The Trevor Lawrence concussion controversy has drawn strong reactions from around the league, but former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan might have delivered the worst take.
During the Jaguars’ Week 13 game, Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hit Lawrence as he slid, resulting in a concussion. The hit was widely criticized as reckless and dangerous, with many calling for harsher enforcement of rules designed to protect quarterbacks.
It is now anticipated that Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair will be suspended for the hit that he delivered Sunday to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. The only question is for how long. pic.twitter.com/P8phFecS02
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 2, 2024
While most analysts focused on the need for stricter discipline for hits like this, Ryan took an entirely different approach. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, he shifted the blame to quarterbacks and their coaches, arguing that teaching quarterbacks to slide is actually the problem.
His comments sparked a wave of backlash from fans and analysts alike.
Rex Ryan blames Trevor Lawrence's slide, not defenders, for head injury
Ryan began his rant by criticizing the practice of teaching quarterbacks to slide, saying it puts them in more danger. According to Ryan, “You’re not protecting your quarterback when you teach him to slide when it’s not in the open field. If you want to get a concussion, you slide like this when contact’s coming.”
Rex Ryan: "I am so sick and tired of seeing people teach, 'Hey, slide. When you're running out here, you slide.' To hell you do. Not when you're going full speed down the field and the defender's coming full speed at you... they should be taught to dive at the ankles of the… pic.twitter.com/JUiJI3k7mF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 2, 2024
Instead of sliding, Ryan proposed that quarterbacks should dive at the ankles of approaching defenders. “Dive at his ankles. Immediately, the guy’s going to go to protect himself; he’s not worried about tackling you,” Ryan claimed, offering what he believed to be a safer alternative.
Ryan’s comments completely missed the mark. Sliding is designed to protect quarterbacks by making them off-limits to defenders. The issue is not the slide itself, but players like Al-Shaair failing to respect it. Blaming quarterbacks for getting injured while following the rules shifts responsibility away from the real problem: defenders delivering dangerous hits.
Ryan’s suggestion that quarterbacks should dive at defenders creates more problems than it solves. Asking quarterbacks to initiate contact rather than avoid it increases the risk of serious injuries for both players. The league’s goal has been to reduce these risks, and Ryan’s advice runs counter to those efforts.
Lawrence’s injury highlights the importance of enforcing the rules that are already in place. Rather than debating the mechanics of sliding, the focus should remain on holding defenders accountable for respecting quarterbacks who are trying to protect themselves. Ryan’s comments feel out of touch in a league where player safety is a top priority.
Instead of blaming Lawrence and his slide, Ryan should acknowledge the need for better enforcement of the rules that aim to prevent dangerous hits like this one.