Rex Ryan
Encyclopedia
Rex Ryan is an American football
head coach for the New York Jets
of the National Football League
(NFL). After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009. 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 Dallas Cowboys
.
Upon accepting the position with the Jets, Ryan became well-known throughout the league for his outspoken manner, boisterous attitude and success with the Jets which has included back-to-back AFC Championship
appearances in the 2009
and 2010
seasons. Players have expressed their interest in playing for Ryan because of his player-friendly attitude. Ryan is also known for his highly esteemed defenses which often feature "relentlessness [and] unpredictable mayhem founded on his premise that 'whatever you do best, we're going to take away from you.'"
, Oklahoma
on December 13, 1962 to Doris and Buddy Ryan. When the boys were aged two, their parents divorced. Following the divorce, his mother attended the University of Chicago
to earn her doctorate. Rex then moved with his mother to Toronto, Canada
where she secured an administrative position at the University of Toronto
. During the course of his upbringing, Rex wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a defensive pioneer in the NFL known for developing the 46 defense
, and by age six both boys knew they wanted to pursue coaching careers.
In Canada, there was little emphasis on football, much to the disappointment of Rex. By the time Rex was a teenager, he and his brother were frequently getting into trouble. Doris decided it was in the best interest of the brothers to send them to live with their father, who was the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings
at the time. The reasons behind this were two–fold; to keep them out of trouble and to help them expand their knowledge of the game of football where it was more prevalent.
In 1978, when Buddy was hired by the Chicago Bears
as their defensive coordinator
, Rex followed his father to Illinois
where the family settled in Prairie View
. The brothers attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire
.
Rex went on to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University
in Weatherford, Oklahoma
alongside Rob. Rex played for the football team as a defensive end
. He graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma in 1986. He was inducted into Southwestern's Hall of Fame in 2011.
at Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) Eastern Kentucky
in 1987 with the help of his father. At Eastern Kentucky, he was responsible for a multitude of jobs. The Colonels held the Ohio Valley Conference title in the two years Ryan served as an assistant. At the age of 26, Ryan became the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Division II New Mexico Highlands for a year during which the Cowboys led the league in defensive turnovers. After his stint with New Mexico, Ryan joined Division I Morehead State as the defensive coordinator, where he remained for four years. During his tenure, the defense was ranked among the highest in the nation.
After a two-year stint working for his father with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, Ryan returned to college coaching as the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats
. The Bearcats won the first Humanitarian Bowl over Utah State in Ryan's final year, marking the Bearcats' first bowl appearance in fifty years. Ryan was the Oklahoma Sooners
' defensive coordinator for a year in which the defense was ranked sixth in the nation. However, head coach John Blake
failed to achieve a winning record in three straight years and subsequently, the entire staff was fired. Ryan served as defensive coordinator at Kansas State
for a month in 1999 under legendary head coach Bill Snyder
.
Ryan went on to coach at three different colleges following his stint with the Cardinals, though by the time he joined Kansas State in 1999, he was hopeful of a return to the NFL. Ryan received a call from newly named head coach Brian Billick
of the Baltimore Ravens
who wanted to interview him for the defensive line coaching position in Baltimore. Having visited a classroom Ryan was teaching earlier in his career, Billick had been so impressed by Ryan's passion for the game of football that he decided to hire him if Billick ever attained a head coaching position. When offered the position, Ryan accepted.
In his first year, Ryan learned lessons on coaching talent and managing various personalities, which contributed to the defense's early success. By his second year, in 2000, the Ravens' defense set NFL records for fewest points allowed and fewest rushing yards allowed. The defense allowed a combined 23 points in four playoff games en route to a Super Bowl XXXV
victory, Ryan's only Super Bowl ring. The defense consistently performed well in the following years. As a result, Ryan was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005 following the departure of Mike Nolan
, who became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers
. In 2006, Ryan received Assistant Coach of the Year awards from Pro Football Weekly
and the Pro Football Writers Association
.
Upon the conclusion of the Ravens' 5–11 performance in 2007
, the entire staff was dismissed on New Year's Eve
. Ryan was one of the candidates interviewed by the Ravens for their head coaching vacancy; however, the Ravens chose to name John Harbaugh as the team's new head coach. Ryan also interviewed with Miami
and Atlanta
about filling their head coaching vacancies however, the offers went to Tony Sparano
and Mike Smith respectively.
