Rex Ryan Fired by Jets: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

After advancing to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons with the New York Jets, Rex Ryan seemed like the next great NFL head coach. A few lackluster years thereafter and a tough 2014 now have the 4-12 Jets moving in a different direction. 

Jets owner Woody Johnson announced on the team's website that Ryan was fired Monday, along with general manager John Idzik:

"

After extensive thought and reflection about the current state of our football team, this morning I informed Rex Ryan and John Idzik that they will not be returning for the 2015 season. Both Rex and John made significant contributions to the team, and they have my appreciation and gratitude for their efforts and commitment. Over the years, Rex brought the Jets a bold confidence and a couple of great postseason runs, which all of us will remember.

I am beginning our search for new football leadership, effective immediately, with guidance and support from respected football experts, including Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf, two Super Bowl winners with decades of valuable experience.

We will consider all options to improve the Jets.

"

In late November, Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post reported Idzik told scouts and other coaches during the offseason that he planned to replace Ryan at the end of the year. The New York Times weighed in toward the end of the Jets' underwhelming 2014 campaign:

Reveling in his role as the outspoken figurehead of the franchise, Ryan, 52, has often taken the fall for New York's poor form. Between Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith and Mike Vick, among others, at quarterback, the Jets were never able to solidify the most important position on the field during Ryan's tenure.

Ryan made a name for himself as a masterful defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens from 2005–08. Many of his former players joined him on the Jets in 2009 (Marques Douglas, Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard), when the Big Apple was Ryan's oyster.

The braggadocious blend of bold Super Bowl predictions, big personality and brute-force penchant for ground-and-pound offense and aggressive defense made Ryan a hit. He seemed like an ideal fit in the New York media market, with a quarterback in Sanchez who appeared fit to handle the spotlight.

That all seems so long ago.

Following a 38-3 loss to Buffalo in Week 12, Ryan tried to defend how the team's talent had been assembled. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News didn't agree with the head coach's assessment, however:

This report from Adam Schefter on Sept. 28 paints a picture of the organization's perception of Idzik, 53, who took his post in January 2013:

Ryan—who went 46-50 with the Jets, plus four playoff wins—should garner plenty of consideration as a head coach moving forward, despite an unceremonious exit from New York. Supply him with a franchise passer and task him with fixing the defense, and he can reverse perceptions in a hurry.

The Atlanta Falcons could be a strong fit after the team fired head coach Mike Smith on Monday, according to a statement from owner Arthur Blank. Vick himself, who played in Atlanta from 2001 to 2006, said the fit between Ryan and Blank would be ideal.

"It would be a great opportunity for Rex," Vick said, per a Dec. 6 report by Mehta. "It would be a great opportunity for Arthur. I can tell you that...It would be awesome. I think Rex would fit in. With the defensive scheme that he has, with the right players, he could work miracles. Super Bowl miracles."

On the off chance Ryan doesn't land a new coaching job, Mehta reported that he had already interviewed with ESPN:

Without Ryan's complex defensive schemes, it bears watching how the Jets fare on that side of the ball. Before they can dream of Super Bowl contention again, though, they have to get it right under center.

Whether it's Smith, Vick, a 2015 draft pick or an alternative option, the team must supply the eventual future signal-caller with better weapons.

Now the hunt will go on for Ryan's long-term replacement. It is a hire the franchise must nail, in addition to finding a competent QB. That will determine how soon the Jets can get back on track after a promising start to the Ryan era ended in disappointment.