ryan was born on september 2, 1968, in kansas city, missouri. he attended rockhurst high school, where, in 1986, he won the simone award for the best high school football player in the kansas city metropolitan area. after ryan graduated from rockhurst, he went on to play college football for notre dame fighting irish football. at 6'2" and 280 pounds, ryan would graduate notre dame and play for the tampa bay buccaneers from 1991–1993.