Former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is set to interview for the team’s vacant head coach position on Tuesday, and he strongly believes he will secure the role.

During an appearance on ESPN New York’s radio show “DiPietro & Rothenberg” on Monday morning, Ryan was asked if he genuinely thinks he will be the Jets’ next head coach.

“Oh, 100%. Absolutely, I do,” he responded. “The reason I believe I will get the job is simple—I am the best candidate for it. There’s no doubt about it. Connecting with the football team and the fan base is crucial. The way they perform is what really matters. It’s more than just the strategies. I really like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, but I believe I’m a stronger candidate than he is.”

At just 38 years old, Johnson has become one of the most sought-after coaching candidates this offseason, particularly after guiding the Lions to be the highest-scoring offense in the NFL for 2024. Reports from ESPN indicate that he is unlikely to interview with the Jets.

Ryan, who is now 62, last coached in the NFL in 2016. He spent six years (2009-2014) as the head coach of the Jets, leading them to two consecutive AFC Championship games. His record with the Jets was 46-50 before he was let go. He subsequently coached the Buffalo Bills in 2015 and 2016, amassing a 15-16 record before his termination just before the conclusion of the 2016 season.

Rex Ryan’s Strategy for Aaron Rodgers

In his ESPN New York interview, Ryan also shared his approach to managing the veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Ryan stated, “If he’s back, there won’t be any country club atmosphere—he can’t just show up whenever he feels like it. That’s not going to fly.”

Rodgers, who was 40 at that time, had missed the Jets’ mandatory minicamp last year due to a trip to Egypt, which he attributed to a scheduling error. As a result, New York imposed a $100,000 fine on him for what then-coach Robert Saleh called an “unexcused absence.”

“It’s an entirely inappropriate message to send to the team when your quarterback, who is recovering from an injury, skips mandatory minicamp,” Ryan explained.

Recently, questions about Rodgers’ future in the NFL have increased, with him acknowledging that the 2024 season could be his final one—not just with the Jets, but in professional football overall.

If he chooses to return to New York, Ryan insists that he will be stricter about attendance guidelines for him.

“If he does come back, things will be different.”

Rex Ryan’s Coaching Record

Over an eight-year period from 2009 to 2016, Ryan coached the Jets and the Bills in the NFL, achieving the following records:

With the Jets (2009-2014)

• 2009: 9-7; made playoffs, lost in AFC Championship game
• 2010: 11-5; made playoffs, lost in AFC Championship game
• 2011: 8-8; missed playoffs
• 2012: 6-10; missed playoffs
• 2013: 8-8; missed playoffs
• 2014: 4-12; missed playoffs

Overall record with the Jets: 46-50 in regular season; 4-2 in playoffs

With the Bills (2015-2016)

• 2015: 8-8; missed playoffs
• 2016: 7-8 (fired before Week 17); missed playoffs

Overall record with the Bills: 15-16

In total, Ryan holds a regular season record of 61-66 and a postseason record of 4-2 over his eight years as a head coach in the NFL.