Getting fired by the Bills might have been the best thing to happen to Rex Ryan.
Judging by the bizarre dysfunction coming out of the organization, Ryan might be better off after Buffalo owner Terry Pegula tried to explain how and why Ryan was fired days before the Bills’ 30-10 loss to the Jets in the season finale Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“None of us are happy with the season,” Pegula said during a 17-minute phone interview with the Associated Press on Monday.
The notoriously press-shy Pegula refused to face the media as a whole to explain firing Ryan after less than two full seasons, choosing instead to limit his comments to the wire service just hours after a strange postseason news conference by Bills general manager Doug Whaley.
Whaley told reporters he had no idea Ryan was in jeopardy nor did he have any input in the coaching change.
“I was told by my boss that I will no longer be working with Rex,” Whaley said.
Pegula later tried to clarify that exchange, saying he fired Ryan during a conference call with the coach and Whaley last week because Ryan asked him if his job was at risk after missing the playoffs for the second time in his two seasons.
“I was asked a point-blank question, and based on the discussions we’ve been having all year, I felt it was better to tell Rex that we were going in a different direction,” Pegula said.
As for Ryan’s replacement, Pegula said it is “not a lock” fill-in Anthony Lynn will get the permanent role. The Bills reportedly asked to interview Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and Panthers offensive coordinator Sean McDermott on Monday.
Broncos: Denver could have a Shanahan back in charge, but it would be Mike Shanahan’s son Kyle instead of his father.
Fresh off Gary Kubiak’s decision to step down for health reasons, the Broncos reportedly asked to interview Kyle Shanahan after he directed the NFL’s most explosive offense with the second-seeded Falcons this season. Denver also is reported to be interested in talking with Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Jaguars: Jacksonville interviewed ex-Giants (and ex-Jaguars) coach Tom Coughlin last week, but appears ready to scan the field before replacing the fired Gus Bradley.
Coughlin appears to have serious competition, if he’s interested, from Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, although Jacksonville has yet to make a formal request to interview one of the league’s hottest candidates.
The Jags also are thought to be interested in ex-Falcons coach Mike Smith, now defensive coordinator with the Buccaneers, as well as Kyle Shanahan and Arizona’s Goodwin. Interim coach Doug Marrone also will get close consideration, according to sources.
49ers: Jacksonville will face fierce competition for McDaniels from San Francisco, which reportedly will interview the New England play-caller during the Patriots’ bye weekend this week after cleaning house Sunday.
The Niners fired both general manager Trent Baalke and coach Chip Kelly (in Kelly’s case, after just one 2-14 season), and Kelly shined some light on the internal tension Monday, when he claimed he pressed Baalke to draft Dak Prescott last spring but Baalke refused.
San Francisco has requested permission from the Chiefs to interview director of football operations Chris Ballard about replacing Baalke and is expected to interview Lynn about taking over for Kelly, although McDaniels remains the 49ers’ first choice.
Rams: Los Angeles continues to cast a wide net after firing Jeff Fisher last month and apparently will have to do without its first choice — Sean Payton — after the Saints coach said Monday night he is staying in New Orleans.
As a result, the Rams are expected to talk instead to Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay, as well as Harold Goodwin, Kyle Shanahan and Panthers secondary coach Steve Wilks.
Chargers: San Diego waited until late Sunday night to fire coach Mike McCoy after a 5-11 finish and didn’t make much headway Monday in replacing him aside from asking to interview Joseph.
The Chargers’ potential move to Los Angeles in the offseason is expected to complicate matters and most likely will prevent them from landing a “name” candidate willing to put up with the uncertainty.