The Jets are set to interview Rex Ryan for their head coaching vacancy on Wednesday, as Ryan will be one of several candidates that Gang Green will interview or have requested to interview to replace Robert Saleh.
Gio likes Ryan’s personality and wants that for this Jets team, but not Ryan himself. Not while Ryan has been out of the league for years. But he believes Ryan and his demeanor and head coaching style could be used as a blueprint for New York to make its eventual hire.
“I like that he’s getting an opportunity because that’s the right type of personality,” Gio said. “But I don’t think I would do it.
“If you’re giving Rex Ryan an opportunity, why are you not giving Jon Gruden an opportunity to go back there and interview? Rex hasn’t coached for a very long time…why not Gruden??”
Gio has long been an advocate for giving Gruden another shot in the NFL, as he has been on the sidelines far more recently than Ryan. He also has the “alpha” personality that Gio wants, and while there are other options that seem to satisfy that criteria, there aren’t many. But Gio wants the Jets to hire one of them over a new head coach like they did hiring Saleh.
“Of all the guys that have been interviewed or have been requested to interview, there are two guys that meet the criteria or the kind of guys I want to hire. That’s Rex Ryan and Brian Flores,” Gio said. “I don’t hate the idea, I still probably wouldn’t do it, but Woody has to understand that if it’s not Rex, it has to be the next Rex.”