Rex Ryan is a man in demand for NFL teams on the hunt for a new head coach.
NFL Media's Kimberly Jones reported Tuesday that the erstwhile New York Jets coach has interviews scheduled with the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers for their head-coach openings, per a source aware of the plans.
Brian Costello of the New York Post had the first report.
The Falcons reached out to Ryan one day after dismissing Mike Smith. On Sunday, the Niners "mutually parted ways" with Jim Harbaugh. Ryan spent the past six seasons with the Jets, going 46-50 in that time with a 4-2 record in the playoffs. Ryan's teams missed the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, including a 4-12 meltdown in 2014. Ryan and general manager John Idzik were let go Monday.
Ryan has earned the reputation as a gifted defensive mind who struggles to field a team with a competent offense. This would make Atlanta a logical landing spot with a franchise quarterback already entrenched in Matt Ryan. It's also easy to imagine 49ers brass getting excited about the prospect of Ryan coaching up a defense with stars like Aldon Smith, NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis.
Ryan charmed Jets management in his interview in 2009, earning his first head-coaching job after 10 years as a defensive assistant with the Ravens. Now he gets another opportunity to put his undeniable charisma to good use.
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