Rex Ryan refuses to take a step down in his coaching career.
Ryan is expected to be fired after six seasons as head coach of the New York Jets. The thinking has always been that his future would be secure because even if he did not get another head coaching opportunity, he would be a highly coveted defensive coordinator. However, Ryan will will not take a step down from head coach back to coordinator.
Ryan told CBS announcers Andrew Catalon and Steve Beuerlein during a production meeting Saturday that he would not be a defensive coordinator next year.
“Rex Ryan, fired up on the Jets sideline, told us last night that he’s not worried about his future,” Catalon said while announcing Sunday’s Jets-Dolphins game via NJ.com. “He was very confident that things will work out. He said he will not be a defensive coordinator next year. It’s a head coach or nothing. He’s not coaching someone else’s defense, he told us.”
Despite all the headlines he has made off the field, Ryan is an excellent coach who has seemingly maximized his talent with the Jets. Limited by poor quarterback options throughout his time in New York, Ryan still managed to go 46-50 and make the playoffs twice. That should appeal to teams looking for a new head coach. And if Rex doesn’t get a new coaching job, maybe he will go into TV as an analyst.
