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Rex Ryan is certainly a master at lifting the spirits of Jets fans.
Soon after it was reported on Sunday that Mike Vrabel has agreed to become the next head coach of the Patriots — leaving the Jets without one of their top candidates and likely top choices for the vacancy — Ryan responded from his seat on ESPN’s “NFL Countdown.”
“Hey, man, hopefully, I get to kick this guy’s butt twice a year. I don’t know,” said Ryan, who also had an interview last week for the Jets’ vacancy. “I’m just kidding, Vrabes. I’m just kidding, buddy.”
The other analysts chuckled at Ryan’s open plea to be rehired by the Jets, a team he led to consecutive AFC Championship games in the early part of his tenure that saw a 46-50 record (2009-14).
Host Mike Greenberg — a devoted Jets fan himself — interjected to clarify that Ryan meant his Jets beating the Patriots and not that Ryan was challenging Vrabel to a fight.
“My team, yeah,” Ryan said. “Not me personally.”
Ryan is continuing his tradition of trash-talking the Patriots, despite their current standing as no longer the dominant Super Bowl contenders.
Vrabel is stepping into a team that is coming off two consecutive last-place finishes in the AFC East.
Back in the day, Ryan started his Jets coaching career with the bold statement, “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings.”
How did he back it up? Ryan went 4-9 against the Patriots as the Jets head coach, including a memorable playoff upset victory on the road in 2010.
Vrabel’s playing career with the Patriots ended in 2008, so he missed out on the Ryan-Patriots banter.
After being let go by the Titans after the last season and serving as a consultant for the Browns in 2024, Vrabel has now become the seventh player to win a Super Bowl with a team and then return as its head coach.
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