Geno Smith and Rex Ryan quietly gave us the best part of Jets’ OTAs

A Geno Smith-New York Jets reunion wouldn’t quite be complete without Rex Ryan’s presence, now would it?

Ryan, the Jets’ head coach from 2009-14, visited Smith and the Jets at OTAs earlier this week. Rex’s son, Seth, is the Jets’ pass game coordinator.

At one point, Rex and Smith reportedly embraced, a heartwarming — and, frankly, shocking — sight. 

When speaking with reporters, Smith called the moment “special.”

“It just brings back the nostalgia,” Smith said. “All those games, we fought together, and obviously, he was a part of the staff that gave me my first opportunity in the NFL, and I’m forever grateful.”

Smith played his first two seasons for Ryan, though the relationship later turned into an ugly public feud. 

Geno Smith and Rex Ryan spent years trading insults 

Smith’s two seasons under Ryan featured the occasional upset victory, no shortage of turnovers, and a benching for missing a team meeting over time zone confusion.

Yes, seriously. That happened.

The Jets fired Ryan following the 2014 season, and Smith left for the Giants two years later. 

Fast forward to December 2017, when Ryan criticized the Giants for benching Eli Manning and starting Smith.

“I did see one of my ex-coaches say he didn’t want me to be his quarterback, and that really upset me, you know?” Smith said after that start. “A guy that we saved his job in 2013, when we fought our ass for him both years.”

Ryan later held a marshmallow on ESPN and said the treat reminded him of Smith’s chin. 

Many interpreted Ryan’s comments as a reference to then-teammate IK Enemkpali breaking Smith’s jaw during a 2015 training camp practice.

Ryan, who was coaching the Bills, signed Enemkpali following his release.

The Smith-Ryan feud resurfaced in April 2020, when Ryan asked how Bill Belichick would’ve fared if Smith, not Tom Brady, was his quarterback. 

Smith ripped Ryan on Twitter/X shortly thereafter, questioning how he became the scapegoat and calling Ryan a “snake.”

“Should’ve got fired after yr1,” Smith wrote. “Truth is we won 8 games after ESPN had us winning two and he got his job back.”

Geno Smith and Rex Ryan apparently put the past behind them

Considering all of the shots that Ryan has taken at Smith over the years, we’re still surprised the veteran quarterback was even cordial when he saw his former coach.

Having been in high school during the Ryan years, I definitely personally agree with Smith about the nostalgia element.

And, yes, time heals all wounds, though there is a limit to how many insults someone can take before giving up on any reconciliation.

Apparently, Smith subscribes to the idea that life is too short to hold grudges, which is an admirable (albeit dangerous) trait. 

Perhaps Ryan unintentionally blessed Smith and the Jets with good luck, seeing as they’ve managed only one non-losing season since his dismissal.

And, for what it’s worth, Smith and Ryan did finish 8-8 in their first season together.

History can’t properly repeat itself in the 17-game era, but anything close to .500 would likely be more than enough to satisfy Jets fans.

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