Former NY Jets head coach Rex Ryan has made his intentions abundantly clear over the last few months. He's very serious about interviewing for the Jets' soon-to-be vacant head coach position.
Ryan has gone on a full-blown media tour campaigning for the job since the Jets moved on from Robert Saleh earlier this year. The famously loud-mouthed Ryan is intent on proving his words aren't just for show.
Ryan confirmed with Jake Asman on ESPN's Rick DiPietro & Rothenberg on Monday that he expects to interview for the Jets head coach job. He becomes the second known candidate for the Jets job after it was reported on Monday that the team plans to bring in Ron Rivera for an interview as well.
The Jets are expected to cast a wide net and interview quite a few candidates, but they're not able to speak with coaches currently under contract with NFL teams until the season ends. That's why Ryan and Rivera are the first two confirmed candidates.
Is Rex Ryan a serious head coach candidate for the NY Jets?
Ryan has not coached at any level of football since he was fired by the Buffalo Bills in 2016. He previously spent six years as the head coach of the Jets, leading the team to consecutive AFC Championship Game runs.
Unfortunately, while it's easy to remember Ryan's Jets' glory days, it's just as easy to forget how quickly things went south. The Jets failed to finish with a winning record in Ryan's final four seasons in Florham Park. The team went 4-12 in his last year as head coach.
Ryan hasn't found success as a coach at any level of football in well over a decade and the game had seemingly passed him by during his stint in Buffalo. Again, that was nearly 10 years ago.
It's difficult to buy into Ryan as a serious head coach candidate in the year 2025, and it's very likely the Jets don't see him as such either. But given how vocal Ryan has been about wanting the position, perhaps owner Woody Johnson feels obligated to at least bring in him for an interview. After all, what's the harm?
Ryan’s tenure with the Jets was marked by a fiery personality and an unmatched ability to inspire confidence. He built a culture of toughness and camaraderie, making players believe they could beat anyone.
Ryan embraced New York’s media frenzy while fiercely defending his team. His connection with players and fans, combined with his swagger and boldness, made him one of the most beloved Jets coaches in franchise history.
Nostalgia aside, Ryan hasn’t been on an NFL sideline in nearly a decade, and his schemes, already showing their age back then, feel even more outdated in today’s fast-evolving league.
Giving him the keys to the franchise again would feel more like a PR move than a legitimate football decision. And perhaps that's ultimately what this is anyway.
For a franchise desperate for a turnaround, nostalgia alone isn’t a strategy. Ryan's passion for the Jets cannot be denied, but he's not a serious candidate — interview or not.