Source: Jets hire Rex Ryan's son Seth as passing game coordinator
Former Jets coach Rex Ryan watches the action during a game against the Jaguars on Dec. 9, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. Credit: Getty Images/Sam Greenwood
Another Ryan will be part of the Jets’ coaching staff.
They are hiring Seth Ryan as their passing game coordinator, a league source said. Ryan is the son of former Jets head coach Rex Ryan, the last person to lead the team to a postseason berth 15 years ago.
Seth will be the third generation of Ryans to work for the Jets. His grandfather, Buddy Ryan, was the Jets’ defensive line coach from 1968-75.
This is somewhat of an outside-the-box hire for Aaron Glenn and new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Ryan is only 31 and has never been a coordinator, but Glenn knows Ryan from his time with Detroit.
Ryan was hired by the Lions in 2021, the same year that Glenn became Detroit’s defensive coordinator. Ryan spent four years as the assistant wide receivers coach, first under coordinator Anthony Lynn and then Ben Johnson for three seasons. Ryan has worked closely with Lions All-Pro wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
This season, Ryan was Detroit’s assistant tight ends coach.
Ryan got his start in coaching with the Chargers in 2019, serving as their offensive quality control coach for two seasons. Lynn was the Chargers’ head coach at that time; he worked on Rex Ryan’s Jets staff from 2009-14.
Glenn has made many changes to his coaching staff after a 3-14 season. He fired nine coaches in all — one during the season and eight in the last 15 days. There were 10 openings in total.
Reich was hired on Wednesday as offensive coordinator, replacing Tanner Engstrand. The Jets are still looking for a quarterbacks coach.
The Jets have hired Alfredo Roberts as their tight ends coach, according to a source. He played six seasons for Kansas City and Dallas and has been a tight ends coach for 24 years, the past five with the Steelers.
Roberts is the second former Steelers coach hired by the Jets this past week, joining Karl Dunbar, who was named defensive line coach.
Glenn also hired Brian Duker to be the Jets’ defensive coordinator. Duker, who worked under Glenn with the Lions, has never called the defense. Glenn will handle those responsibilities for the Jets in 2026.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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