New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is likely a goner once this Jets' miserable season comes to a close. That prediction seems fairly commonplace around NFL circles. The Jets are 2-9, after all; it's not often a coach survives a nadir like that.
What you might not know, however, is that Rex Ryan himself knows his days are numbered -- in fact he apparently has known all along.
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According to a lengthy behind-the-scenes report from the New York Post, Jets GM John Idzik has been planning to fire the six-year head coach all season -- that is, even before the team's irrevocable losing streak began. Ryan famously was on the hot seat last season until a strong 8-8 finish earned him a stay of execution from team owner Woody Johnson.
Sources told The Post that Ryan heard word of his impending demise from scouts and other NFL coaches during the league's off-season.
“Did he think that wasn’t going to get back to me?” was Ryan's supposed response.
Ryan's tenure in New York started with a tremendous amount of fanfare. He led the squad to back-to-back AFC Championship games and endeared himself to football fans nationwide during a colorful starring role on HBO's 2010 season of "Hard Knocks." However, he has yet to field a playoff team in the past four seasons.
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Though any head coach must shoulder a large load of blame for his team's failings, many have been quick to point out that the coach as praised for his innovation as his outspokenness has been provided very few toys to tinker with this season.
Despite their large market share and self-proclaimed postseason aspirations, Idzik's Jets entered the season approximately $20 million dollars under the salary cap and having whiffed on multiple draft picks. Analysts have also deemed the franchise incredibly thin at cornerback (an essential staple of Ryan's defensive schemes) -- despite the Jets receiving overtures that Pro Bowl free agent Darrelle Revis was interested in returning to the Meadowlands this summer.
The Post also reported that, should Ryan ultimately get the axe this season, he is considering a debut in TV before taking up any other coaching overtures. Such rumors are apparently catnip to opposing coaches who respect Ryan's prowess on the sidelines. Per the Post's anonymous league source:
"You don’t think [Patriots head coach Bill] Belichick will be glad to see Rex out of the division?” one of the coaches said. “I guarantee you he’d be happy to see Rex out of the AFC East. I know I’d rather not face him — and I like Rex.”
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