Rex Ryan Joins ESPN as NFL Analyst

Former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan will be joining ESPN's NFL coverage this upcoming season on Sunday NFL Countdown in September, along with contributing to SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and other platforms, according to ESPN.com.

"This is going to be a new experience for me and I am really excited about it," Ryan said. "I've been a coach for 30 years and I've been around football my entire life. I'm passionate about the game—just like the fans are, and I've coached in the league for a long time, so that's the perspective I will bring to ESPN. I'm just going to show up and be myself and have fun with it." 

Ryan will make his ESPN debut on Saturday during coverage of Florida State’s spring game.

Ryan, 54, went 46-50 in six seasons with the Jets, which included consecutive trips to the AFC Championship Game in 2009-10. He was fired following the 2014 season and was hired by Buffalo that offseason, going 15-16 in two seasons with the Bills. He was fired with one game remaining in the Bills' 2016 campaign.

The head coach became known for his attacking defensive style as much as his colorful press conferences and personality. The latter was clearly appealing to ESPN.

"Rex is authentic—what you see is what you get, and that will be great for our viewers on Sunday NFL Countdown," said Seth Markman, senior coordinating producer for ESPN's NFL studio shows. "We also look forward to the insight and perspective he will bring to the show as an NFL coach who has worked in the league for two decades."