While Rex Ryan’s time as the head coach of the New York Jets had its ups and downs, fans today often look back with nostalgia on the era, especially considering the team’s current struggles. Ryan led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games, an achievement the franchise hasn’t come close to replicating in the 13 seasons since.
With high-profile additions like Aaron Rodgers keeping the Jets in the headlines this season, some long-time fans have been reminded of the days when Ryan was front and center of New York’s sports scene.
But Ryan’s time in New York wasn’t without controversy. One of the most memorable off-field moments came in 2010, when a video surfaced online featuring him and his wife that alluded to his foot fetish. Initially, both Ryan and the Jets attempted to deflect attention from the viral clip, focusing on football rather than personal matters.
However, over time, Ryan grew more comfortable with the attention, even playfully embracing the jokes and jabs about his foot fetish, often laughing along with colleagues and NFL insiders who brought it up.
In a recent appearance on The Pivot, Ryan directly addressed the infamous video and his unapologetic love for feet, particularly his wife’s. The former coach turned ESPN NFL analyst didn’t shy away from discussing the topic, expressing his admiration for a good pair of feet with a candidness that left little to the imagination.
“I love my wife’s feet,” Ryan said. “I don’t know what it is. But if a chick’s got jacked-up feet, I’m out. I don’t care how gorgeous she is—I’m out. I don’t know what the hell it is. Some people are boob guys, leg guys. Of course, I notice a pretty gorgeous face, whatever… but I’m checking the feet out.”
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Ryan’s honesty about his preferences didn’t stop there. He humorously recalled his reaction when the video went viral back in 2010, admitting that he thought his wife was going to “frickin’ kill” him for the public exposure. But to his surprise, many of his Jets players confessed that they shared similar tastes. This camaraderie may have made the entire ordeal less awkward for the then-head coach, allowing him to laugh off the situation in retrospect.
“Now I have fun with it,” Ryan added. “It’s like, yeah, that’s me. That’s who I am. I own that shit. And if a chick’s got great feet, I’m looking.”
Despite the initial embarrassment, Ryan has turned what could have been a lingering controversy into a lighthearted part of his public persona.
His willingness to laugh at himself and own his quirks has kept him in the conversation, even after his coaching career ended. Today, Ryan’s foot fetish is no longer a point of shame—it’s something he openly jokes about, reflecting his larger-than-life personality that endeared him to fans and players alike during his time in the NFL.
Ryan’s candidness continues to be a defining trait, both on and off the field. Whether he’s offering sharp analysis on ESPN or poking fun at himself during interviews, Rex Ryan remains as entertaining and unfiltered as ever, much to the delight of those who miss his bold, often brash style of coaching.
And in true Ryan fashion, he’s unapologetic about every part of who he is—even when it comes to his appreciation for feet.
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