Ryan was disappointed by his failure to obtain a head coaching job, but he agreed to return to Baltimore under the direction of Harbaugh, who retained Ryan as defensive coordinator and promoted him to assistant head coach. In 2008, Ryan's final year with the team, the defense was ranked second overall in the NFL. The Ravens lost by nine points in the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers
. Ryan's 10-year tenure with the team, during which the defense never ranked lower than sixth overall in the NFL, came to an end about an hour later when he accepted the head coaching position with the New York Jets
.
Following a late season collapse
in which the New York Jets missed the playoffs after losing four of their final five games, the team fired head coach Eric Mangini
. The team interviewed a host of candidates, including Ryan, Jeff Jagodzinski
, Russ Grimm
, Bill Callahan, and Brian Schottenheimer
, however, the contract, which was valued at approximately $11.5 million over the course of four years, was ultimately offered to Ryan.
Accepting the offer, Ryan immediately began to carry out a platform he outlined for the franchise's future. The basic idea was to get the players away from any distractions on or off the field and have them get to know one another to build team chemistry. Thus, training camp was moved to the campus of SUNY Cortland where the team would be relatively secluded from the media and any other distractions. Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum
were also determined to draft a quarterback who could lead and be the face of the franchise. As a result, the team traded up to select Mark Sanchez
with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
.
The Jets opened their season
against the Houston Texans
. Ryan began his head coaching career with a 24–7 victory over the Texans after the Jets' defense shut out their opponents' offense. Houston's lone score came on a fumble return for a touchdown. The following week, the defense did not allow a touchdown against the New England Patriots
in a 16–9 victory at home, marking the Jets' first home victory over New England since 2000. Ryan and the Jets went on to defeat the Tennessee Titans
in week three, marking the first time the Jets opened the season at 3–0 since 2004. The victory also allowed Ryan to become the Jets' first rookie head coach to win his first three games since Al Groh
in 2000. The team went on to lose six of their next seven games save for a shutout victory over the Oakland Raiders
, 38–0.
The team eventually recovered and won five of their final six games despite Ryan incorrectly stating the Jets had been "mathematically" eliminated from playoff contention following a loss to the Atlanta Falcons
. The Jets defeated a previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts
—a game not without controversy following Jim Caldwell's decision to pull Indianapolis' starters with the Colts leading. The Colts, who already achieved a playoff berth, had little to play for aside from a perfect record. In the final game of the season, the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Bengals
37–0 at Giants Stadium
, the final sporting event to be held at the venue, as Ryan's defense held Cincinnati to 72 total rushing yards, and 0 total yards passing. The victory secured New York's playoff berth as a wild card team.
New York defeated Cincinnati again the following week, this time at Paul Brown Stadium
, in the AFC Wild Card playoff round. On January 17, 2010, Ryan coached the Jets in an upset over the San Diego Chargers
, 17–14, on their way to the AFC Championship Game. The Jets subsequently lost to the Indianapolis Colts 30–17 after leading in the first half of the game. Ryan became embroiled in controversy a few days later when he flashed an obscene gesture
towards heckling Dolphins
fans who spat on him during a Strikeforce
mixed martial arts
event at BankAtlantic Center
in Sunrise, Florida
. Ryan apologized for his actions, stating that it was "stupid and inappropriate." Ryan was fined $50,000 by the Jets.
As Ryan headed into his second year as the team's head coach, the club announced he had been granted a two–year contract extension. Ryan continued to exude confidence in the team writing on ESPN
's Tour Bus "Soon To Be Champs" in August. When the team appeared on the television series Hard Knocks
that same month, Ryan was criticized, mainly by former head coach Tony Dungy
, for his use of foul language. Dungy and Ryan later met in person to clear the air. Ryan's championship claims were nearly proven correct as the Jets opened the season with the best record in the NFL at 9–2. This set the stage for a Monday night showdown
with their division rival, the New England Patriots, who were also 9–2. The Monday night matchup was only the fourth since 1986 to feature two teams with at least 9–2 records. The Patriots, behind the strong performance of quarterback Tom Brady
, humiliated the Jets 45–3. However, the Jets finished the season with a 11–5 record and qualified as a wild card team in the playoffs. Additionally, the Jets won eleven games, one win short of tying the franchise record set by the 1998 team
led by Bill Parcells.
