Maybe all it takes to turn around the New York Jets is the Ryan family being back in control.
The way head coach Aaron Glenn talks, it may seem to actually be the case.
New York hired Seth Ryan as their passing game coordinator back in January. Ryan, the son of former Jets head coach Rex, is considered one of the up-and-coming offensive names around the league.
His prior work in Detroit with current Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has led some to believe his modern visions will provide a healthy balance with offensive coordinator Frank Reich’s more traditional system.
If Jets fans are to take Glenn’s words at face value, it seems like New York has a diamond in the rough of their new staff.
Jets’ touted assistant
It’s not uncommon for a head coach to talk highly about his assistants. Quite frankly, it would be downright concerning if he didn’t.
But Glenn’s conversations about Ryan feel different than your typical praise. The head coach has gone out of his way to talk about how Ryan’s impact on the offense could be life-changing for the franchise.
“We have some really innovative young guys on that offensive staff that’s — I can see these guys being coordinators and head coaches,” Glenn said at league meetings in Arizona on Tuesday. “I’ll tell you, Seth Ryan: Just keep your eye on him. Just telling you that right now. He’s going to be a hell of a coach. It’s the ideas that he brings.”
New York desperately needs a young offensive mind with modern concepts. Last season, the Jets finished with the worst passing offense in the league. Questions at quarterback, receiver, and even in the ground game followed the team all year.
Ryan’s entrance should help quell some of those concerns.
If Jets fans aren’t willing to take Glenn’s word for it, they can listen to what Ben Johnson once said about the assistant a couple of years ago.
In 2024, Johnson spoke about the offensive assistants who were involved in the team’s “special” plays, a group that included Ryan.
“They’ve been in charge of our specials for not just this year, but for the last few years, and there’s a reason why we have probably a little higher success rate for those special plays, and they’re a big reason why,” Johnson said in 2024. “They have a ton of creativity, they bring a lot of ideas to the table, so I really wanted to start off here today by giving them a shoutout.”
Glenn’s excitement for Ryan is apparent. If Ryan lives up to the billing, the Jets offense may have the right leaders in the building to turn things around.
Leave it to the Ryan family to potentially provide the leadership that could finally help end Gang Green’s losing ways.
