Rex Ryan, the loud, brash former head coach of the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, is reportedly eyeing a return to coaching—this time at the college level. According to Jeff Ermann of 247Sports, Ryan is "putting out feelers" for the recently vacated head coaching position at Maryland.
The Terrapins fired Mike Locksley last week after a disappointing tenure that saw the program fail to post a winning record since 2023. Now, Maryland is searching for a spark, and Ryan's name has emerged as a surprising yet intriguing possibility.
Ryan hasn't coached at any level since 2016, when the Bills dismissed him after two seasons. Before that, he spent six years with the Jets, leading them to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010. His fiery personality and defensive brilliance made him a fan favorite, but his last decade has been spent in the media as an ESPN analyst, where he's never shy about sharing hot takes.
Despite his long absence from the sideline, Ryan's college coaching experience is real—though dated. He served as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 1998 before jumping to the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens in 1999. That was over two decades ago, and the college game has changed dramatically since then.
Still, the idea of Ryan roaming the Maryland sideline has college football fans buzzing. Social media reactions ranged from enthusiastic to cautiously optimistic. "He would kill it," one fan wrote on X. Another added, "A step in the right direction. He wouldn't have a 2-26 record coming to Maryland." A third simply said, "I support it."
One supporter even called him an "incredible motivator and defensive genius." That sentiment captures why Ryan remains a compelling figure: he can inspire a locker room and craft a fearsome defense, even if his head coaching record is uneven.
This isn't the first time Ryan's name has been linked to a college job. Back in 2018, he was briefly floated as a candidate for the Miami Hurricanes' opening, but nothing materialized. Now, with Maryland searching for answers, the timing might be right for both sides.
Elsewhere in the coaching carousel, other names are generating buzz. Philip Rivers has emerged as a top target in NC State's search, while Brian Kelly is reportedly eyeing three vacancies. The competition for top candidates is heating up, and Maryland may need to act fast if they want to land a big name like Ryan.
Of course, hiring Ryan would come with risks. He hasn't recruited at the college level in over 20 years, and his outspoken nature could clash with the modern college football landscape. But for a program desperate for relevance, the potential reward might outweigh the risk.
Should Maryland take a chance on Rex Ryan, or should they look elsewhere? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: if Ryan does return to coaching, it won't be boring.
