Rex Ryan is serious about interviewing for the NY Jets head coach job

The NY Jets are almost certainly going to be looking for a new head coach this offseason. Robert Saleh has been fired, and the less said about the recent Jeff Ulbrich era the better. One former Jets coach is already throwing his name into the proverbial hat.

In a recent appearance on DiPietro & Rothenberg, ex-NFL coach Rex Ryan insisted that he would be very open to returning to the Jets as their new head coach in 2025. He went as far as to say that he hopes he's able to interview for the position.

The Jets have lost each of their last five games including a 25-22 letdown against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Despite Aaron Rodgers and Super Bowl expectations, the season is more or less over before we've even reached November.

Ryan has been critical of the Jets this season, recently blasting the team for a lack of energy and pride. He wants to be the one to fix the Jets' longstanding issues.

"I'd do it in a second because I am a New York Jet. I absolutely would. I tell the damn truth, and I speak as a fan of this football team. That's why it makes sense. I hope I get an opportunity to interview for it."

- Rex Ryan

Rex Ryan is campaigning to be the next NY Jets head coach

Ryan famously served as the Jets' head coach from 2009 and 2014 and brought the team to consecutive AFC Championship Games in his first two years with the organization.

The longtime Baltimore Ravens assistant instilled a new identity in New York and helped establish the Jets as one of the toughest and most feared teams in the NFL. It's easy to look back on the Rex Ryan era with green and white colored glasses, but it's important to note that things soured rather quickly as well.

The Jets failed to finish above .500 in each of Ryan's final four seasons with the team, including a disastrous 4-12 season in 2014. Ryan would depart to become the Buffalo Bills head coach, ultimately failing to finish with a winning record in either season with the Jets' AFC East rivals as well.

It's been nearly a decade since Ryan has been a coach at the NFL level in any capacity, and even toward the end of his tenure in Buffalo, the league had already seemingly passed him by. It would be tough to sell Ryan as a serious head coach candidate in the year 2025.

Still, Ryan remains in good standing with the majority of the Jets fan base. He's beloved for both his identity and success with the organization and is responsible for the team's most recent playoff berth.

The Jets will have their share of options as they search for a new head coach this offseason. Despite his near-universal approval rating, Ryan probably shouldn't be near the top of their list.

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