Rex Ryan rebukes Ashton Jeanty over Jets tackling remarks

Former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan publicly rebuked Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty after Jeanty criticized unnamed Jets defenders’ tackling, escalating a pregame exchange ahead of the teams’ Week 8 matchup on November 1, 2026. Jeanty told reporters during the week that a couple of Jets defenders “don’t really want to tackle,” while declining to identify them. He also said the Raiders could get their running game back on track against New York. His comments prompted Ryan to criticize Jeanty’s performance and question his standing as a second-year player. During a televised NFL Countdown segment, Ryan called Jeanty soft and said he was “about the worst draft pick in the last 20 years” as a running back. Ryan cited Jeanty’s average of 3.1 yards per carry and said he intended to speak to him before the game. Ryan also said the Jets would not try to take Jeanty out of the game, while predicting a difficult day for the running back and his teammates. Ryan showed footage of Jets linebacker Demario Davis making hard hits and contrasted it with a clip in which Jeanty appeared to lean away from contact after a catch. Ryan had been the Jets’ head coach when Davis was...