In the wild card round, the sixth–seeded Jets beat the AFC South champion and the third–seeded Indianapolis Colts
17–16 on January 8, 2011 on the road to qualify for the Divisional Playoffs. The following week, on January 16, despite being overwhelmingly named the underdogs, they defeated the AFC East champion and first–seeded New England Patriots 28–21, ending the Patriots' eight–game winning streak. The Jets became the first team to lose a regular season matchup by more than 35 points and then beat that same team (New England) in the playoffs during the same season. The victory made the Jets the first team to win back–to–back road playoff games in consecutive seasons, and qualified them to advance to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season, where they lost on the road to the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers
.
Ryan has also stressed that the teaching process is an important one particularly when it comes to feeding a player information and building chemistry. However, there has to be flexibility as the process must also be insightful and positive.
His defensive strategy, in contrast, tends to be more elaborate taking into consideration his experience in the field. There are six different defensive formations utilized in football however the two commonly used formations are the 3-4 formation
, with three defensive lineman and four linebackers, and the 4-3 formation
, with four defensive lineman and three linebackers. The Jets officially utilize the former of the two popular formations however, Ryan tends to employ all six formations in varying forms. Furthermore, he often calls audibles having the defense line up in one formation and switching to another so as to cloak their intentions and confuse and pressure the opponent.
As a testament to this philosophy, Ryan is often willing to defer the coin toss to the opponent in order to open the game on defense and "set the tone," generate turnovers and "create plays" as a result of these turnovers. This concept has been criticized by ESPN
's John Clayton
who has found the method to be ineffective league-wide.
Assistant coaches under Rex Ryan who have become NFL head coaches:
and a Master's degree
in physical education from Eastern Kentucky University
. He currently resides in Summit, New Jersey
.
Ryan publicly announced in 2009 that he had been battling dyslexia
for his entire life. During his early years, Ryan was diagnosed as being "slow" however, after visiting his doctor in 2007, testing confirmed Ryan did indeed have dyslexia.
In December 2010, Deadspin
reported that a series of foot-fetish videos had been discovered featuring a woman who allegedly appeared to be Ryan's wife, Michelle, while the cameraman, who was not seen on tape, allegedly was Ryan himself. Ryan did not confirm nor deny the allegations however he did state in a press conference that the issue was a personal matter.
at NYU Medical Center
in March 2010 in an effort to battle his obesity
. Ryan also had a hernia
repaired during the procedure. He was able to return to his home that same day to recover. Following a three-week period he had lost 40 pounds and as of May 2011, Ryan has lost 65 pounds.
and a conversational about football strategy. The book, which was published by Doubleday in the spring of 2011, was co-written by Don Yaeger, a former Sports Illustrated
editor who has co-authored the autobiographies of former NFL players Walter Payton
and Warren Moon
.
film I Hate You, Dad
which will be released in 2012. Ironically, his character will be a fan of the New York Jets
rival, the New England Patriots
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
head coach for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009. He is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
head coach Buddy Ryan
Buddy Ryan
James David "Buddy" Ryan is a former American NFL football coach.-Early years:Ryan was born and reared in a small, agricultural-based community "just outside of Frederick, Oklahoma." Ryan played college football for Oklahoma A&M University where he earned four letters as a guard between 1952 and...
and is the twin brother of Rob Ryan
Rob Ryan
Rob Ryan is the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He is the son of former defensive coordinator and head coach Buddy Ryan and the twin brother of current head coach of the New York Jets, Rex Ryan.-Early life:When his parents, Doris and Buddy Ryan,...
, defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Upon accepting the position with the Jets, Ryan became well-known throughout the league for his outspoken manner, boisterous attitude and success with the Jets which has included back-to-back AFC Championship
AFC Championship Game
The American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the American...
appearances in the 2009
2009 New York Jets season
The 2009 New York Jets season was the 50th season for the club and the 40th season in the National Football League and the last season at Giants Stadium. While they did not improve their 9–7 record from 2008, this time the team headed to the playoffs. The Jets fired head coach Eric Mangini on...
and 2010
2010 New York Jets season
The 2010 New York Jets season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League, the 51st season overall and the team's first season at New Meadowlands Stadium. The team improved on their 9–7 record from 2009 and reached the playoffs again. The Jets played their first pre-season game...
seasons. Players have expressed their interest in playing for Ryan because of his player-friendly attitude. Ryan is also known for his highly esteemed defenses which often feature "relentlessness [and] unpredictable mayhem founded on his premise that 'whatever you do best, we're going to take away from you.'"
