Saying Goodbye to Rex Ryan

On Wednesday January 14^th, the same day the Jets signed former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles as their head coach, Rex Ryan was introduced as head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Owner Terry Pegula made his introduction: “Rex Ryan-coached teams have two characteristics…They’re always great defensively and they always work hard. Rex instills that in his players.”

After finishing up, he passed the mic over to Ryan, who was very much “in character.” His high-spirited and confident personality is something Jets fans grew accustomed to during his six seasons in New York. “Is this thing on, because it’s getting ready to be on, and that’s the truth.” He said as he looked out to a sea of reporters holding microphones in anticipation.  “I am not going to let our fans down. I’m not going to do it. I know it’s been 15 years (since a playoff berth)… Get ready, because we’re going.”

Ryan was fired for the first time in his coaching career by the Jets front office following a 2014 season that saw New York win only four games and fail to make the postseason for a fourth straight season. When asked about his feelings following his dismissal, he said: “When it’s my name that leads that list. Yeah, it’s personal. … It’s embarrassing.”

By season’s end, Ryan’s overall regular season record with the Jets fell below .500 (46-50). He led the Jets to two consecutive AFC Championship appearances in 2009 and 2010, but could not get over the hump and into the Super Bowl on either occasion. His postseason record with the Jets stands at 4-2.

It is up in the air whether Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota (-150) or Florida St. quarterback Jameis Winston (+120) will be taken number one overall in the 2015 NFL draft (Odds taken from SportsBetting.ag). However, it is anybody’s best guess if either will slip to the Jets, making New York’s future look quite bright. It’s something they shouldn’t count on though.

That being said, the Bills have gained a head coach that is never afraid to say what he thinks. He is a quote machine and he is taking most of his staff up to Buffalo. It will make the Jets \ Bills rivalry interesting over the next few years. Things are always interesting when Rex Ryan is involved.