Former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is flirting with a return to the NFL.
CBS NFL Insider Josina Anderson was the first to share the news to X previously Twitter, that the Dallas Cowboys interviewed Ryan for the vacant defensive coordinator role.
New: I’m told former #Jets and #Bills head coach Rex Ryan interviewed for the #Cowboys vacant defensive coordinator job, per sources.
Ryan, 61, hasn’t been in the NFL since 2016 when he was the Buffalo Bills head coach.
Rex Ryan is interviewing for the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator job #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Z1VLAvjyCB
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 7, 2024
Top Social Media Reactions to Ryan’s Interview With Cowboys
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport revealed that Ryan “was nearly” the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos last year.
You cannot convince me that starting your external search with Ron Rivera, Mike Zimmer and Rex Ryan is taking the situation seriously or being any kind of all-in. https://t.co/7UgpIoxD8u
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) February 7, 2024
Pat McAfee
said if the Cowboys hire Ryan to be their new DC it would “send shockwaves through the NFL.”
Rex Ryan is interviewing for the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator job #PMSLive
RJ Ochoa
who covers the Cowboys for Blogging the Boys ripped the move on social media.
Y’all wanna see Micah used correctly.
HIRE REX RYAN
— (Foots The King) (@FootsDaKing) February 7, 2024
“You cannot convince me that starting your external search with Ron Rivera, Mike Zimmer, and Rex Ryan is taking the situation seriously or being any kind of all-in.”
“Y’all wanna see Micah [Parsons] used correctly. HIRE REX RYAN,” one fan shouted on social media.
Y’all wanna see Micah used correctly.
HIRE REX RYAN
Calvin Watkins revealed an interesting note on social media, “Jerry Jones fired Rex’s brother, Rob, years ago when he held the same position.”
Confirming report that Rex Ryan interviewed for vacant Cowboys DC position according to person with knowledge of the process. Jerry Jones fired Rex’s brother, Rob, years ago when he held the same position.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) February 7, 2024
Confirming report that Rex Ryan interviewed for vacant Cowboys DC position according to person with knowledge of the process. Jerry Jones fired Rex’s brother, Rob, years ago when he held the same position.
Harrison Glaser
shared a highlight reel clip when Ryan was still the head coach of the Jets and was featured on Hard Knocks.
I miss this guy
Rex Ryan was nearly the #Broncos DC last year, now he’s interviewed for the #Cowboys DC job. https://t.co/Be2VDb6Aga
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2024
Rex Ryan man 😤
#Jets
One Jets fan said it would be “cinema” to see Ryan coaching up all of the insane talent on the Cowboys roster that features guys like Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, Daron Bland, Parsons, and Demarcus Lawrence.
Sauce Gardner Could Be up to His Old Recruiting Tricks for Jets in 2024
Last offseason, Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner made a lot of headlines for his recruiting tactics to lure other players to the team.
Several Jets teammates went to Gardner’s house and they ritually burned a cheesehead from Lambeau to try and recruit Aaron Rodgers.
Rex Ryan calling the Cowboys defense with CBs like Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, and Daron Bland then Micah Parson and Demarcus Lawrence up front would be cinema https://t.co/G6toepyP8S
— Stefan Stelling (@li_jets) February 7, 2024
The video went viral. Rodgers ended up on the Jets a few months later. Coincidence?
Gardner was voted to his second straight Pro Bowl following the 2023 season. He was seen chopping it up with a lot of the players that were in attendance and people took notice on social media.
One person in particular that Gardner was spotted with was Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Is that @iamSauceGardner recruiting #Colts QB @GardnerMinshew5 to the #Jets to be Aaron Rodgers new backup in 2024? 🧐
Gardner 🫱🏻🫲🏾 Gardner
📸 @nyjets #ProBowlGames #TakeFlight #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/WskJBE8koK
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) February 3, 2024
Rich Cimini
of ESPN said he believes the Jets “will be interested” in Minshew in free agency. Maybe Gardner helped grease the wheels at the Pro Bowl.
General manager Joe Douglas said there is a “high probability” that the team will sign a veteran. I’ve been told it is a high priority for the team this offseason and filling that void is on top of the to-do list.
Joe Caporoso of Badlands predicted that the first move the Jets will make this offseason is adding a veteran QB. He explained on the Wednesday, February 7 episode that the Jets right out of the gate on the first day of free agency will lock in their guy.
In 2023 the Jets experienced a host of issues with the backup QB situation. For the first time since 1989, the Jets started four different passers. There were moments when it looked like that number might reach five, but Gang Green stuck with Trevor Siemian.