Early life
Rex Ryan, and his fraternal twin, Rob, were born in ArdmoreArdmore, Oklahoma
Ardmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area totaling 56,694 residents...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
on December 13, 1962 to Doris and Buddy Ryan. When the boys were aged two, their parents divorced. Following the divorce, his mother attended the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
to earn her doctorate. Rex then moved with his mother to Toronto, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where she secured an administrative position at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. During the course of his upbringing, Rex wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a defensive pioneer in the NFL known for developing the 46 defense
46 defense
The 46 defense is an American football defensive formation. The formation comprises four down linemen, three linebackers, and four defensive backs. The 46 defense was originally developed and popularized by Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, who later became head coach of the...
, and by age six both boys knew they wanted to pursue coaching careers.
In Canada, there was little emphasis on football, much to the disappointment of Rex. By the time Rex was a teenager, he and his brother were frequently getting into trouble. Doris decided it was in the best interest of the brothers to send them to live with their father, who was the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
at the time. The reasons behind this were two–fold; to keep them out of trouble and to help them expand their knowledge of the game of football where it was more prevalent.
In 1978, when Buddy was hired by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as their defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
, Rex followed his father to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
where the family settled in Prairie View
Prairie View, Illinois
Prairie View is an unincorporated town located in the northeastern area of the state of Illinois, in southern Lake County. It is considered to be part of the Vernon Township...
. The brothers attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire, Illinois
Lincolnshire is a village in the Vernon Township region of Lake County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The village is a suburb of Chicago, a city in the adjacent Cook County. Its population was 6,108 at the time of the 2000 census. Lincolnshire was incorporated on August 5, 1957, from the...
.
Rex went on to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a public university in Weatherford and Sayre, Oklahoma. It is one of seven state regional universities in the state of Oklahoma.The current president of SWOSU is Randy Beutler.-History:...
in Weatherford, Oklahoma
Weatherford, Oklahoma
Weatherford is a city in Custer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 10,833 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Weatherford is located at , elevation 1,647 feet ....
alongside Rob. Rex played for the football team as a defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
. He graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma in 1986. He was inducted into Southwestern's Hall of Fame in 2011.
College
Upon graduating from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Ryan secured a job as a graduate assistantGraduate assistant
A graduate assistant is a position who serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The individual typically assists professors or with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants, coaches with an athletic team, or university department...
at Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky Colonels football
The Eastern Kentucky University Colonels football team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
in 1987 with the help of his father. At Eastern Kentucky, he was responsible for a multitude of jobs. The Colonels held the Ohio Valley Conference title in the two years Ryan served as an assistant. At the age of 26, Ryan became the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Division II New Mexico Highlands for a year during which the Cowboys led the league in defensive turnovers. After his stint with New Mexico, Ryan joined Division I Morehead State as the defensive coordinator, where he remained for four years. During his tenure, the defense was ranked among the highest in the nation.
After a two-year stint working for his father with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, Ryan returned to college coaching as the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
. The Bearcats won the first Humanitarian Bowl over Utah State in Ryan's final year, marking the Bearcats' first bowl appearance in fifty years. Ryan was the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
' defensive coordinator for a year in which the defense was ranked sixth in the nation. However, head coach John Blake
John Blake (American football)
-External links:...
failed to achieve a winning record in three straight years and subsequently, the entire staff was fired. Ryan served as defensive coordinator at Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
for a month in 1999 under legendary head coach Bill Snyder
Bill Snyder
Bill Snyder is the head football coach at Kansas State University. He was rehired to the position on November 24, 2008, making Snyder one of the rare college football head coaches to have non-consecutive tenure at the same school. Snyder previously served as head coach at the school from 1989 to...
.
Assistant coach
When his father, Buddy, was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 1994, Buddy offered Rex his first job in the NFL as a defensive assistant, working with the linebackers and the defensive line. After nine straight losing seasons prior to Buddy's arrival, the Cardinals produced an 8–8 record in Buddy's first year as head coach. However, in his second season, the team went 4–12 and subsequently, the entire staff was fired despite the positive performance of the defense.Brian Billick
Brian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007...
of the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
who wanted to interview him for the defensive line coaching position in Baltimore. Having visited a classroom Ryan was teaching earlier in his career, Billick had been so impressed by Ryan's passion for the game of football that he decided to hire him if Billick ever attained a head coaching position. When offered the position, Ryan accepted.
