Patriots CB Logan Ryan wears Steve Nash jersey after game
Jan 15, 2017, 10:33 AM | Updated: Jan 22, 2017, 12:18 pm
After a great performance in the New England Patriots 34-16 win over the Houston Texans in the AFC divisional round, Pats cornerback Logan Ryan wore a jersey that Arizona sports fans just might recognize.
Speaking in the locker room after the win, Ryan sported a black Steve Nash jersey.
Logan Ryan dons Suns jersey. For Steve Nash. "Team player, gets everyone involved. He was my inspiration tonight." pic.twitter.com/4xg6wW1kp3
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 15, 2017
Ryan, 25, lined up against Texans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and got the best of the matchup. He finished with three passes defensed, an interception and a sack. While Hopkins did finish with six catches for 69 yards, teammates applauded Ryan’s performance.
The Pats bumped him from a starting role in October, in the midst of media criticism for his poor performance. He never wavered and had a clear-minded approach to the situation.
“If you play corner in this league, you’re one touchdown away from being the worst corner in the league, and you’re one interception from being the greatest,” Ryan said, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “That was something my dad taught me. NFL DB is a roller-coaster ride, and you try to stay in the middle of it, monitor the highs and lows and keep pushing and believing in yourself.”
Not only will Ryan’s choice of inspiration excite Suns fans, but his choice of jersey might as well. The 90s designs are some of the Suns’ more famous uniforms. The black alternate Ryan wore was briefly brought back by the Suns during the 2012-13 season, to the approval of fans.
Ryan grew up in New Jersey, went to college at Rutgers and joined the Pats in the NFL Draft, leaving him no clear connection to the valley or the Suns. It shows that Nash, a two-time MVP, made an impact on the sports world beyond just basketball or Arizona.
