Earlier this week, we asked if Jets owner Woody Johnson brings back Rex Ryan train the team. While whether Woody would do it is unknown, the other half of the equation is.
Rex would be right back.
During his weekly appearance on ESPN New York Bart and HahnRyan expressed his desire to coach the team again without question on the subject. Instead, Ryan talked about Dan Campbell’s impact on the Lions as the face of the franchise in collaboration with the rest of the front office as he turned to his not-so-secret ambitions.
“I had a vision for the team and we didn’t want to do anything,” Ryan said. “And that’s exactly what Dan Campbell is. And that’s what I think, the other thing is also getting a guy that connects with the fan base and all that. That’s why I want to be the next coach of the Jets.”
Ryan added that he hasn’t talked to Johnson about a return, that Johnson won’t begin the search until after the season.
In the end, the debate turned to the balance between keeping the core of the current roster in place and “blowing this whole thing up.”
“I look at it this way,” Ryan said. “Are we going to blow it? We’re going to blow our opponents up. There’s too much talent on this team for us to play the way we’ve been playing. Period. Period. And how hard can you make a guy play? . . . That’s the point.
“And that’s going to be it. That’s what separates me from all the other boys you bring here. [Jon] Grudens, your anyone, anything. Give me a break. They’re not fu – they’re not the New York Jets. I’m all about the Jets. . . . .And the great thing is — here’s the great thing. Yes, you get a second chance and that doesn’t happen often. Well, when it does, it’s usually special. And so we will find out whether I get that chance or not. If not, I hope they have a damn guy in place because I still want to be a Jets fan. I still want to be, but you know when I look around, I know that nobody is better than me. So we’ll see. We’ll see what happens.’
Before returning from his rather soft and gentle tone, Ryan openly defended Johnson, explaining that he gives the front office and coaching staff everything they want to win and that his involvement in football decisions is no different than other owners’ involvement in other teams.
“Woody Johnson was amazing,” Ryan said. “I can tell you firsthand from my perspective, he’s been fantastic. You know what he’s guilty of? He’s guilty of giving you what you want. And that’s exactly what happened to this group. He gave them exactly what they wanted. You .” You convinced him that all you need is a quarterback. He gave you what you chose.
“This man wants to win in the worst way. That’s what I can tell you about Woody… From my perspective, he was fantastic. Fantastic… He wasn’t [who] he told you to go get Aaron Rodgers. You told him to go get Aaron Rodgers. And so he did. And it never worked out. But at least he fired the gun. why? Because he wants the championship.”
Rex also strongly advocated for interim general manager Phil Savage to become general manager going forward.
Ryan coached the Jets for six years and led them to their last playoff appearances in 2009 and 2010. They went to the AFC Championship games and have not returned to the playoffs since.
Could they do better than Rex? Given the current state of the team and Johnson’s reputation as an owner more swayed by outside voices than sound football principles, maybe not. Could they do worse? Almost a decade since Rex was fired.
Again, this can all lead to Johnson. It is possible that Rex was able to manage Johnson better than other coaches.
Regardless of the reason(s) for the team’s struggles since Rex’s departure, the reality is that Rex wants to return. Will Woody welcome him?