Rex Ryan was always a huge supporter of Mark Sanchez when the former USC star was with the New York Jets. How big are we talking? Rex has a tattoo of his wife wearing a Jets jersey with Sanchez’s No. 6 on it. So yeah, that big of a supporter. Now that the Jets have released Sanchez, what’s going to happen to the tattoo?
On Tuesday, Ryan was asked if he still has the tattoo. He proudly rolled up his sleeve to display the ink, noting that it “was my tattoo and still is my tattoo.” However, he did not rule out changing the number on the jersey.
“I may alter it, who knows?” Rex said, per Newsday’s Tom Rock. “I may put 75 on it and honor Winston Hill. I think that’s the idea. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Hill is a former Jets offensive lineman who played for New York when Rex’s father Buddy Ryan was an assistant coach there. It would probably be challenging to turn a No. 6 into a No. 75, but I’m sure a good tattoo artist could do it.
[Photo: Rex Ryan’s Mark Sanchez tattoo]
As for Sanchez, Ryan explained why he felt such a close connection to Sanchez during their five seasons together.
“That was my first draft pick, me being a coach that was my first pick,” he said. “You have the vision that this guy is going to be with you for 10 years. I’m sure every coach has that. Very few make it that far. I think in an ideal world, that’s what you would have liked.”
Rex also said that he thought being released from the Jets would be good for Sanchez, as he believes he is still capable of earning a starting job elsewhere. You know what’s coming next, right? Bill Belichick is probably going to sign Sanchez. How much would The Hoodie love Rex having a tattoo of one of his players?
