Rex Ryan’s pitch for the Jets head coaching job: “Nobody has seen a team going to play as hard as this team is going to play in the future…if I’m the guy”
On an ESPN radio appearance this week, the former Jets head coach made a bold bid for the Jets’ upcoming head coaching vacancy.
By this point, six weeks after the firing of former head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets organization has likely contemplated a short list of potential candidates to fill the position when the forgone Interim Coach Jeff Ulbrich is relieved of his duties.
Ryan’s previous tenure with the Jets was a mix of success and failure on paper. During his six season tenure from 2009-2014 Ryan was 46-50 with most of the losses in the latter three years. The team went to back to back AFC Title games in the 2009 & 2010 losing to the Steelers and Colts respectively.
He is likely very familiar with the Johnsons and how they operate, and he was the leader of the team the last time they were any shred of a contender. He essentially led them at their peak. At least their peak in this century. He’s arguably the greatest Jets coach of all time or at the very least in the discussion. He also gave us one of the most classic Hard Knock’s lines of all time.
By the sound of Ryan's pitch, he seems very confident in his ability to coach this Jets team to where they need to be. Saying things like, “Nobody has seen a team going to play as hard as this team is going to play in the future, trust me, if I’m the guy. Trust me.” He went on to say, “That’s what's going to separate me from all these other guys you’re going to bring in. Your Grudens or whoever, whatever. Give me a break.”
If he truly is as eager as he seems to be to join a talented NFL roster (and who wouldn't be), perhaps there are a few other teams around the league who should put in calls or at least look into the possibility of contacting Ryan’s camp to gauge interest.
What the Jets roster does hace in common with some other premature head coaching vacancies, is talent. Teams like the Cowboys, Jaguars, and Bears could also be searching for a new HC this upcoming hiring cycle.
It’s not very common for teams to hire their next head coach during the season. But if Rex Ryan is to be considered for the Jets job, they may want to establish dialogue sooner, rather than later because once other NFL teams get wind of who other teams are eyeing for their next coach, it mixes things up. The Jets could benefit from bringing back Ryan. The team has chased an identity that perhaps it had at it’s best with Ryan at the helm.