Tag: Ryan Switzer

Record-setting UNC football standout named Tulsa interim head coach

The best punt returner in UNC football history landed his first head-coaching job.

If you watched the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2013-2016 college football seasons, chances are you witnessed a certain wide receiver deliver several, electric punt returns.

If you remember those same years, you also likely saw that same UNC player catch nearly every ball that was thrown to him.

Okay, enough with the mystery. That former Tar Heel is none other than Ryan Switzer, who was named the Tulsa Golden Hurricane’s interim head coach on Monday afternoon.

Switzer replaces former Indiana head coach and Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, another former North Carolina player (1980-1983), who went 7-16 in just under two seasons as the Tulsa head man.

Switzer was an integral part of the Larry Fedora era, playing arguably the top offensive role in leading UNC to four straight bowl appearances, which included a 2013 Belk Bowl victory over Cincinnati.

Switzer caught 244 passes for 2,907 yards and 19 touchdowns over four seasons, which made him the Tar Heels’ all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.

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As impactful as Switzer was in North Carolina’s passing game, he was even more of a factor in the punt return game.

Switzer is UNC’s leader in punt return yardage (1,082) and touchdowns (7), the latter of which is most in ACC history and one short of the NCAA’s all-time mark. Switzer’s five return TDs in 2013 tied him with former Hawaii standout Chad Owens, who initially set the mark in 2004.

NFL teams noticed Switzer’s collegiate prowess, but it was the Dallas Cowboys who made him their 2017, fourth-round NFL Draft selection.

Switzer’s best years were with the Pittsburgh Steelers, though – and after just three NFL seasons in which he totaled 321 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, 537 punt returns yards, one punt return TD and 1,373 kickoff return yards – Switzer joined the Tulsa coaching staff.

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Former Browns WR Ryan Switzer named WR coach at Tulsa

A former Browns receiver has been named the WR coach at Tulsa

Tulsa hired former Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson to take over their head coaching gig just a few weeks ago. And announced today, Wilson is taking an alumnus of the Cleveland Browns with him as former wide receiver Ryan Switzer will join his staff. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has stated that Wilson, “sees some Brian Hartline in the 28-year-old former college star-turned-NFL wideout in terms of his presence, work ethic, and attention to detail.” He will join Tulsa’s staff as the wide receivers coach.

Switzer never made a regular-season catch for the Browns, but was a member of their practice squad for two seasons from 2020-2021 before being placed on Injured Reserve in training camp. He retired from the NFL in July of 2022.

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Ryan Switzer helping out with West Virginia football

Former UNC football standout Ryan Switzer is helping out with West Virginia here in training camp.

Former UNC football standout [autotag]Ryan Switzer[/autotag] announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this Summer after five seasons in the NFL. Switzer was drafted by Dallas in 2017 and made stops with Cleveland, Oakland and Pittsburgh along the way.

But he isn’t leaving football for good.

Switzer is back in his home state of West Virginia and recently accepted a two-week stint to help out with the Mountaineers football program. The former wide receiver is working with Neal Brown and the coaching staff per the Herald-Dispatch. The stint will help Switzer take a step forward into a potential coaching career that he wants to pursue next year:

Switzer made his announcement via Twitter on July 18, adding that he would pursue coaching.

Seeking counsel for his next steps, he reached out to Brown. “I kind of informed him on what I was thinking and wanted to get his opinion on what would be the best route for me in the short term,” Switzer said. “He suggested spending a training camp somewhere. I told him I had some things physically I needed to get addressed before I went into coaching full time and I probably wasn’t going to be staffed anywhere this season and he invited me up here. I called him back a week later and told him I was going to come up.

In four years at UNC, Switzer finished with 243 receptions for 2,903 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was also an impact player on special teams as well for the Tar Heels.

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Ryan Switzer announces retirement from NFL

Former UNC football standout wide receiver and returner Ryan Switzer announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday.

On Monday, former UNC football standout [autotag]Ryan Switzer[/autotag] announced he has retired from the NFL.

The former Tar Heel wide receiver played in 41 games across three seasons in the NFL. He played one year with the Dallas Cowboys and two with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He last played in live-game action in 2019.

Switzer had been on the Cleveland Browns roster for the last two years but did not see live-game action. He suffered multiple injuries over the last few years that continued to set him back.

Switzer made his announcement via Twitter on Monday morning.

During his time at UNC, Switzer set multiple records. He holds programs records in career receptions (244) and yards (2,907).

Switzer was also a dynamic returner, scoring five punt return touchdowns and earning All-American honors as a freshman. He ended his career with a program record seven return touchdowns. That is also fourth best in NCAA Division 1 history.

After his UNC career was up, Switzer was selected in the fourth round by the Cowboys in 2017.

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Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Former Browns WR Ryan Switzer has retired from the NFL

Switzer spent most of the last two seasons with the Browns

Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver and return man Ryan Switzer has decided to hang up his cleats. Switzer announced his retirement from the NFL on his social media channels on Monday.