In his first year, Ryan learned lessons on coaching talent and managing various personalities, which contributed to the defense's early success. By his second year, in 2000, the Ravens' defense set NFL records for fewest points allowed and fewest rushing yards allowed. The defense allowed a combined 23 points in four playoff games en route to a Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
victory, Ryan's only Super Bowl ring. The defense consistently performed well in the following years. As a result, Ryan was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005 following the departure of Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan is an American football coach and the current defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins...
, who became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. In 2006, Ryan received Assistant Coach of the Year awards from Pro Football Weekly
Pro Football Weekly
Pro Football Weekly is an American sports magazine, founded in 1967, that covers the National Football League...
and the Pro Football Writers Association
Pro Football Writers Association
Technically known as the Pro Football Writers of America, this organization purports to be "The official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public." Goals of the organization include improving access to practices and locker rooms,...
.
Upon the conclusion of the Ravens' 5–11 performance in 2007
2007 Baltimore Ravens season
-Game summary:The Ravens began their 2007 campaign on the road against their AFC North foe, the Cincinnati Bengals, in the first game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader. In the first quarter, Baltimore lost two fumbles early on, with the Bengals turning the second fumble into QB Carson...
, the entire staff was dismissed on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
. Ryan was one of the candidates interviewed by the Ravens for their head coaching vacancy; however, the Ravens chose to name John Harbaugh as the team's new head coach. Ryan also interviewed with Miami
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Atlanta
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
about filling their head coaching vacancies however, the offers went to Tony Sparano
Tony Sparano
Anthony "Tony" Sparano III is an American Football head coach of the Miami Dolphins. At age 17, Sparano had an incident which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night...
and Mike Smith respectively.
Ryan was disappointed by his failure to obtain a head coaching job, but he agreed to return to Baltimore under the direction of Harbaugh, who retained Ryan as defensive coordinator and promoted him to assistant head coach. In 2008, Ryan's final year with the team, the defense was ranked second overall in the NFL. The Ravens lost by nine points in the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. Ryan's 10-year tenure with the team, during which the defense never ranked lower than sixth overall in the NFL, came to an end about an hour later when he accepted the head coaching position with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
New York Jets
2008 New York Jets season
The 2008 New York Jets season was the 49th season for the club and the 39th season in the National Football League. The team succeeded in improving upon their 4–12 record from 2007, but did not make the playoffs.-Signings:...
in which the New York Jets missed the playoffs after losing four of their final five games, the team fired head coach Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets of the National Football League and current NFL analyst for ESPN.-College:...
. The team interviewed a host of candidates, including Ryan, Jeff Jagodzinski
Jeff Jagodzinski
-United Football League:-External links:*...
, Russ Grimm
Russ Grimm
Russell Scott Grimm is a former American football guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. As a collegian, he was an All-American center at the University of Pittsburgh. As a professional, Grimm had multi-selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was...
, Bill Callahan, and Brian Schottenheimer
Brian Schottenheimer
Brian Schottenheimer is an American football coach. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets of the National Football League . Before becoming an offensive coordinator, he was the quarterback coach for the San Diego Chargers...
, however, the contract, which was valued at approximately $11.5 million over the course of four years, was ultimately offered to Ryan.
Accepting the offer, Ryan immediately began to carry out a platform he outlined for the franchise's future. The basic idea was to get the players away from any distractions on or off the field and have them get to know one another to build team chemistry. Thus, training camp was moved to the campus of SUNY Cortland where the team would be relatively secluded from the media and any other distractions. Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum
Mike Tannenbaum
Mike Tannenbaum is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the New York Jets of the National Football League.-Cleveland Browns:...
were also determined to draft a quarterback who could lead and be the face of the franchise. As a result, the team traded up to select Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez
Mark Travis John Sanchez is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the fifth overall selection by the Jets and the second quarterback taken overall...
with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
.
The Jets opened their season
2009 New York Jets season
The 2009 New York Jets season was the 50th season for the club and the 40th season in the National Football League and the last season at Giants Stadium. While they did not improve their 9–7 record from 2008, this time the team headed to the playoffs. The Jets fired head coach Eric Mangini on...
against the Houston Texans
2009 Houston Texans season
The 2009 Houston Texans season is the 8th season for the team in the National Football League. The Texans improved upon their 8–8 record in 2008, claimed their first winning season in franchise history, and 4 straight heartbreaking division losses came back to haunt them, as they narrowly missed...
