Rex Ryan

Rex Ryan
Ryan at his first exhibition game as Jets Head Coach.
Date of birth	December 13, 1962 (1962-12-13) (age 47)
Place of birth	Ardmore, Oklahoma
Position(s)	Head Coach
College	Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Regular season	6-6-0
Postseason	0–0
Career record	6-6–0
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1987-1988 1989 1990-1993 1994-1995 1996-1997 1998 1999-2004 2005-2008 2008 2009-present	Eastern Kentucky (Defensive ends coach) New Mexico Highlands (Defensive coordinator, assistant head coach) Morehead State (Defensive coordinator) Arizona Cardinals (Linebackers/Def. line coach) Cincinnati (Defensive coordinator) Oklahoma (Defensive line coach) Baltimore Ravens (Defensive coordinator) (Defensive coordinator/Assistant head coach) New York Jets (Head coach)

Rex Ryan (born December 13, 1962 in Ardmore, Oklahoma) is the head coach of the New York Jets of the National Football League. He is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals head coach Buddy Ryan and is the twin brother of Rob Ryan, defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.

Playing career

College

After attending Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, Illinois), Ryan played defensive end at Southwestern Oklahoma State University alongside his twin brother, Rob Ryan.

Coaching career

College

Assistant coach

Ryan coached at Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) Eastern Kentucky and Division II New Mexico Highlands before joining the Division I ranks as Morehead State's defensive coordinator in 1990. Following his initial NFL coaching experience, Ryan served as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Oklahoma.

National Football League

Assistant coach

Ryan as Ravens assistant coach, August 2008.

Ryan was a defensive line/linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals from 1994 to 1995, when his dad, Buddy, was head coach.

Ryan joined the Ravens as a defensive line coach in 1999, earning a Super Bowl XXXV ring with the 2000 team. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005 after the departure of Mike Nolan, who became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.^[1] In 2006, Ryan received Assistant Coach of the Year awards from Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers Association.^[2]

In 2008, Ravens head coach Brian Billick and the entire coaching staff was fired following a 5-11 season. Ryan was one of six candidates interviewed for the Ravens' head coaching vacancy, which was filled by John Harbaugh. Harbaugh, who previously coached with Ryan at the University of Cincinnati, retained Ryan as defensive coordinator and promoted him to assistant head coach.^[3].

Before his promotion, Ryan also interviewed for head coaching positions with Miami^[4], who hired Tony Sparano, and Atlanta^[5], who hired Mike Smith.

Head coach

New York Jets

Ryan as head coach, conducting a June 2009 New York Jets mini-camp at their Florham Park, New Jersey training center

After firing Eric Mangini, the New York Jets offered Ryan a four-year deal to become their head coach following Baltimore's loss in the 2008 AFC Championship. Ryan accepted the offer on January 21, 2009 - with a 4 year contract netting him $11.5 million .^[6]

Ryan won his first game against the Houston Texans, who had very high hopes for their offense coming into the new season. Ryan and the Jets defense prevented Houston from scoring any touchdowns in that game, and did so again against the New England Patriots. Rex Ryan stated in a interview for the radio I didn't come here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings, meaning that he was not going to look or suck up to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. When the Patriots met the Jets, New York held the Patriots to no offensive touchdowns, and intercepted Tom Brady once in the game. This was enough to beat them 16-9. Ryan won his next game against the Titans, but lost against the New Orleans Saints in week 4. The defense became the Jets trademark in the first few games of the season, but began to struggle on Monday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins in week 5. The Jets gave up 31 points and lost the game with only a few seconds left on the clock. Ryan stated after the game I thought our offense was terrific, gave us every opportunity to win the game, but a complete embarrassment by our defense. I'm lost for words. In week 10, the Jets lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-22 on a last second field goal. The loss caused coach Ryan to start crying, so much so that it was referred to as "blubbering".^[7]

Head coaching record

• Totals through Week 13 of the 2009 NFL Season.

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches under whom Rex Ryan has served:

• Buddy Ryan, Arizona Cardinals (1994–1995)
• Brian Billick, Baltimore Ravens (1999–2007)
• John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens (2008)

Assistant coaches under Rex Ryan who have became NFL head coaches:

• No Coaches

Personal life

Rex and his wife Michelle have a son named Seth. Ryan earned a bachelor of science and master's degree in physical education from Eastern Kentucky University. Now he resides in Summit, New Jersey. Rex had grown up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and had spent his formative years in the city following his parents divorce.^[8]

References