In just two days, the Rex Ryan era will officially kick off for the Green & White. Ryan will be introduced during a 10 a.m. press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center which can be watched live on newyorkjets.com. To get a good idea of why the Jets' brass hired Ryan, you need to look no further than "Inside the Numbers":
3 Teaching is in the blood of the Ryan family as a trio have made names for themselves in the NFL. Rex's father, Buddy, began his pro coaching career as a Jets defensive assistant and was a member of the Green & White when they captured the 1968 world title. Rex and twin brother Rob actually were defensive assistants under Buddy with the Arizona Cardinals back in 1994-95. Rob will serve as Eric Mangini's defensive coordinator next season in Cleveland.
3.36 That's the paltry average — an NFL best — that the Ravens have limited opposing offenses per rush attempt since Rex Ryan arrived in Baltimore in 1999.
6 Ryan had a short but successful stay in Norman, Okla. In his one year as Sooners defensive coordinator, OU's defense finished ranked No. 6 in the nation.
13 A two-year coordinator at the University of Cincinnati, Ryan's 1996 Bearcats ranked 13th in the nation (and fifth against the run) in 1997.
14 While the Jets finished 16th in defense this season, you can add up Ryan's rankings as Baltimore DC and reach only 14. The Ravens were No. 5 in the NFL in yardage allowed in 2005, No. 1 in '06, No. 6 in '07 and No. 2 in '08.
18 Number of running backs who've picked up 100 yards on the ground against the Ravens since '99. Rex, originally hired as Baltimore's defensive line coach, was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005.
22 Ryan, who began his coaching career at Eastern Kentucky in 1987, has been in the business that many seasons — 12 in the NFL and 10 in college.
29 During his tenure, Ryan helped the Ravens send 10 different defensive players to the Pro Bowl 29 times.
34 The league-leading number of takeaways the Ravens produced in the 2008 regular season.
39 After not allowing a 100-yard rusher in 2008, the Ravens pushed their streak in all regular- and postseason games to this amazing number.
44 Known to take an offensive approach on D, Ryan's crew scored 44 points themselves during the '08 regular season.
46 Born Dec. 13, 1962 in Ardmore, Okla., Rex Ryan is 46. Coincidentally, his father, Buddy Ryan, is also known as the father of the "46" defense.
201 That's the total number of points the Ravens allowed in '06 — the eighth-lowest total since the NFL went to a 16-game season in 1978.
277.8 With Ryan calling the plays, his defenses have limited opponents to just that many yards per contest since 2005.
1988 After playing college football at SW Oklahoma State, Ryan earned a bachelor of science and master's degree in physical education from Eastern Kentucky that year.
2000 With Ryan at DL coach, the Ravens roared to victory in Super Bowl XXXV following a record-setting '00 regular season. Over the course of 16 games, the Ravens allowed only 165 points and 970 yards rushing.
2006 Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers Association tabbed Ryan as their '06 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
