Not exactly known for keeping his opinions to himself, Rex Ryan has taken aim at the Cowboys’ defensive performance. More specifically, the longtime ESPN analyst points to the Cowboys making him an offer to be their defensive coordinator this offseason.
Ryan interviewed for the job that went to Mike Zimmer, but the former Jets coach — out of the NFL since his 2016 ouster as Bills HC — made comments that seem to indicate he was offered the position. The brash figure said this gig’s salary did not meet his demands.
“I could’ve fixed [the Cowboys’ defense] in a New York minute,” Ryan said during an appearance on ESPN’s DiPietro & Rothenberg Show (h/t USA Today). “But, that being said, they couldn’t pony up the money, or I would’ve been there.”
Seeking a defensive coordinator with HC experience — which Dan Quinn had provided for three seasons — Jerry Jones interviewed both Ryan and Ron Rivera but went with Zimmer, who had been a Cowboys assistant for 13 years (from 1994-2006). Zimmer was reported to have landed the job, but Ryan had insisted after that assertion no final decision had been made. Soon after, however, Zimmer was officially hired.
Ryan, 61, has not been involved in many coaching searches since the Bills fired him late in his second season. He did interview for the Broncos’ DC post in 2023. Months later, he took shots at the coach Sean Payton did hire — Vance Joseph — after Denver’s defense started slowly last season. Considering Zimmer is also not exactly shy about voicing his opinions, something which became clearer after some recent comments about his Minnesota tenure, this might generate an interesting response, as Ryan criticized Dallas’ defense.
“You brought in a guy that was 29th in the league his last two years at Minnesota, the enthusiasm he brings when he left, that’s the guy that’s gonna inspire you?” Ryan said. “This can go really bad for Dallas.”
Considering Ryan’s reputation, it probably should not be considered certain that Zimmer was the second choice for the job he currently holds. But the Cowboys were impressed with Ryan during his interview. Ryan’s insistence no decision had been made could point to negotiations continuing between he and the team, but Zimmer also carries more experience — both in Dallas and on the HC/DC tier — compared to Ryan. Zimmer, who was also connected to a Broncos job in 2023, had been out of the NFL for two seasons. He did receive other offers to return, however. Ryan being away for the past seven years makes it harder to envision a return commencing.
The Cowboys sit 30th in scoring defense, 28th in yardage and 28th in DVOA. Dallas, which added both edge defenders and D-tackles late in the offseason, ranks last against the run. With Mike McCarthy a rare lame duck, no Cowboys coach should feel especially safe, but he, Zimmer and Co. will attempt to rebound after two concerning showings.
He’s such a showboat that it’s easy to miss the part where Jones is cheap. He ends up giving out bigger contracts because he waits to give them out so that he doesn’t have to put all the guarantees in escrow. He nickel and dimed the roster this offseason. He keeps bad coaches to the end of their contracts instead of firing them so that he doesn’t have to eat the money.
Don’t get me wrong, some of these things end up costing him money in the long run, but he has an underreported cheap streak.
(This is also not to say I would have been in a hurry to pony up for Rex Ryan.)
“I could’ve fixed [the Cowboys’ defense] in a New York minute,”
Wonderful Rex, but you’re aware that at least a dozen of the Cowboys games are played in another time zone right?
Does he still he a tattoo of his wife wearing nothing but a Mark Sanchez jersey?
Dubious scouting there.
Zimmer refusing to talk to his MN players because “They got me fired” shows the accountability in his brain. I imagine he just yells at the players to do better and if they don’t he thinks it must be their fault.
Zimmer is an absolute clown.
lol
Suuuuuuree, Rex. Sure.
Rex Ryan was a horrible head coach, but in this case, he’s not wrong.
Jerry should have offered him a lifetime subscription to footfetish.com
The Cowboys made a mistake going with Zimmer, as it was clear he wasn’t keeping up with changes in the game during his last couple years in Minnesota.
Is this the onion?