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The New York Jets are bringing another Ryan into the building.
Seth Ryan, the 31-year-old son of former Jets head coach Rex Ryan and grandson of longtime NFL coach Buddy Ryan, has been hired as the team’s new passing-game coordinator, according to ESPN. He replaces Scott Turner as part of Aaron Glenn’s ongoing overhaul of the coaching staff.
It marks a rare NFL milestone: three generations of one family coaching for the same franchise.
A Family History Rooted in New York
The Ryan family’s connection to the Jets dates back to 1968, when Buddy Ryan took his first NFL job as the team’s defensive line coach. The Jets won Super Bowl III that season, and Buddy remained with the organization through 1975 before building his legacy with the 1985 Chicago Bears and later the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rex Ryan and his twin brother Rob grew up around the franchise, serving as Jets ball boys and idolizing players like Joe Namath and Gerry Philbin. Rex later coached the Jets from 2009 to 2014, posting a 46-50 regular-season record and a 4-2 playoff mark, leading the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Games.
Now, Seth Ryan adds his name to that lineage — though unlike his father and grandfather, he arrives with an offensive background.
From Detroit’s Receiving Room to a Larger Role
Ryan spent the past five seasons with the Detroit Lions under Dan Campbell, working first as an assistant wide receivers coach before shifting to assistant tight ends coach in 2025. During that span, he helped develop players such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta while contributing to one of the NFL’s most productive receiving units.
He also worked alongside Glenn for four seasons in Detroit, a familiarity that likely factored into the hire.
Before joining the Lions, Ryan began his NFL coaching career as an offensive quality control coach with the Los Angeles Chargers.
A former Clemson wide receiver, Ryan was part of the Tigers’ 2016 national championship team. He also attended Summit High School in New Jersey, just miles from the Jets’ training facility.
A Key Role in Fixing a Struggling Passing Attack
Ryan steps into a significant role under new offensive coordinator Frank Reich as the Jets attempt to rebuild a passing game that ranked at the bottom of the league in 2025. Quarterback instability plagued the offense, and the team enters the offseason without a clear long-term answer at the position.
With Garrett Wilson as the established No. 1 target and young pieces like Mason Taylor, Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie in place, the Jets will lean on Ryan and Reich to maximize a group that still needs additional playmakers.
For Seth Ryan, the job represents both a professional step forward and a return to the franchise that shaped his family’s football history.
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