Rex Ryan introduced as Bills coach
Rex Ryan was introduced as the Buffalo Bills' next head coach on Tuesday after six seasons with the New York Jets.
Wearing a navy suit and Bills-red tie, Ryan gave a frank evaluation of himself as a head coach and cited a need for improvement.
The trio of starting quarterbacks the Jets had under Ryan -- Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith and Michael Vick -- each showed various flashes with the team before meeting heavy criticism from fans. Sanchez, the Jets' starter from 2009-12, appeared in six postseason games over his and Ryan's first two seasons, but was eventually released in March. Smith was the team's second-round draft pick in 2013 but is 11-18 as a starter. Vick was signed the same day Sanchez was released, and appeared in 10 games this season with three starts in place of Smith.
Ryan, as expected, also had some colorful bursts of confidence about the Bills' postseason chances. Buffalo finished 9-7 this season, tied for its best record since 2004, but has not made the playoffs since 1999.
Ryan, who also interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers, denied that the Bills' job was his third choice.
Buffalo's job came open when Doug Marrone exercised an opt-out clause his contract triggered by the Bills' ownership change.
• FARRAR: Jets hire Todd Bowles as head coach as part of organizational shakeup
Ryan was fired by the Jets after a 4-12 season. His six-year tenure in New York -- his first head-coaching job -- started well, with two AFC Championship Game appearances in the first two seasons. But after winning 20 regular-season games over 2009 and 2010, the Jets failed to win more than eight games in any of Ryan's last four seasons. Rumors of Ryan's departure circled the Jets for much of the season, and team owner Woody Johnson eventually fired Ryan along with general manager John Idzik on Monday.
Bills running back C.J. Spiller reacted to Wednesday's press conference on Twitter.
- Mike Fiammetta
