ESPN insider comments on Rex Ryan, Broncos speculation

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Oct 16, 2023 2:59 PM ET

ESPN's Adam Schefter disputed rumors Monday that the Denver Broncos could hire former Buffalo Bills and New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan this season as their next defensive coordinator.

Schefter appeared on Monday's episode of "The Pat McAfee Show" and said that Ryan "isn't going to Denver right now." Schefter added that his source for the information was Ryan himself, who told the insider while watching Sunday's Week 6 NFL action that the move wasn't happening.

Ryan has been an ESPN NFL analyst since he was fired as the Bills head coach following the 2016 campaign.

Schefter's appearance came soon after McAfee said there were "rumors" from "around the league" that Denver could soon get rid of defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and hire Ryan.

The longtime ESPN insider added that he doesn't think the Broncos will make a change "right now" but "at the end of the season anything's possible." Schefter also said that he doesn't believe the "coaching bug is out of (Ryan)" and he "wouldn't be shocked if one day he did it again."

Joseph had his first and only NFL head-coaching gig with Denver in 2017 and 2018, leading the team to an 11-21 mark. After four seasons as the defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals from 2019-22, Joseph was re-hired by the Broncos in the same role in February.

Head coach Sean Payton is in his first season in the Mile High City and the team is in last place in the AFC West at 1-5.

Denver ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed per game (440.3), rushing yards allowed per game (172.3) and points allowed per contest (33.3). Most of the damage came in Week 3, when the Broncos lost 70-20 to the Miami Dolphins.

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