He played college football for the Rice Owls and was selected in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.

[1] Pontbriand attended Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, where he was a three-year letterman and a full-time starter on the football team's offensive line.

[2] Ryan graduated high school and attended Rice University, redshirting his first year of eligibility in 1998.

While at Rice, Pontbriand was the team's long snapper, and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.

[5] Pontbriand missed only five games with the Browns, which occurred during the 2005 season due to a back injury.