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Rex Ryan was fired from his last two NFL head coaching jobs and hasn’t been in the league since 2016. But that hasn’t stopped him from talking like he’s still wearing a headset for a division leading team. Over the weekend, Ryan used his ESPN platform to play a game of I told you so with recently fired Urban Meyer.
“This is the best of the best. It’s not just the best players in the country,” Ryan said during ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown”. There’s only 32 of these jobs,” Ryan added. “Don’t come into this league — you’re gonna get crushed.”
Rex Ryan on coaching in the NFL.
"This is the best of the best. … Hire somebody that's been around this game all his life." pic.twitter.com/bNzhA8zyue
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 19, 2021
Ryan, who himself is not one of the 32 best of the best, said he spoke with Meyer after he was hired in Jacksonville and offered some advice. “I told him it’s the grind. It’s the work you gotta put in,” said Ryan. “… It’s not just that you’re playing Alabama every week, which is the case. He didn’t listen. I knew he wouldn’t listen.”
Nostradamus Ryan then went on to insinuate that Meyer’s work ethic and relationships with his players left something to be desired: “Your job as an NFL coach is to put your players in the best position possible to be successful. That’s your job. You want to see what a players coach is? That’s a players coach. They respect your work ethic. You’re there in the office 3-4 times a week, not taking a phone call from some kid and thinking that’s work. I knew he’d get out-coached. He did.”
The 59-year-old Ryan then added: “Go back to college where you belong.”
For context, during Ryan’s final season as an NFL head coach (2016 with Buffalo), the Bills went 7-9. Their quarterback depth chart featured Tyrod Taylor, EJ Manuel and Cardale Jones. Lining up behind them at tailback were Reggie Bush and LeSean McCoy.
Those names would make for a hell of a Peach Bowl roster.
Follow along on Twitter: @OhioAF
Why are you defending Urban Meyer? He was an unmitigated disaster in Jacksonville and everything Ryan said was correct. Still salty about Big Blue dominating the Buckeyes Anthony, is that it?
That was a bit over-the-top but it got eyeballs and replays, that’s the point I guess.
Nothing like one failure in the NFL calling out another. This is in no way a defense of Urban Meyer, but if Rex Ryan’s dad wasn’t Buddy Ryan, that piece of shit wouldn’t have had a crack at the NFL to begin with, let alone be in a position to criticize anyone else
The sports worlds Chris Christy.