. Ryan began his head coaching career with a 24–7 victory over the Texans after the Jets' defense shut out their opponents' offense. Houston's lone score came on a fumble return for a touchdown. The following week, the defense did not allow a touchdown against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in a 16–9 victory at home, marking the Jets' first home victory over New England since 2000. Ryan and the Jets went on to defeat the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in week three, marking the first time the Jets opened the season at 3–0 since 2004. The victory also allowed Ryan to become the Jets' first rookie head coach to win his first three games since Al Groh
Al Groh
Al Groh is the defensive coordinator of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. He is also a former head coach of the University of Virginia football team, a former head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team and the former head coach of the New York Jets of the NFL...
in 2000. The team went on to lose six of their next seven games save for a shutout victory over the Oakland Raiders
2009 Oakland Raiders season
The 2009 Oakland Raiders season is the 50th season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL. On September 6, 2009, The Raiders traded a 2011 draft pick to the New England Patriots for 5x Pro Bowl Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour. With their loss to Dallas on November...
, 38–0.
The team eventually recovered and won five of their final six games despite Ryan incorrectly stating the Jets had been "mathematically" eliminated from playoff contention following a loss to the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Jets defeated a previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts
2009 Indianapolis Colts season
The 2009 Indianapolis Colts season was the 57th season for the team in the National Football League and the 26th in Indianapolis. It was the first season since 2002 that the Colts did not have Tony Dungy on their coaching staff, due to his retirement from coaching...
—a game not without controversy following Jim Caldwell's decision to pull Indianapolis' starters with the Colts leading. The Colts, who already achieved a playoff berth, had little to play for aside from a perfect record. In the final game of the season, the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Bengals
2009 Cincinnati Bengals season
The 2009 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and their 42nd overall. They finished the season at 10–6–0, and sweeping the entire AFC North division, they improved on their 2008 record of 4–11–1, winning the AFC North Division and making the...
37–0 at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, the final sporting event to be held at the venue, as Ryan's defense held Cincinnati to 72 total rushing yards, and 0 total yards passing. The victory secured New York's playoff berth as a wild card team.
New York defeated Cincinnati again the following week, this time at Paul Brown Stadium
Paul Brown Stadium
Paul Brown Stadium is an American sports stadium located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home venue of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. It opened on August 19, 2000. The stadium was named after Bengals' founder Paul Brown. The stadium is located on approximately of land and...
, in the AFC Wild Card playoff round. On January 17, 2010, Ryan coached the Jets in an upset over the San Diego Chargers
2009 San Diego Chargers season
The 2009 San Diego Chargers season was the 50th season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL. The Chargers improved upon their regular season record of 8–8 in 2008 and won their division for the fourth straight year and fifth time in six seasons...
, 17–14, on their way to the AFC Championship Game. The Jets subsequently lost to the Indianapolis Colts 30–17 after leading in the first half of the game. Ryan became embroiled in controversy a few days later when he flashed an obscene gesture
Finger (gesture)
In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"...
towards heckling Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
fans who spat on him during a Strikeforce
Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event at BankAtlantic Center
BankAtlantic Center
The BankAtlantic Center is an indoor arena located in Sunrise, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and adjacent to the popular Sawgrass Mills Mall.The arena features 70 suites & 2,623 club seats.The arena is directly accessible from the Sawgrass Expressway...
in Sunrise, Florida
Sunrise, Florida
-Overview:Sunrise is a city in southwestern Broward County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated in 1961 by Norman Johnson – a developer whose World Famous Upside-Down House attracted buyers to what was then a remote area...
. Ryan apologized for his actions, stating that it was "stupid and inappropriate." Ryan was fined $50,000 by the Jets.
