The Quotable Rex Ryan

Here are some of Rex Ryan's more memorable quotes through the years.

SI Staff | Jan 16, 2014

The Quotable Rex Ryan /

The Quotable Rex Ryan

"First off, with all the cameras I was looking for our new president [Barack Obama] back there. I think we'll get to meet him in the next couple of years anyway." — January 2009, during introductory press conference

"If you take a swipe at one of ours, we'll take two swipes at one of yours. We're going to turn the heat up, we're going to let the fur fly, and let's see what happens. This is a good football team. It's built to play the kind of style we're going to play." — January 2009, after being introduced as Jets head coach

Bill Kostroun/AP; Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

"I don't know this Channing Crowder. All I know is that he's all tatted up, so I guess I ought to be nervous about him ... If I was younger, I'd probably handle him myself." — June 2009, in response to comments Crowder made about Ryan

Michael J. LeBrecht II for Sports Illustrated

"I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick's, you know, rings. I came to win. Let's just put it that way. So we'll see what happens. I'm certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else." — June 2009 (to WFAN radio in NYC), when discussing the rivalry with the Patriots

"Jack Del Rio and myself are very similar except he's really good looking and was a great player. Other then that, we're very similar." — November 2009, prior to Jets-Jaguars game. Ryan and Del Rio worked together on the Ravens' coaching staff from 1999-2001

"We're obviously out of the playoffs and that's unfortunate." — December 2009, after loss to Falcons. The defeat dropped the Jets to 7-7 but they would go onto make the playoffs and advance to AFC Championship game

"A number that I think is interesting would be eight, and no, that's not the amount of touchdown passes that Green Bay gave up against Arizona. That's the number of touchdown passes we gave up all season as the Jets, and the biggest reason for that is Darrelle Revis." — January 2010, in response to Charles Woodson being named 2009 Defensive Player of the Year

"It wasn't like we squeaked it out by one point or something like that. We played well. Granted, it was the Colts JV team or whatever they want to call it, they still had the Colts uniform on." — January 2010, prior to AFC Championship game, discussing late season victory over Colts

"I think we have the best defense, I know we do. I know we have the best rushing attack. Those are two huge factors in our favor. With a couple of exceptions on our staff, myself probably, I think we have a great coaching staff." — January 2010, in reaction to Jets being underdogs to Cincinnati in final game of regular season

"Let's make sure we play like the f---ing New York Jets! And not some f---ing slap-d--k team. That's what I want to see tomorrow. Do we understand what the f--k I want to see tomorrow? Let's go eat a goddamn snack." — August 2010, during a team meeting and picked up by HBO cameras during the filming of Hard Knocks

Bryan Bedder/WireImage for Vogue; Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images

"I never realized how similar that I am to Tom Brady. I mean, the obvious physical appearance would be the first thing. The fact that he's married to a supermodel? Hello?" — November 2010, after Ryan's wife Michelle appeared in an ad for the NFL.com shop from InStyle magazine

"I just told the truth. I came here to win. As much as I respect and admire Bill Belichick, I came here to kick his (butt), and that's the truth. That's just the way it is." — November 2010 (prior to game against New England), when asked about his 2009 comment that he wouldn't kiss Bill Belichick's rings

Brian Killian/Getty Images; NY Daily News via Getty Images

"My wife of 22 years right there ... there's only two kinds of coaches' wives in the NFL and that's ex-ones and great ones." — December 2010, after several foot fetish videos allegedly featuring Ryan's wife appeared on the internet

"He looks much better than most of our guys would. Let's just be happy it was him and not some of our linemen." — December 2010, in response to quarterback Mark Sanchez's spread in GQ Magazine

Jemal Countess/Getty Images; David Bergman for Sports Illustrated

"I've never gone into a game I didn't think I'd win. Haven't won them all, but I certainly think we can and will. I'm not going to change who I am because Joe Namath said something. Namath can come in here, and if he can still throw, we'll have him as a backup quarterback." — September 2011, in response to Joe Namath's comments

"The stupidest thing in football history." — November 2011, in response to Mark Sanchez calling a timeout with 17 seconds left on the play clock late in the first half against New England. The Jets scored on the next play, but left enough time for the Patriots to score a touchdown.

"Two great athletes, obviously. I think I could've held my own with him on the football field, but I also saw that he was a lacrosse player and I have no idea what I'm doing in lacrosse. I do like the idea, though, of hitting people with a stick, so I think I might've been all right." — October 2011, when asked how he matches up with Bill Belichick

"Well, I think I would've had a couple rings. I'm telling you, those teams were loaded. There's no question about it. But things happen for a reason." — October 2011, when asked if he'd have been hired as the Chargers head coach instead of Norv Turner

"My first thought was I looked and I saw who was second and [thought], 'Hey, I finally beat Belichick at something. I got him. I knew it would take time, but I finally got him.'" — November 2012, after being voted the Most Overrated NFL Head Coach in a Sporting News poll

"I'm a hell of a lot better football coach than I'm given credit for. I don't care. I don't need the credit. But I can tell you one thing, when it's said and done, they'll look back and say, 'Oh man, this dude can coach his butt off.' And you know what? It's true. And I'll let the people that know best talk on my behalf about the kind of coach I am. I don't have to brag, even though statistically, I can brag about anything I've ever done defensively." — June 2013, minutes after the team concluded its final mandatory minicamp practice

Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images; Seth Wenig/AP

"I can say anything I want. That's the beauty of this country. I can answer it 100 [times]. I'll stand backwards and answer the question. I'm going sideways. We'll make the announcement when I think it's the appropriate time." — August 2013, when asked why he won't name a starting quarterback

"I think because there is nothing to talk about, you can only print what I say, I think I would like to focus on Clemson — for some reason it just popped in my head about Clemson ... Number one team in the country, they have arguably the best holder in the country. So a lot of great things, a lot of positive things with Clemson." — November 2015, wearing a Clemson helmet during a press conference, Ryan refers to his son, Seth, the holder on Clemson's special teams

Published Jan 16, 2014

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