Former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan expressed his hope that he will have the opportunity to face Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots during the 2025 season.
Ryan reacted on ESPN to the Patriots’ decision to hire Vrabel as the team’s head coach 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 hands after their game on November 22, 2009. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
“Hopefully I can kick this guy’s butt twice a year,” he said with a smile.
Ryan had interviewed to be the Jets’ head coach and suggested 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’ll get it is because I’m the best man for it. It’s not close,” he said via ESPN. “What you have to do is connect with your football team, you have to connect with your fan base. The way they play, that’s the most important thing. It’s not just about the X’s and O’s and all that “.
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Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during a news conference on Dec. 12, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
In addition to showing his confidence, Ryan even made a throw, one aimed directly at quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“Clearly, when you have a guy not showing up for mandatory minicamp (and by the way, he’s your quarterback and he’s coming off an injury), I think that’s an absolutely ridiculous message that you’re sending to the team,” Ryan said of Rodgers missed mandatory minicamp over the summer for a trip to Egypt.
“If he comes back, things will be different. If he comes back, it won’t be the country club, you’ll show up whenever you want. That’s not going to happen. I’ll leave it at that.” 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)
Ryan went 46-50 as head coach of the Jets and was the last to lead the Jets to the playoffs.