As Ryan headed into his second year as the team's head coach, the club announced he had been granted a two–year contract extension. Ryan continued to exude confidence in the team writing on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Tour Bus "Soon To Be Champs" in August. When the team appeared on the television series Hard Knocks
Hard Knocks (TV series)
Hard Knocks is a reality sports documentary television series produced by NFL Films and HBO. The series follows a select National Football League team through its training camp and provides an in-depth perspective of the team's preparation for the upcoming season. The series is described as one of...
that same month, Ryan was criticized, mainly by former head coach Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
, for his use of foul language. Dungy and Ryan later met in person to clear the air. Ryan's championship claims were nearly proven correct as the Jets opened the season with the best record in the NFL at 9–2. This set the stage for a Monday night showdown
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
with their division rival, the New England Patriots, who were also 9–2. The Monday night matchup was only the fourth since 1986 to feature two teams with at least 9–2 records. The Patriots, behind the strong performance of quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
, humiliated the Jets 45–3. However, the Jets finished the season with a 11–5 record and qualified as a wild card team in the playoffs. Additionally, the Jets won eleven games, one win short of tying the franchise record set by the 1998 team
1998 New York Jets season
The 1998 New York Jets season was the 39th season for the team and the 29th in the National Football League. The team tried to improve upon its 9–7 record from 1997 and finished 12–4 in their second season under head coach Bill Parcells, winning their first division title since the AFL-NFL merger...
led by Bill Parcells.
In the wild card round, the sixth–seeded Jets beat the AFC South champion and the third–seeded Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
17–16 on January 8, 2011 on the road to qualify for the Divisional Playoffs. The following week, on January 16, despite being overwhelmingly named the underdogs, they defeated the AFC East champion and first–seeded New England Patriots 28–21, ending the Patriots' eight–game winning streak. The Jets became the first team to lose a regular season matchup by more than 35 points and then beat that same team (New England) in the playoffs during the same season. The victory made the Jets the first team to win back–to–back road playoff games in consecutive seasons, and qualified them to advance to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season, where they lost on the road to the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
Coaching philosophy
Ryan stresses that coaches are essentially supposed to be open and communicative with the players and management who in turn will reciprocate the same attitude.| "You know what? You have to love Rex Ryan. I think that sometimes people kind of have the wrong impression of Rex. The one thing I can say about him is he absolutely loves his football team, loves his players and would do anything to help guys be successful. People say he talks too much, but in the last couple years ... I think Rex has done a phenomenal job of really taking the media attention ... and putting it on himself." |
| — Fullback Tony Richardson on playing for Rex Ryan |
- I want my players to know who I am, just like I want to know who they are. I want there to be that connection as people. That's valuable when it comes to figuring out how to motivate somebody. It's valuable because I want that guy to fight for me, just like I want to fight for him.
Ryan has also stressed that the teaching process is an important one particularly when it comes to feeding a player information and building chemistry. However, there has to be flexibility as the process must also be insightful and positive.
- While the entire team is my responsibility as head coach, there are times I have to hold back and let my assistant coaches coach. Even so, I've always pushed my coaches toward the teaching process. That's where I felt like I had the biggest impact. Hey, we are all good coaches and they know what they're doing, but the one thing I did want to control was the way we taught. I want it to be specific. I want it to be energetic. I wanted the players to get exactly what they need instead of the mind-numbing dump of "You know what? I'm going to throw so much shit at the players that even if it doesn't go right I can rest well at night at least to say I covered it, so it's not my fault". That's not teaching. If you emphasize everything, you've emphasized nothing.
Coaching strategy
With extensive knowledge regarding the intricacies of the defense, many have come to regard Ryan as "anti-offense." However, Ryan aims to develop a proficient run game citing a desire to "get after" the opponent through running the football. Ryan has also stated that passing the ball is important but should not be used incessantly as there should be a balance between both aspects of the offense.His defensive strategy, in contrast, tends to be more elaborate taking into consideration his experience in the field. There are six different defensive formations utilized in football however the two commonly used formations are the 3-4 formation
3-4 defense
In American football, the 3–4 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers.The 3–4 defense declined in popularity over the years, but has found renewed use by modern professional and college football teams. The 3–4 defense is so named because it involves 3...
, with three defensive lineman and four linebackers, and the 4-3 formation
4-3 defense
In American football, a 4–3 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of four down linemen and three linebackers. It is probably the most commonly used defense in modern American football and especially in the National Football League. NFL teams that use the 4–3 defense as of 2011 include the...
, with four defensive lineman and three linebackers. The Jets officially utilize the former of the two popular formations however, Ryan tends to employ all six formations in varying forms. Furthermore, he often calls audibles having the defense line up in one formation and switching to another so as to cloak their intentions and confuse and pressure the opponent.
