Ryan Turns Himself In
Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan surrendered to Nashville police on Wednesday to face misdemeanor charges. Police say he struck two pedestrians with his pickup truck in a busy part of downtown last week and then drove away after an argument with them.
According to a police release issued Wednesday, the incident happened Thursday night in Nashville's honky-tonk and music tourist district. Ryan was behind the wheel when his truck allegedly ran over the feet of both people as they crossed a main street. Police said the pedestrians had the right of way.
What Police Say Happened
The two pedestrians suffered minor injuries, police said. They then caught up with Ryan at another red light and waved him down. Police say he got out of the truck to argue with them, after which they photographed him and took a picture of the truck's license plate.
Those photos became part of the evidence in the case. Ryan, who works as an ESPN football analyst, kept to his regular schedule in the days that followed. He appeared on the network's NFL pregame show on Sunday and on a morning show on Monday, both of which are taped in New York.
The Charges and Release
Court records show Ryan faces six counts, all of them misdemeanors: two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to give information or render aid, and two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal.
A judicial commissioner set his bond at $6,000, but he qualified for pretrial release, according to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. That means he was let out on non-financial conditions rather than having to post money. He is due in court next month.
His Attorney Responds
Ryan's attorney, David Raybin, said his client "immediately surrendered" once he learned about the charges. Raybin added that the coach has cooperated with law enforcement since the start and plans to keep doing so as the case moves ahead.
From the outset, Coach Ryan has been fully cooperative with law enforcement.
Raybin also said his side has little information so far about the allegations, since the warrant arrived only on Wednesday. The charges are allegations at this stage, and the case has yet to be heard in court.
ESPN also weighed in. "We are aware and are in touch with Rex," the network said in a statement Wednesday.
A Familiar Name in Football
Ryan is best known today for his work as one of the analysts on ESPN's NFL pregame show, but his name carries weight from his coaching years. He was head coach of the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, and he led the Jets to the AFC championship game in two straight seasons, following the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.
During his time with the Jets, he became one of the team's, and the league's, most popular figures, especially in his first few seasons. His brash, colorful style in news conferences made them must-watch television.
He has not coached since the Bills fired him with one game left in the 2016 season. He has since said he would like to return to the sideline, and he interviewed in 2025 for the Jets' head coaching opening that went to Aaron Glenn.
A Coaching Family
Football runs deep in the Ryan family. His father, the late Buddy Ryan, was a coaching legend who famously ran the defense of the 1985 Chicago Bears, regarded as one of the best in the sport's history. One of Rex Ryan's two sons, Seth Ryan, is in his first season as the Jets' passing game coordinator.
What Comes Next
The next step is Ryan's court appearance next month, where the six misdemeanor counts will be addressed. Until then, the allegations remain unproven, and both his attorney and ESPN have said they are staying in contact as the case develops.
