If the New York Jets get Rex Ryan back, things will be different, the former coach said.
ESPN New York Radio held court with the current analyst and former head coach, who brought to the Jets to two AFC Championship Games earlier this century. Ryan’s name has joined the mix of candidates hoping to become the next head coach for the franchise after they dumped Robert Saleh earlier this year.
When it comes to quarterback Aaron Rodgers? Ryan has a plan, and he doesn’t intend to pull any punches.
Ryan explained that things will change for Rodgers and the Jets if the team hires him as head coach. He suggested that it won’t be like the “country club” anymore where you can show up when you want to. No, Ryan instead plans to run a much tighter ship.
“Clearly, when you have a guy that doesn’t show up for mandatory minicamp — and, by the way, he’s your quarterback, coming off an injury — I think that’s an absolutely ridiculous message you send to the team. If he comes back, things would be different,” Ryan promised. “If he’s back, it ain’t gonna be the country club, show up whenever the hell you want to show up.
“That ain’t gonna happen,” he assured. “I’ll just leave it at that.”
The Jets certainly need a change of culture. Rodgers’ presence with the team didn’t aid things, as he wasn’t around much of last year after a Week 1 injury. This season, he did play the full round, but it ultimately didn’t lead to any success for the team.
Rodgers will likely be back for the Jets in 2025. But if Ryan is too, then things may come to a head.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022