The New York Jets may go back to the future in their bid to move on from a disastrous 2024 season.
Owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start and general manager Joe Douglas followed in November.
Interim boss Jeff Ulbrich has steered the Jets to a 4-12 record with one more game left to state his case for the full-time role.
But Johnson is likely to look elsewhere, with a source telling ESPN that Ron Rivera is set for an interview.
Rex Ryan, who was fired by Gang Green in 2014 with a 46-50 record in six years at the helm, says he is expecting a call as well.
“I believe I will,” Ryan told ESPN New York radio when asked if he would have talks. “We’ll see what happens once the season’s over.”
“This would be a hilarious mistake,” commented one fan on X.
“Jets gunna jet lmao. Go in a new direction go get the lions oc,” a second added in reference to rising star Ben Johnson.
“YUP .. That is just what the sad sack Jets need… Rex and Woody together,” wrote a third.
“Jets got rid of him once, so why go back,” asked another.
“Sam Darnold and Rex Ryan going back to the Jets and reviving the franchise would be epic,” a fifth suggested, with Darnold currently thriving at the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year contract.
After leaving the Jets, Ryan went 15-16 in two seasons with the Buffalo Bills.
He has been working for the media ever since and is currently an ESPN analyst.
Ryan went viral in Week 17 after accidentally revealing his bizarre lock screen live on Sunday NFL Countdown.
The 62-year-old has a photo of his wife Michelle sitting down and checking her phone from an angle capturing the soles of her feet.
Ryan has previously discussed his foot fetish, dating back as far as his tenure as Jets coach.
“I love my wife’s feet,” he said on the The Pivot podcast earlier this year. “I don’t know what it is, but if a chick’s got jacked up feet, I’m out. I don’t care how gorgeous. I’m out.
“I don’t know what the hell it is. But it’s like some people are boob guys, leg guys, you know whatever.
“Of course I notice a pretty, gorgeous face, but don’t s*** yourself, I’m checking the feet out.”
The Jets are using The 33rd Team to aid their search for a head coach and GM with data analysis.
Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings executive Rick Spielman are leading the project for The 33rd Team, per ESPN.
Tannenbaum was in his post when Ryan was hired by the Jets in 2009.
Spielman served as an adviser for the Washington Commanders as they appointed head coach Dan Quin and GM Adam Peters over the offseason.
The Commanders have since secured a playoff berth thanks largely to the play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Ryan led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in his first two seasons.
The franchise has not made the postseason since – the longest drought in US sports.
Thomas Dimitroff, Jon Robinson, and Jim Nagy have already interviewed for the GM post with ESPN analyst Louis Riddick also to be considered, per Adam Schefter.
Rivera was fired by Washington last season after going 26-40-1 in four campaigns.
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