Switzer never suited up for the Browns in a regular-season game, but he was with Cleveland for most of the last two seasons. He signed with the Browns’ practice squad after being waived by the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. He had a shot to make the 53-man roster in 2021 but suffered an injury in the preseason and spent all of last season on the Browns injured reserve list.

Prior to arriving in Cleveland, Switzer played 41 games in three seasons between the Dallas Cowboys and Steelers. He was a fourth-round pick by Dallas out of North Carolina in the 2017 NFL draft. Switzer’s infant son suffered from medical complications during his time in Cleveland.

Good luck to Switzer on his post-football plans.

Ryan Switzer earns minicamp invite with Carolina Panthers

Former UNC football standout Ryan Switzer has been invited to Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp.

Former UNC football wide receiver [autotag]Ryan Switzer[/autotag] is getting another shot to impress at the NFL level.

Switzer earned a tryout spot by being invited to the Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp, the team announced on Friday. He joins a long list of players at the rookie minicamp including draft picks Ikem Ekwonu and Matt Corral.

The receiver was a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2017 NFL Draft and was then traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. He was on the move again, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Switzer has spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns but missed all of last season being on injured reserve with a foot injury.

In 41 career games, Switzer has 50 receptions for 320 yards and a touchdown. He also has a punt return for a touchdown in his career.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Panthers hold tryout for former Cowboys, Steelers WR Ryan Switzer

The Panthers hosted former Cowboys and Steelers WR Ryan Switzer for a tryout on Tuesday.

The Carolina Panthers have not brought back free agent Alex Erickson, who manned punt return duties for the team in 2021. But they might be bringing in his replacement.

Per the league transaction wire from Tuesday, the Panthers have tried out receiver Ryan Switzer. Switzer, who has served primarily on special teams since entering the league, did not play a regular-season snap over the past two seasons.

The North Carolina Tar Heel cracked into the NFL as a fourth-round selection of the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. He’d play just one campaign down in Texas—totaling 29 punt returns, 24 kick returns and 41 receiving yards off six catches.

Switzer then moved on to the Pittsburgh Steelers for 2018 and 2019. Between those two seasons, he’d field another 38 punts and 39 kickoffs while reeling in 280 yards on 44 receptions.

As of now, there is no clear punt return leader in the Panthers’ clubhouse. Possible options as the roster stands should include wideouts DJ Moore, Shi Smith and Brandon Zylstra.

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Browns reduce roster to 85: Waive 3, Carlson and Switzer to IR

The Browns trimmed the roster down to 85 men by waiving three and placing two on injured reserves today.

The Cleveland Browns have reduced their roster down to 85 players in advance of the Tuesday deadline to do so. Following the team’s victory of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns were required to cut five from their 90 man roster.

To do so, Cleveland placed Stephen Carlson and Ryan Switzer on injured reserve while waiving three others.

As previously reported, Carlson is expected to miss the season with a knee injury sustained in the game with the Jaguars. The details of Switzer’s injury have not been revealed, except to note it is a foot injury, but he scored the Browns final touchdown Saturday night with less than five minutes to go in the game.

The three players waived have less than four years of experience in the league and will be subject to the waiver process. Offensive lineman Cordel Iwuagwu, linebacker Montrel Meander and cornerback Kiondre Thomas were all let go by the team. Thomas was waived with the injury designation.

Cleveland welcomes the New York Giants to Berea this week for shared practices prior to their matchup in both teams’ second preseason game. Like this week, teams much cut another five players from their roster early next week as well.

Our coverage of the Browns march to the 53-man final roster will continue. Yesterday, we predicted Iwuagwu and Switzer as a part of the first five cut from the 90 man roster. Today we looked at four players whose stock rose from the game and then three others whose stock took a hit against Jacksonville.

Ryan Switzer announces infant son’s ‘nightmare is over’ after surgery

Browns practice squad player Ryan Switzer delivers great news on infant son Christian

Tremendous news out of Massachusetts and from Cleveland Browns wideout Ryan Switzer.

The practice squad player, who has spent time with Dallas and Pittsburgh, tweeted on Monday that infant son Christian is out of surgery and the doctors in Boston “fixed our son.”

The 9-month-old has been plagued by bleeding issues and was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ohio.

After doctors in Cleveland were unable to stem the bleeding, Christian was flown to a hospital in Massachusetts, where doctors worked on the infant.

And Monday, Switzer passed along the best news possible: Christian is stable and out of surgery.

Doctors at the famous Boston Children’s hospital identified the issue as a “vascular anomaly” somewhere in his gastrointestinal tract.

Prayers up and continued best wishes to the entire Switzer family, especially young Christian.

Ryan Switzer’s infant son hospitalized again

The infant son of Browns practice squad player Ryan Switzer is back in the hospital due to significant bleeding

Cleveland Browns practice squad WR Ryan Switzer posted the news on Twitter that his infant son is back in the hospital.

Previously, Switzer had posted Christian tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent a surgical procedure around March 7 to try and figure out what was causing the bleeding.

Prayers up for Christian and the entire Switzer family.