Former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has teased a stunning return to his old team after revealing he ‘expects to be interviewed’ for their vacant head coaching position.
Ryan was at the helm in New York from 2009 to 2014 and has spent the last nine years on the sidelines, but spent his time in the studio at ESPN.
Despite his lack of recent activity in the coaching world, Ryan believes he has a chance to return to the Jets.
I’m talking to Jake Asman 880 Hours ESPN New YorkRyan revealed that he expects to speak with the Jets when the regular season ends next weekend.
The Jets are out of the playoffs and without a permanent head coach since firing Robert Saleh in early October.
Despite Aaron Rodgers being healthy all season, it was a dismal year for the team, which has a 4-12 record and gave up 40 points to the Bills on Sunday.
Rex Ryan has emerged as a shock candidate to return to the Jets as head coach in 2025
Aaron Rodgers and Co have had a sad season, missing out on the play-offs again
They have won just two of their 11 games since Saleh was let go, with Jeff Ulbrich temporarily taking charge of the team.
Ryan, meanwhile, is a Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens when he was defensive line coach under Brian Billick.
He went on to become the team’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach before taking on his first HC role with the Jets in 2009.
Ryan previously served as head coach of the Jets for six seasons before leaving at the end of 2014
He then had two seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills before being replaced by Sean McDermott at the end of the 2016 season.
After resigning from the Bills, he signed a deal with ESPN to provide analysis on Super Bowl LI before joining on a more permanent basis for the 2017 season.
Since then, he has been a constant presence on fans’ television screens during NFL games, but now appears to be eyeing a return to the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the Jets will also speak with Ron Rivera this week in the first head coaching interview since Saleh’s departure.