Ryan Ramczyk Bio
Ryan Mack Ramczyk is an American former professional football player who played offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, he spent his entire eight-year career with the organization and became one of the most reliable linemen of his era. Standing 6 ft 6 in tall and competing at about 314 lb, Ramczyk combined rare size with consistent technique at both tackle spots. He formally announced his retirement from professional football on April 17, 2025, closing a career defined by durability and postseason impact.
A native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Ramczyk built his reputation as a dependable starter who rarely missed assignments in pass protection. His professional résumé includes All-Pro recognition in three consecutive seasons, anchoring an offense that repeatedly ranked among the league’s most balanced units.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Mack Ramczyk was born on April 22, 1994, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where he grew up surrounded by the traditions of small-town Midwestern football. He attended Stevens Point Area Senior High School, competing for the Panthers and developing the physical foundation that would later define his professional profile. During his senior season he earned First Team All-State honors from the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association in 2011, a recognition that hinted at his untapped potential.
After high school, Ramczyk was invited to play in the 2012 WFCA All-Star Game in Oshkosh, an experience that broadened his exposure to college recruiters. He turned down a scholarship offer from Pittsburgh, then led by first-year head coach Paul Chryst, and instead enrolled at Winona State, a Minnesota Division-II program. The path that followed was unconventional, reflecting a young player still searching for the right competitive stage.
Path to American Football
Ramczyk’s road to major college football was marked by persistence through several stops. Leaving Winona State before the football season began, he enrolled at Madison Area Technical College and then Mid-State Technical College in Stevens Point, spending one semester at each while continuing to develop his frame and technique. In 2013 he transferred to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, an NCAA Division III program where his former high school coach had joined the football staff, giving him a familiar support system.
In what was technically his freshman season at Stevens Point, Ramczyk played in all ten games and was named Second Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The following season he earned First Team All-WIAC honors, confirming his status as a rising prospect. When Paul Chryst was hired as head coach at Wisconsin–Madison, Ramczyk reached out, transferred to the Big Ten program, and after sitting out 2015 under NCAA transfer rules, claimed the starting left tackle job for the 2016 season. He closed that year as a First Team All-Big Ten selection and a First Team All-American, completing one of the most remarkable climbs in recent college football history.
Ryan Ramczyk Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
The New Orleans Saints selected Ramczyk with the 32nd overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft, a selection acquired from the New England Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Limited at the NFL Combine by a hip injury to only the bench press, he had still been ranked the top offensive tackle available in the draft by several prominent analysts. He made his NFL debut on September 11, 2017, against the Minnesota Vikings, becoming the first Saints rookie to start at left tackle in a season opener since Jim Dombrowski in 1986.
After starting four games at left tackle for an injured Terron Armstead, Ramczyk shifted to right tackle when Zach Strief was lost for the season, finishing with twelve starts on that side. His rookie campaign earned him a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. The following season he was named Second Team All-Pro, the first of three consecutive All-Pro honors and a clear signal that the Saints had found a long-term fixture along their offensive line.
Saints Breakthrough (2019–2020)
The 2019 season represented Ramczyk’s emergence as an elite lineman. Starting every game at right tackle, he allowed zero quarterback sacks across the year and was rewarded with First Team All-Pro recognition. He was also ranked 82nd by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020, reflecting the growing respect he commanded across the league.
In 2020 the Saints exercised Ramczyk’s fifth-year option, locking in his place on the roster as a foundational piece. He started all sixteen games that season and was again named Second Team All-Pro. On June 30, 2021, he signed a five-year, $96 million contract extension with $60 million in guarantees, cementing his status as one of the highest-paid right tackles in football and a centerpiece of New Orleans’ offensive identity.
Saints Era (2021–2024)
Following his new contract, Ramczyk continued as a steady anchor. In the 2021 season he appeared in and started ten games, and in 2022 he returned to full strength, appearing in and starting sixteen games. The 2023 season saw him appear in and start twelve games, the first hint of the physical toll that years of trench warfare had begun to take on his body.
On July 18, 2024, Ramczyk was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list after undergoing knee surgery during the offseason, sidelining him for the entire year. After 101 career games and 101 career starts, he announced his retirement from professional football on April 17, 2025, closing his career with the only franchise he had ever known.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ramczyk built his reputation on technical precision, leverage, and balance rather than raw movement skills. He handled power rushers with a stout anchor and showed steady footwork in pass sets, allowing him to surrender very few sacks across his prime seasons. His intelligence and communication along the offensive line made him a trusted partner for quarterbacks operating in rhythm.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ramczyk’s signature moments were his 2019 zero-sack season and his rookie start that snapped a three-decade drought of Saints rookie left tackles opening the season. His 2017 draft selection, acquired in the Brandin Cooks trade, immediately became one of the most lopsided deals in franchise memory, and his career arc from Division III prospect to All-Pro set a standard for perseverance in the modern NFL.
Ryan Ramczyk Career Wins
Over the course of his NFL career, Ryan Ramczyk was recognized among the league’s elite at his position, earning All-Pro honors in three consecutive seasons and anchoring an offensive line that consistently supported a high-powered Saints attack. His combination of durability, technique, and team-first approach made him a central figure in New Orleans’ sustained contention during the late 2010s.
Saints Highlights
Ramczyk was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017 and then earned Second Team All-Pro honors in 2018, First Team All-Pro in 2019, and a return to Second Team All-Pro in 2020. He was also ranked among his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020, reflecting league-wide respect for his play.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Ramczyk collected Second Team All-WIAC honors in 2013, First Team All-WIAC in 2014, First Team All-Big Ten in 2016, and First Team All-American honors in 2016, completing one of the most decorated individual college journeys of his draft class.
Ryan Ramczyk Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public biographical sources do not detail Ryan Ramczyk’s parents or extended family, and he has kept that part of his life largely private. His roots in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and his long relationship with coaches from that community shaped both his character and his football development.
Personal Life
Verified public records do not include details about a spouse or children for Ryan Ramczyk. He is known to have built his adult life in and around the New Orleans area during his tenure with the Saints, focusing his public profile on his profession and his team.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marks the first year without Ramczyk on an active roster since his rookie debut. Following his placement on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list in July 2024 and his subsequent knee surgery, he spent the entire 2024 campaign on the sidelines while the Saints evaluated their options at both tackle spots.
On April 17, 2025, Ramczyk announced his retirement from professional football, confirming that he would not return to the field for an additional campaign. The decision closed his career with 101 games played and 101 games started, all with New Orleans, and allowed the Saints to fully turn the page at the position.
For the Saints, the 2025 storyline now shifts to younger linemen stepping into the protection duties once held by their longtime anchor. Ramczyk’s legacy in New Orleans is expected to influence team culture, offensive line development, and fan memory long after his final snap, as the organization honors one of the most durable starters in franchise history.