Rex Ryan will interview for the New York Jets’ head-coaching job on Tuesday, and to say that he is confident might be an understatement.
The 62-year-old, who spent six years as Gang Green’s head coach from 2009 to 2014, told ESPN Radio’s DiPietro & Rothenberg on Monday morning that he “100%” believes that he will be hired to reunite with his former team.
“Absolutely I do,” Ryan said. “The reason I think I’m going to get it is because I’m the best guy, and it ain’t close. The thing that you have to do, you have to connect with your football team, you have to connect with your fan base. The way they play, that’s the most important thing. Not just the x’s and o’s.”
Ryan is the last head coach to have led the Jets to the playoffs, guiding the team to two consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. His 96 games coached and 46 wins rank third in franchise history.
Known for his fiery demeanor and emotional disposition, Ryan was a fan favorite in New York and would be a sentimental pick by many to try and turn the Jets around. A 2024 season that was supposed to see a 14-year playoff drought end only heaped further misery upon the franchise as Aaron Rodgers and Co. sputtered to a 5-12 finish amidst the firings of head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas.
Rodgers’ future with the team is one of the largest early storylines of the NFL’s offseason. A new leadership regime will likely move on from the 41-year-old, and Ryan certainly aligns with that idea.
When asked on Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s NFL Countdown if Rodgers would be with the Jets next season, Ryan quickly said, “No.” That opinion will obviously become fact if he gets the job.
“I think you can let a guy walk out the door when he’s not committed to the team,” Ryan said. “You can’t tell me that hasn’t been the case. This is a guy that wasn’t at mandatory mini camp. Enough said.”
Owner Woody Johnson and football think tank The 33rd Team, founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, are leading the Jets’ head-coaching and general manager search. Tannenbaum was Ryan’s general manager from 2009-2012.
