The job market for Rex Ryan
Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on in the second quarter as the Jets met the Miami Dolphins in a game at Sun Life Stadium on Dec. 28, 2014 in Miami Gardens, Fla. Credit: Getty Images / Mike Ehrmann
WHAT'S NEXT FOR REX?
So what does Rex Ryan do now that he's no longer coach of the Jets? He should have a few options:
TAKE ANOTHER HEAD-COACHING JOB
Ryan might draw interest in the current hiring cycle, even though he's coming off a 4-12 season. Many coaches succeed in a second try as a head coach -- Bill Belichick is the best example -- and Ryan could be in demand. The Falcons and Bears might consider him an option.
BECOME A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Ryan would be in demand if he didn't get a head coaching job and was willing to work as a defensive coordinator. He's still one of the brightest defensive minds in the game. But it might take a massive contract offer to lure him back to that role; he has expressed a desire to be a head coach, not an assistant.
GO INTO TELEVISION
TV executives have indicated that Ryan would be a big hit on television because of his genuine personality, quick wit and willingness to say whatever comes to mind. Many former coaches have gone into television at some point during their careers, most notably Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher. Former Jets coach Herm Edwards also is a TV analyst.
Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”