As a testament to this philosophy, Ryan is often willing to defer the coin toss to the opponent in order to open the game on defense and "set the tone," generate turnovers and "create plays" as a result of these turnovers. This concept has been criticized by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's John Clayton
John Clayton (sportscaster)
John Travis Clayton is a National Football League writer and reporter for ESPN. He is also a senior writer for ESPN.com.-Early career:...
who has found the method to be ineffective league-wide.
Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | NYJ 2009 New York Jets season The 2009 New York Jets season was the 50th season for the club and the 40th season in the National Football League and the last season at Giants Stadium. While they did not improve their 9–7 record from 2008, this time the team headed to the playoffs. The Jets fired head coach Eric Mangini on... |
2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in AFC East | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to the Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... in AFC Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYJ 2010 New York Jets season The 2010 New York Jets season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League, the 51st season overall and the team's first season at New Meadowlands Stadium. The team improved on their 9–7 record from 2009 and reached the playoffs again. The Jets played their first pre-season game... |
2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in AFC East | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... in AFC Championship Game AFC Championship Game The American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the American... |
||
| NYJ 2011 New York Jets season The 2011 New York Jets season is the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League , the 52nd season overall and the team's second season at MetLife Stadium... |
2011 2011 NFL season The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on... |
6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | AFC East | ||||||
| NYJ Total | 26 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .667 | ||||||
| Total | 26 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .667 | ||||||
Coaching tree
NFL head coaches under whom Rex Ryan has served:| Coach | Team | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Buddy Ryan Buddy Ryan James David "Buddy" Ryan is a former American NFL football coach.-Early years:Ryan was born and reared in a small, agricultural-based community "just outside of Frederick, Oklahoma." Ryan played college football for Oklahoma A&M University where he earned four letters as a guard between 1952 and... |
Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
1994–1995 |
| Brian Billick Brian Billick Brian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007... |
Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... |
1999–2007 |
| John Harbaugh | Baltimore Ravens | 2008 |
Assistant coaches under Rex Ryan who have become NFL head coaches:
- No Coaches
Personal life
Ryan and his wife, Michelle, were married in 1987. Together, they have two sons, Payton and Seth. Ryan earned a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in physical education from Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
. He currently resides in Summit, New Jersey
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
.
Ryan publicly announced in 2009 that he had been battling dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
for his entire life. During his early years, Ryan was diagnosed as being "slow" however, after visiting his doctor in 2007, testing confirmed Ryan did indeed have dyslexia.
In December 2010, Deadspin
Deadspin
Deadspin is a sports website owned by Gawker Media and was launched in September 2005. As of February 2010, the site had attracted over 462 million unique visitors and about 573 million page views....
reported that a series of foot-fetish videos had been discovered featuring a woman who allegedly appeared to be Ryan's wife, Michelle, while the cameraman, who was not seen on tape, allegedly was Ryan himself. Ryan did not confirm nor deny the allegations however he did state in a press conference that the issue was a personal matter.
Weight loss surgery
Ryan underwent lap-band surgeryAdjustable gastric band
A laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, commonly referred to as a lap band, is an inflatable silicone device that is placed around the top portion of the stomach, via laparoscopic surgery, in order to treat obesity...
at NYU Medical Center
NYU Langone Medical Center
NYU Langone Medical Center is an academic medical center in New York City affiliated with New York University. It was named to the Honor Roll of U.S. News "Best Hospitals" in the nation for 2009-2010. The Medical Center comprises NYU School of Medicine and three hospitals: Tisch Hospital, the Rusk...
in March 2010 in an effort to battle his obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
. Ryan also had a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
repaired during the procedure. He was able to return to his home that same day to recover. Following a three-week period he had lost 40 pounds and as of May 2011, Ryan has lost 65 pounds.
Book
Ryan released "Play Like You Mean It", an autobiographyAutobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
and a conversational about football strategy. The book, which was published by Doubleday in the spring of 2011, was co-written by Don Yaeger, a former Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
editor who has co-authored the autobiographies of former NFL players Walter Payton
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football...
and Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
.
Acting career
Ryan is set to appear in the Adam SandlerAdam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
film I Hate You, Dad
I Hate You, Dad
I Hate You, Dad is the working title for an upcoming comedy starring Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg. the original script was written by David Caspe with a later rewrite coming from David Wain and Ken Marino. Sean Anders and John Morris will serve as directors...
which will be released in 2012. Ironically, his character will be a fan of the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
rival, the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
External links
- New York Jets biography
- Rex Ryan at NFL.com