Rex Ryan Showing Interest In College Football Coaching Vacancy

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Rex Ryan Showing Interest In College Football Coaching Vacancy

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Oct 31, 2026 5:11 PM ET

Former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan became one of the biggest names in coaching during his first two years with the Jets, leading the hapless team to back-to-back AFC Championship Games. But he hasn’t coached anywhere over the last 10 years. That could change as one power conference team seeks out its next head coach.

According to Jeff Ermann of 247Sports, Ryan is “putting out feelers” for the recently-opened Maryland head coaching job. The Terrapins fired Mike Locksley last week and have not finished with a winning record since 2023.

“As reported earlier this week at InsideMDSports, Rex Ryan has been putting out feelers for the Maryland job,” Ermann reported on Thursday.

As reported earlier this week at InsideMDSports, Rex Ryan has been putting out feelers for the Maryland job. https://t.co/e6ER34MVvE
— Jeff Ermann (@Jeff_Ermann) October 29, 2026

Is Rex a fit?

College football fans are certainly intrigued by the idea if nothing else. His big personality, motivational prowess and frequent media soundbites would at least give Maryland a renewed sense of confidence.

“He would kill it,” one football fan on X wrote.

“A step in the right direction. He wouldn’t have a 2-26 record coming to Maryland,” another mused.

“I support it,” wrote a third.

“100% yes. Incredible motivator and defensive genius.”

Dec 21, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan coaches against the New England Patriots during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Jets 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports© Brad Penner-Imagn Images.

Ryan’s college football coaching experience is there, but it’s not exactly recent. His last college coaching job came as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 1998 before joining the Baltimore Ravens in 1999 and staying in the NFL through 2016.

But it’s also not the first time that he’s been floated as a college head coach since the Buffalo Bills fired him in 2016. Back in 2018, he was briefly floated as a potential candidate for the Miami Hurricanes job. Nothing came of it.

Ryan has spent most of the last decade working as an analyst at ESPN, often making waves for hot takes involving current or former members of the Jets.

Should Maryland spend time looking into Ryan as their next head coach, or should they look elsewhere?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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