Cowboys interview Rex Ryan, the former defensive coordinator of the Jets and Bills: [Source]
A team source confirmed on Wednesday that the Dallas Cowboys interviewed former NFL head coach Rex Ryan for the open defensive coordinator post.
Ryan, 61, was fired by the Buffalo Bills in 2016, and he hasn’t been an NFL coach since. He was the head coach of the New York Jets for six seasons prior to spending two seasons in Buffalo.
Ryan was a defensive coach before becoming the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2005 to 2008. His teams never finished lower than sixth in yards allowed per game, and his teams with the Jets had a top-10 defence in all but one season (2013). Ryan had a combined record of 61-66 with New York and Buffalo, and he appeared in two AFC Championship Games.
It is not surprising that the Cowboys are considering Ryan for the open defensive coordinator position; this is in line with their search strategy since Quinn left. Ron Rivera, the former coach of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders, and Mike Zimmer, the former coach of the Minnesota Vikings, have both been given consideration because Mike McCarthy favours a defensive mind with head coaching experience.
The fact that Ryan has been quite critical of McCarthy makes it an intriguing part of him being granted an interview. Ryan, an ESPN analyst, expressed disapproval of the Cowboys’ decision to hire McCarthy following the 2019 season, arguing that many other coaches might have achieved the kind of success McCarthy enjoyed in Green Bay if they had quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Additionally, McCarthy’s “horrendous decision” to leave quarterback Dak Prescott in the game late in a blowout loss to the Denver Broncos in 2021 and his handling of clock management in the final minutes of a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers that same season have drawn criticism from him.
Ryan referred to McCarthy’s post-game remarks as “a lie.” After that, you continue to lie. After that, you continue to lie. It simply never stops. With children, I’ve witnessed this a million times. Who, I ask you, lacked poise? The head coach.
