Rex Ryan is back! Just not back as a head coach of an NFL franchise. Instead, he has brought his talents to the ESPN behemoth.
Well, Rex Ryan won’t have to worry about “getting f—ked” with his new role on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. Infamously, after he was canned for the second time in a two-year span, he saw the silver lining of being on TV.“The one thing about (being on TV) is that you don’t lose,” Ryan told the New York Daily News in January. “You’ll remember every damn loss. But the wins? You don’t necessarily remember. So, it takes a lot out of you. I’m tired of getting f—ked.”
This was an inevitable landing spot for “Sexy Rexy” following an uneven campaign as a head coach in the NFL. While things never worked out for that Super Bowl guarantee, his combination of charisma, flair and football intelligence should make him the star of Sunday NFL Countdown next season.
Fortunately, he’s in a position to do whatever the heck he wants. He still is owed over $15m from his stint with the Buffalo Bills. Plus he already has another $20m in the bank from the New York Jets.
So Ryan has money, he has a Super Bowl ring, although it didn’t come while he was the lead dog on the sidelines. It’s time for Ryan to settle down in his new gig and hope he receives Jon Gruden/Bill Cowher treatment in a couple years if he ever gets that itch again.
History speaks for itself. Every year, there’s turnover at the head coaching positions in the NFL. There’s a reason “Black Monday” is a thing.
Yes, there’s a chance Ryan is back. A few years out of the immediate spotlight will probably do him wonders, while the beauty of his gig is that he can remain relevant by being on the tube every Sunday.
But this was the best move for him at this time. Ryan can attempt to rebuild his stock at his new position and come back swinging for the fences after his multi-year deal concludes with ESPN.