Canadian punter Jon Ryan to join Bills
2014 Super Bowl championship among Regina native's 10 seasons with Seahawks
It didn't take Jon Ryan long to find a new home.
The Buffalo Bills announced Tuesday that they have signed the Regina-born punter to a one-year contract. The move comes a day after the Seattle Seahawks released Ryan after 10 seasons.
Ryan will be reunited with kicker Steven Hauschka, who's also a former Seahawk.
Ryan posted a lengthy goodbye to the Seahawks and their fans on social media Monday morning.
"I never wanted this day to come, but knew it would someday," Ryan wrote.
Ryan was among the most popular Seahawks players for his skill as a punter and his personality off the field. But his time in Seattle appeared to be up when Michael Dickson was selected in the fifth round of this year's draft.
Ryan played for three head coaches in Seattle, starting with Mike Holmgren in 2008, Jim Mora in 2009 and the past eight seasons under Pete Carroll.
He was responsible for one of the most important touchdowns in franchise history, throwing a TD pass on a trick play in the 2014 NFC Championship game that helped Seattle reach its second straight Super Bowl.
Ryan's note had a special message for Seattle fans.
"You embraced a pale-skinned, red-headed Canadian with a speech impediment and made him feel like a superstar," Ryan wrote. "I will forever be grateful."
Ryan signed with Seattle in 2008, after two seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He began his pro career with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2004-05).
Ryan was a CFL all-star in 2005 and earned a Super Bowl ring with Seattle following the team's 43-8 win over Denver on Feb. 2, 2014.
That made Ryan the first player from Saskatchewan to capture a Super Bowl title.
Ryan is sixth in the NFL among active players in punting yards. He's recorded 914 career punts south of the border and had just seven blocked, the fewest among active punters.
The Bills also announced that they have released kicker Tyler Davis