“Hopefully, I can defeat this guy twice a year,” he said with a smile. Ryan had interviewed to become the Jets’ head coach and implied he was the frontrunner for the position, replacing Robert Saleh, who was dismissed midway through the season, and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who stepped in after Saleh’s departure. “The reason I believe I will secure the role is that I am the most suitable candidate. It’s not even a close competition,” he expressed, as reported by ESPN. “Establishing a connection with the football team and fan base is crucial. The team’s style of play is paramount. It’s more than just tactics and strategies.”
Aside from showcasing his self-assurance, Ryan made a direct pitch aimed at quarterback Aaron Rodgers. “It’s evident that when you have a player who skips mandatory minicamp—especially when he is your quarterback returning from an injury—that sends a completely inappropriate message to the team,” Ryan criticized Rodgers for missing mandatory minicamp for a trip to Egypt over the summer. “If he returns, things will change. If he comes back, it won’t be a casual environment where you show up whenever you please. That won’t be tolerated. I’ll leave it at that.”
During his tenure as the Jets’ head coach, Ryan accumulated a record of 46-50 and was the last coach to guide the Jets to the playoffs. Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Original article source: Ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan gives sly reaction to Patriots’ decision to hire Mike Vrabel
