Top 5 Landing Spots for Rex Ryan in 2015

December 6, 2014 - It’s a foregone conclusion that Rex Ryan will be fired at the end of this season, so, where will he be working in 2015? Here are five potential landing spots for one of football’s top defensive minds.

1. Atlanta Falcons
   If Rex wants to be a head coach in 2015, I can’t think of a better spot for him than with the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons will most likely look to replace Mike Smith unless they manage to win the weak NFC South and make a playoff run. The Falcons have the three things Rex needs most. Two top-tier wide receivers and a very good quarterback who happens to share the same last name. Combine that with Ryan’s ability to maximize defensive talent, and the Falcons become a serious contender on opening day. Bonus: Ryan is undefeated against his brother Rob Ryan who runs the defense for the division rival Saints. This should definitely appeal to Falcons management.
2. Chicago Bears
   Buddy Ryan coached the greatest defense in history to Super Bowl glory in 1985. Can a marriage between his prodigal son and Jay Cutler bring the Lombardi trophy back to Chicago? Da Bears need a ton of help on defense, and there’s no doubt Ryan can make improvements on that side of the ball. If the Bears decide to release Marc Trestman, we may see a second coming in the second city.
3. San Francisco 49ers
   We’re already speculating where Jim Harbaugh will be coaching in 2015: Michigan? Miami? Oakland? Although we are starting to question the long term status of Colin Kaepernick, he has had more success than most of the leagues current starters. Loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, the 49ers can jump right back to the top of the standings with new leadership and some of Rex’s blitzes.
4. Oakland Raiders
   It seems like the Raiders job is open every year, so this one is here by default. The polar opposite of their cross-bay rivals, this team has no star power and qualifies as a total remodeling project. Will Rex Ryan replace his former Offensive Coordinator Tony Sparano. I would count on an interview.
5. TV
   With people already calling him the next John Madden, there are reports that Ryan could earn between 4 and 5 million dollars annually working for a major television outlet. If he does not receive an offer from a team ready to win in 2015 or with a top draft pick, it is very likely that Ryan will follow Herm Edwards and Eric Mangini as the latest former Jets head coach to start a new career on TV.

Honorable Mention: Carolina Panthers
It is unlikely that the Panthers will look to replace last year’s Coach of the Year Ron Rivera, but with Cam Newton at quarterback, the Panthers job is an attractive team for anybody looking for one of the NFL’s 32 head coaching positions. Just one year removed from winning their division, the Panthers are a team spiraling downward in the NFL’s weakest division. They may surprise us and look for new leadership in 2015.