Rex Ryan Nearly Returned to the NFL Sidelines - and John Harbaugh Had a Front-Row Seat
Rex Ryan hasn’t coached an NFL game since 2016, but that hasn’t stopped the former Jets and Bills head coach from keeping his name in the conversation. And recently, he came closer than many might’ve realized to making a comeback - this time as a defensive coordinator.
In a revealing interview, Giants head coach John Harbaugh shared that Ryan was a serious contender for the team’s defensive coordinator position. Harbaugh didn’t just give him a courtesy call - he had extended conversations with Ryan about the job and made it clear that the respect between the two runs deep.
“I talked to Rex about that job at length,” Harbaugh said. “Rex is a guy I love and have a lot of respect for.”
That mutual respect traces back to their days in Baltimore, where Ryan served as Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator in 2008. It was the final chapter of a long run for Ryan with the Ravens, where he built his defensive résumé from 1999 to 2008 - including a Super Bowl win as the defensive line coach in 2000.
That Ravens defense? One of the most dominant units the league has ever seen.
After his stint in Baltimore, Ryan made the leap to head coach, leading the Jets from 2009 to 2014 and then spending two seasons with the Bills. His teams were known for their swagger, physicality, and defensive toughness - traits that made him a standout in an era dominated by offense. Ryan’s head coaching record sits at 61-66 in the regular season, but his 4-2 playoff mark includes back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances with the Jets.
While Harbaugh ultimately went with Dennard Wilson - another coach with Ravens ties - to lead the Giants defense, the fact that Ryan was in the mix says a lot about how he’s still viewed in coaching circles. Wilson, like Ryan, brings a defensive pedigree shaped in Baltimore, and Harbaugh clearly valued that familiarity and trust when making his decision.
Ryan, now 63, has spent recent years as a high-profile analyst at ESPN, where his fiery takes and defensive insight have kept him in the spotlight. But he’s never been shy about his desire to return to coaching.
Two years ago, he interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator job. And he’s made it clear on-air that he still believes he can elevate an NFL defense - and he hasn’t been afraid to say which ones.
At one point, Ryan even lobbied publicly for a return to one of his former jobs. That door never opened, but his willingness to get back in the trenches hasn’t changed.
For now, Ryan remains on the outside looking in - but his name continues to surface when high-profile defensive jobs open up. Whether he gets another shot remains to be seen, but if nothing else, his near-return with the Giants is proof that Rex Ryan’s coaching fire hasn’t burned out just yet.