The Saints have hired Rob Ryan as their new defensive coordinator and added Stan Kwan as an assistant special teams coach.

Saints coach Sean Payton, who announced the additions to his staff on Saturday, says the Saints found Ryan's defenses challenging when they played his previous teams. In 2010, Ryan was Cleveland's defensive coordinator when the Browns beat the Saints in the Superdome, 30-17, intercepting passes by Drew Brees four times.

Ryan, the brother of Jets coach Rex Ryan, spent the past two seasons as Dallas' defensive coordinator and was fired after last season, when his defense ranked 19th.

Ryan says joining the Saints is a "great opportunity" and he's getting started right away. Kwan has been an NFL assistant 23 years, the past three in Buffalo.