Rex

Ryan

Ryan led the Jets to a 46-50 record during his six seasons as their head coach (2009-2014) and led them to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. A strong start led to a tumultuous ending, as the Jets went just 12-20 in Ryan’s final two seasons, but his tenure with the team has been the best of any coach the Jets have hired since firing Ryan after the 2014 season. Ryan’s coaching style wore on people at times and likely played a role in the Bills dismissing him in 2016 after going, but his reputation as a player’s coach is also well-noted. Ryan’s presence would immediately improve whatever defense he takes over, but he would need to find an immediate answer to the team’s quarterback woes, something he could not do during his first stretch with the team.

This isn’t the first time teams have kicked the tires on Ryan since he last coached in 2016. Before being hired as a head coach by the Jets in 2009, Ryan spent 10 years with the Ravens and was their defensive coordinator for four of those seasons. Ryan was rumored to be a top candidate for the Broncos’ defensive coordinator position last offseason before the team opted to go with Vance Joseph, but Ryan is clearly willing to return to a team under the right circumstances. The Ryan bloodlines are well-known in the NFL, as his father, Buddy Ryan, coached two Super Bowl-winning defenses during his career, and his brother, Rob Ryan, is a long-time coordinator who currently works with the Raiders as a defensive assistant. During Ryan’s four-year stint with the Ravens, his defense ranked in the top 10 three times.

This comes just days after reports surfaced that Sean Payton met with Ryan regarding the job. Ryan last served as the head coach of the Bills in 2016, but it was his elite defenses during his time with Baltimore (2005-2008) that eventually landed him a head coach with the Jets. Ryan has his finger prints on a handful of top-10 defenses during his tenure as a coordinator and would be tasked with taking over a Broncos defense that ranked seventh in yards allowed per game (320.0) last season.

On a day filled with coaching news, Ryan interviewing with the Broncos is one of the more interesting developments. Ryan has been out of the game since 2016, last serving as the head coach of the Bills. One of the more renowned defensive minds in the league, his resumé is one of the more impressive ones a team will find among defensive coordinator candidates. Prior to coaching the Bills, Ryan served as the Jets head coach (2009-2014), leading them to back-to-back AFC Championship games in his first two seasons, and a second-place finish in a Tom Brady-dominated AFC East in four of his six seasons. In his four seasons as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, Ryan’s defenses regularly ranked inside the top 10 in both yards and points allowed per game. He would be taking on a Broncos defense that finished 14th in points allowed per game (21.1) and seventh in yards allowed per game (320.0), making the job all the more appealing for the current ESPN analyst.

Schefter’s report is via “sources.” Ryan has a habit of openly campaigning for jobs/inserting himself into the conversation, but he can’t be dismissed out of hand in Kansas City. A deeply-flawed head coach, Ryan is an undeniably strong defensive mind. He got Bill Belichick’s number more than once.

With Mike Pettine in Buffalo and new DC Dennis Thurman never having called plays before, this is expected. Ryan, always a tremendous defensive mind that is a fish out of water offensively, feels the need to be more hands-on as he coaches for his job. The Jets ranked eighth in total defense last season and fifth in 2011.

Ryan wasn’t new GM John Idzik’s hire, and knows he’s facing long odds of keeping his job without his all-world cornerback locking down the secondary. Ryan can still scheme with the best of them, but is going to have to live up to his reputation this season to have any real shot at preventing a disastrous campaign and saving his job.

All things considered, Ryan did a heck of a job leading an offensively-challenged -- to put it nice -- Jets team to an 8-8 record. After getting off to a nice 5-4 start behind strong defensive play and a couple of nice outings by rookie QB Geno Smith, the Jets fell off and lost three straight out of the bye week. Gang Green got back on track and won three of their final four. Ryan boasts a 46-40 career record, including the playoffs, through five seasons. The Jets need to get some playmakers on offense and shore up the back end of their defense, but there are pieces to build around. The young defensive line is going to wreak havoc for many years to come. The Jets entered Week 17 with the league’s No. 3 run defense. Ryan is a terrific ball coach and motivator and wouldn’t have struggled to find work had he been let go by New York.

It’s unclear how many years Ryan had tacked onto his deal, but previous reports late last month had Ryan getting an extension through the 2015 season. Whatever the case is, Ryan won’t be entering the final year of his contract and won’t have to operate under the burden of being a “lame duck” coach. He also can’t “bet on himself” and become a free agent after the 2014 campaign. Ryan has never been the problem. He needs to find a quarterback, some receivers, and a competent offensive coaching staff. Marty Mornhinweg will stick around as Gang Green’s offensive boss for at least another season.

Thus, Ryan will enter 2014 signed “only” through 2015 as a potential lame-duck coach for the second straight season. Jets GM John Idzik agreed with owner Woody Johnson that Ryan deserved to be retained following New York’s 8-8 campaign, but isn’t committing to him long term. Per Jones, Ryan will use the short, new deal as “motivation,” believing his team will get back over the hump in 2014. The Jets will need a lot of things to break right in order for that to happen, beginning with dramatically improved quarterback and secondary play.