Aaron Glenn’s comments about Rex Ryan’s son should have Jets fans on notice

When the New York Jets last took the field for a postseason game, Seth Ryan was a 16-year-old high school standout watching from the sidelines as the son of head coach Rex Ryan. 

Much has changed since that January 2011 playoff run, a decade and a half in which the Jets have arguably been the league’s most dysfunctional franchise. While Rex hasn’t coached the Jets since his dismissal after the 2014 season, the now 32-year-old Seth is back in the building as the team’s new passing game coordinator.

Seth spent the last five years as a Detroit Lions assistant coach, including working with the tight ends last year. He worked alongside Jets head coach Aaron Glenn from 2021 to 2024 when Glenn was the Lions’ defensive coordinator.

Now, the younger Ryan has an opportunity to endear himself to Jets fans as his father once did, and Glenn certainly sounds optimistic about his chances.

“I’ll tell you what: Seth Ryan, just keep your eye on him,” Glenn said on Tuesday. “Just telling you that right now, he’s going to be a hell of a coach [with] the ideas that he brings.”

What to know about new Jets assistant Seth Ryan

After playing receiver at Clemson, Ryan broke into coaching as a quality control coach with the Chargers in 2019. Anthony Lynn, then the Chargers’ head coach, had previously worked under Rex Ryan in New York and Buffalo.

Ryan followed Lynn to Detroit in 2021 when the latter became the Lions’ offensive coordinator. Although Lynn was fired after one season, Ryan remained in Detroit as the assistant wide receivers coach.

As the Jets’ passing game coordinator, Ryan reports directly to offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith began his NFL career — and his first Jets stint — playing for Rex Ryan from 2013-14.

Ryan is the third member of his family to coach for the Jets. His grandfather, Buddy, was the Jets’ defensive line coach from 1968 through 1975.

Both Buddy and Rex Ryan have Super Bowl rings, but only Buddy earned his while with the Jets. We’ll see whether Seth can join that exclusive club and one-up his father by bringing home the Jets’ first title in nearly 60 years.