Former Jets coach Rex Ryan had a sly reaction to the Patriots’ decision to hire Mike Vrabel
Former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan has expressed his hope that he will get a chance to face Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots during the 2025 season.
On ESPN, Ryan reacted to A patriot’s decision to hire Vrabel as the head coach of the team on Sunday. It came a week after New England fired Jerod Mayo.
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Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Jets head coach Rex Ryan shake after their game on November 22, 2009. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
“I hope I can knock this guy out… twice a year,” he said with a smile.
Ryan interviewed for the Jets head coach job and said he was the favorite to get the job. He would replace Robert Saleh, who was fired midseason, and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who replaced Saleh.
“The reason I think I’m going to get it is because I’m the best man for it. It’s not even close,” he said, via ESPN. “What you’ve got to do is you’ve got to connect with your football team, you’ve got to connect with your fan base. The way they play, that’s the most important thing. It’s not just X’s and Wasps and all that.”
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Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during a press conference on Dec. 12, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Besides showing his confidence, Ryan even offered a pitch – one that directly targeted quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“Obviously, when you have a guy who doesn’t show up to mandatory minicamp — and he’s your quarterback, by the way, coming off an injury — I think that’s an absolutely ridiculous message to send to the team,” Ryan said of Rodgers missing mandatory minicamp over the summer because trips to Egypt.
“If he comes back, things will be different. If he comes back, it won’t be a country club, show up whenever you want to show up. That’s not going to happen. I’m just going to leave it at that.”
Jets head coach Rex Ryan speaks to the media after training camp on July 27, 2013 in Cortland, New York. (Rich Barnes-USA Today Sports)
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Ryan went 46-50 as the Jets’ head coach and was the last to lead the Jets to the playoffs.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
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