Rex Ryan is doing everything he can to return to NFL as head coach

The New York Jets’ 2024 season has been nothing short of a meltdown - a 3-8 disaster with Aaron Rodgers healthy and a roster that was supposed to contend. Amid the wreckage, one familiar voice is vying for another shot to restore the franchise: former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

Ryan, now an ESPN analyst, made waves this week, campaigning hard for his old job during appearances on ESPN New York's Bart & Hahn and DiPietro & Rothenberg. Ryan wasn’t subtle, promising to transform the underachieving Jets into a juggernaut under his leadership. “Blow it up? We’re going to blow the opponents up,” Ryan proclaimed. “Nobody has seen a team play as hard as this team’s going to play, trust me. If I’m the guy, trust me.”

Let’s pause here. Rex Ryan is undeniably one of the most charismatic personalities in the NFL coaching world. His bravado turned the Jets into a legit contender in the early 2010s, leading them to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010. His playoff success remains the best in franchise history. But let’s not rewrite history.

Rex Ryan’s rise and fall as New York Jets head coach

Ryan’s tenure didn’t end in glory. After those two magical seasons, things spiraled. The Jets posted just one winning season in his final four years, with an offense often ranked near the league’s basement. He was fired after going 4-12 in 2014, then had a forgettable two-year stint with the Bills, finishing 15-16.

Ryan argues that today’s Jets roster is too talented to be performing this poorly, and he’s not entirely wrong. Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Sauce Gardner - this team has pieces. But his “nobody is better than me” pitch doesn’t erase the fact that his style wore thin the first time around. His defenses fell off, his teams lacked discipline, and his refusal to evolve offensively left the Jets stuck in neutral.

If the Jets are truly looking for a culture reset (and they should be), they need someone who won't only inspire but also adapt to the modern NFL. Ryan’s larger-than-life personality might grab headlines, but it doesn’t guarantee wins.

Rex’s passion for the Jets is genuine. He’s still “all about the Jets,” and there’s something admirable about his loyalty. But hiring him would feel more like a nostalgia play than a strategic move for a franchise desperate for stability.

The Jets need to think bigger than Rex Ryan 2.0. Otherwise, they risk staying trapped in the same cycle of mediocrity.

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