No, Rex Ryan Wasn’t Close to Becoming Giants Defensive Coordinator - Let’s Clear That Up
It’s the first weekend without football, and right on cue, the NFL rumor mill is doing what it does best: spinning a whole lot of nothing into something headline-worthy. This time, it’s Rex Ryan’s name getting tossed around - specifically, the idea that he was nearly hired as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator under new head coach John Harbaugh.
Let’s pump the brakes.
Yes, Harbaugh did mention Ryan in an interview. Yes, they have a shared history. But no, there’s no concrete evidence to suggest Rex was ever a serious candidate for the job - let alone on the verge of joining the Giants’ staff.
Where This All Started
The buzz began when Harbaugh appeared on WFAN shortly after taking the Giants job. During the interview with Evan and Tiki, the hosts brought up Rex Ryan - a natural question, considering Ryan was once part of the same Baltimore Ravens coaching staff Harbaugh inherited back in 2008.
For context: Ryan had been with the Ravens for nearly a decade when Harbaugh came aboard. They overlapped for just one season before Ryan left to take the head coaching job with the New York Jets in 2009. So while there’s a connection, it’s not exactly a long-standing coaching partnership.
Still, Harbaugh responded with some praise: “I talked to Rex about that job at length,” he told The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor. “Rex is a guy I love and have a lot of respect for.”
That’s it. That’s the quote. And from that single line, the speculation machine kicked into overdrive.
No Interview, No Offer, No Real Momentum
Let’s be clear: there’s been no report - not from Harbaugh, not from the Giants, not from Ryan - indicating that Rex was formally interviewed or seriously considered for the job. In fact, the names that did surface during the Giants’ search were more current and connected to today’s NFL landscape: Jim Leonhard, Anthony Weaver, Daronte Jones. Ultimately, Dennard Wilson got the nod.
Compare that to the Jets, who were transparent about their process in hiring a new defensive coordinator, publicly listing interviewees like Aaron Glenn. The Giants?
Much quieter. That makes it harder to track the full scope of their search, but even with that in mind, there’s nothing to suggest Rex Ryan was in the mix beyond a friendly conversation.
The Reality of Rex in 2026
It’s worth remembering: Rex Ryan hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2016. That’s nearly a decade removed from the day-to-day grind of game prep, player development, and adapting to the ever-evolving schemes of modern offenses.
The game has changed - especially on defense. Speed, spacing, and quick-release passing attacks have made life harder for pressure-heavy, blitz-first systems like the ones Ryan made his name with.
That doesn’t mean Rex couldn’t coach again. But there’s a big difference between being a sharp football mind on TV and being in the trenches, breaking down film at 2 a.m. and installing game plans on the fly. The league moves fast, and staying relevant from the outside is a tall order.
A Coach Supporting a Coach
If anything, Harbaugh’s comment sounds like what it likely was: a respectful nod to a former colleague. Coaches do this all the time - especially ones like Harbaugh, who value relationships and loyalty.
If he can give a guy like Rex a little shine during a radio hit or in a media interview, why not? It costs him nothing and might help a friend stay in the conversation.
But that’s a far cry from offering the man a job.
Bottom Line
Was Rex Ryan ever truly in the running to become the Giants’ defensive coordinator? There’s no evidence to support that.
Harbaugh acknowledged a conversation - not an interview, not a negotiation, not a near-hire. Just two coaches talking.
So let’s not turn a casual mention into a full-blown storyline. The Giants have their defensive coordinator.
Rex Ryan remains on the outside looking in. And if anything changes on that front, you can bet it won’t come through a single quote taken out of context.