Rex Ryan explains why he wasn’t hired as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was criticized in the offseason for a lack of spending and the latest critic is former Buffalo Bills head coach and current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan.

Ryan was on ESPN’s DiPietro and Rothenberg show and accused Jones of penny pinching on his coaching staff salaries, claiming he could’ve and would’ve fixed the Cowboys’ defense if Dallas had offered him more money to coach.

“I could’ve fixed [the Cowboys’ defense] in a New York minute,” said Ryan per USA Today’s Jack McKessy, “But, that being said, they couldn’t pony up the money, or I would’ve been there.”

Ryan also criticized current Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer for how the unit has played to start the season and for his recent track record on defense.

“You brought in a guy that was 29th in the league his last two years at Minnesota, the enthusiasm he brings when he left, that’s the guy that’s gonna inspire you? This can go really bad for Dallas,” said Ryan.

Ryan hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2016 when he was fired from his position as head coach of the Buffalo Bills with one game left in his second season.

Ryan most famously coached the New York Jets from 2009-2014 where he made two AFC Championship appearances in his first two seasons but failed to make the playoffs in his final four seasons.