Remembering Ryan Job

Ryan Job was a Husky Rugby prop in 2000 and 2001 before the events of September 11, 2001, changed the course of his life. Motivated to serve his country, Ryan left the University of Washington to pursue his dream of becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. He went on to graduate from BUD/S and serve with SEAL Team 3 in Iraq.

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In August 2006, while serving in Ramadi, Ryan was gravely wounded by enemy fire. The injury left him totally blind and ultimately led to his medical retirement from the Navy. But Ryan refused to allow his injuries to define what was possible.

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After returning home, he married, completed his bachelor's degree with a 4.0 GPA, pursued an MBA, and continued to challenge himself in extraordinary ways. Despite his blindness, Ryan climbed to the summit of Mount Rainier and later participated in an elk hunt. He was also training for an Ironman and preparing to become a father when his life was tragically cut short on September 24, 2009, following complications from reconstructive surgery.

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Ryan's story is not simply one of military service or athletic accomplishment. It is a story of faith, determination, humility, humor, and an unwillingness to surrender to adversity.

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Those qualities are the reason Ryan's legacy remains deeply woven into Husky Rugby. His former teammates and the broader Husky Rugby family continue to carry forward his spirit of esprit de corps—the idea that we are stronger because we stand together.

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The Ryan Job Award was established to honor a Husky Rugby player who demonstrates the courage, resilience, and selflessness that defined Ryan's life. It is a fitting tribute to a man whose example reaches far beyond the rugby pitch.

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On this anniversary, we remember Ryan, his family, his teammates, and the extraordinary life he lived.

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Gone, but never forgotten. Once a Husky, always a Husky.

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