro Bowl honors under Wendell's mentorship last season.
In 2021, the Bills' offensive line finished second in fewest sacks allowed (27) and sack rate (4.0%), and fifth in average time to throw (2.9 seconds). The Bills' offense also finished the 2021 season sixth in rush yards (2,209) and yards per rush (4.8), and seventh in rushing touchdowns (20).
Under Wendell's guidance in 2020, the Bills' offensive line ranked ninth in sacks allowed (27), seventh in sack rate (4.3%), and 11th in rushing first downs (119). He served as a coaching assistant in his first year as a coach at the NFL ranks in 2019.
Wendell had an nine-year NFL playing career and appeared in 80 games (49 starts) with the New England Patriots from 2008- 15 and the Carolina Panthers in 2016. During his tenure as a player with the Patriots, Wendell won a Super Bowl (2014) and two conference championships (2011, 2014). Wendell also recorded back-to-back seasons starting every game during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He appeared in 12 career postseason contests with seven starts and also started at three different spots along the offensive line - left guard, center and right guard.
He signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent in 2008 after playing his collegiate ball at Fresno State where he was a four year starter from 2004-07. During his collegiate playing days at Fresno State, Wendell played center for an offensive line that set a school record for fewest sacks allowed (12). He played in nine games during his freshman season in 2004, when he helped the school finish as the nation's fifth-ranked offense. He also earned All-WAC and Academic All-WAC honors.
Wendell is a Southern California native and had his jersey retired by Diamond Bar High School, where he was elected to the school's Hall of Fame. He also was selected first-team All-CIF Southern Section as a defensive lineman as a senior and as an offensive lineman as a junior. As a student, Wendell was the winner of the California Govenor's Scholar Share Award.
