Updated, 5:00 p.m. ET
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan has signed a contract extension with the team. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"I want to thank Woody, John, our players, our coaches and our fans for all of their support," Ryan said today. "I'm no different than any of our fans. I'm an ordinary guy that's been given an unbelievable opportunity.
"I've said all along, I'm glad to be a Jet, I'm happy to be a Jet. That's never changed. I know what we all want and we're striving to get there. But it's not about me. We're already into our offseason planning. There are a lot of areas where we can improve and we can't wait to get this thing rolling."
General manager John Idzik said he and Ryan have worked well since Idzik arrived a year ago and have the same vision for the team.
"Rex is a phenomenal teacher and motivator. We are fortunate to have him as our head coach," Idzik said this afternoon. "The front office, coaches, players, this entire organization — we're all in this together. We are all governed by the same motives and that is to build a perennial winner here with the Jets."
Idzik and owner Woody Johnson announced to the team on Dec. 29 following the season-ending 20-7 win at Miami that Ryan is remaining as our head coach.
"I couldn't be prouder of this team," Johnson said after that victory. "To have them play this well this late in the season and ascending each week, not losing focus or concentration but performing well, I think it's an amazing tribute to Rex and his coaching staff."
After that game, Ryan said: "I'll say this: I love being the head coach of the New York Jets, plain and simple."
Ryan's Jets won three of their last four games this season to finish 8-8, the fourth time in his fifth year at the helm that we had a record of .500 or better. His record for all five seasons as the Jets coach is 46-40, including six playoff games, two of them AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009 and 2010.
Ryan's defenses have finished in the NFL's top 11 in all five seasons and last season the defense was ranked 11th in total yards allowed per game, third in rushing yards allowed per game, and first in rushing yards allowed per carry.
He also became the first coach in NFL history to win eight games with rookie quarterbacks in two separate seasons (minimum 12 starts), with Mark Sanchez directing a 9-7 playoff campaign in 2009 and Geno Smith and the Jets this year reaching 8-8 with the win over the Dolphins.
And the running game, headed up by Bilal Powell, Chris Ivory and Smith, finished sixth in the league in yards per game, our highest ranking since the '10 team came in fourth.
