The name of Rex Ryan brings cherished memories into the minds of the New York Jets’ fan base. The owner, Woody Johnson, is looking forward to reigniting those as he interviewed him for the vacant head-coach position.
However, NFL analyst Rich Eisen wants Johnson and fans to proceed with caution. Eisen suggests that rehiring Ryan is not the path forward but a step backward.
Rich Eisen Trashes the Idea of Rex Ryan Being Back With the Jets
It has been rumored for awhile that Ryan could make a comeback into the coaching world with the Jets after being an ESPN analyst for eight years. Gang Green was decisive in their opinion on Rex.
However, the brass is hearing none of it, and on Wednesday, they interviewed the 62-year-old. Eisen on his eponymous show also shared his disagreement with this call by Johnson.
“My message (to the Jets front office) would be, turn the page,” said Eisen. “Please. Turn the page. Turn the page. Find someone new. You want experience because you got burned. You think you got burned that Robert Saleh didn’t know what he was doing.”
We have completed an interview with Rex Ryan for our Head Coach position.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 7, 2025
“You want to get someone with experience, turn a page, find somebody with experience that is different from the way you have done it.”
Ryan’s tenure with the Jets concluded after being fired in 2014. He ended up with a 46-50 record and a win percentage of .479. However, he was the last HC to lead the Jets to the playoffs (14 years ago).
Ryan Admits To Being the Best for the Jets
In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Ryan made his candidacy for the vacant position. It was not the first time he did so, but close to his meeting with the front office, he hammered home his points.
“Oh, 100%, absolutely, I do,” Ryan said on whether he believes he would be hired by the Jets. “The reason I think I’m going to get it is because I’m the best guy for it. It ain’t close.
“The thing you have to do is, 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. It’s not just the Xs and Os and all that.”