Is Rex Ryan heading back to the NFL?

The long-time New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach has been out of the league for seven years but has interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys for their defensive coordinator role, according to CBS.

In six seasons with Gang Green, Ryan went 46-50 as head coach with a 4-2 playoff record. He led New York to the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back years in 2009 and 2010. After leaving New York, Ryan found a home with the Buffalo Bills for two seasons where he compiled a 15-16 record.

Since his time in Buffalo, the son of the famed defensive mind “Buddy” Ryan has been with ESPN as an NFL analyst.

Ryan’s calling card, like his father, has always been a dominant defense. In his 12 years of defensive play-calling experience (he was the defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens for four years), his units finished in the top 10 in nine of those years.

He led the top-ranked defense in two of them.

The Cowboys are in need of a defensive coordinator after Dan Quinn left to take the head coaching job with the Washington Commanders earlier this week. In three seasons with America’s Team, Quinn has helped develop linebacker Micah Parsons, and defensive backs Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland into All-Pro talents.

There’s plenty of talent in Dallas to enamor a coach like Ryan to get back into the fold. While the Jets do not play the Cowboys in 2024, it’ll be interesting to see if the old face of the franchise would be willing to get back into the coaching ranks.