Former NFL coach allegedly hits 2 pedestrians with truck in Nashville and drives off – then his next stop was ESPN

On Wednesday, former NFL coach Rex Ryan, 63, surrendered to police after being charged with allegedly hitting two pedestrians with his truck in downtown Nashville last week. Ryan, now a football analyst for ESPN, appeared on the network on Sunday and Monday before turning himself in after learning of the charges.

As per the Associated Press, Ryan was charged with numerous misdemeanor charges: two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to give information to render aid, and two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal. “We are aware and are in touch with Rex,” ESPN Communications wrote in a statement.

“Coach Ryan immediately surrendered to authorities upon learning of the misdemeanor charges and was released without being required to post bond,” Ryan’s lawyers, David and Ben Raybin, wrote in a statement. “From the outset, Coach Ryan has been fully cooperative with law enforcement and he intends to remain fully cooperative as this matter moves forward.”

Pedestrians had to chase him at a red light

WKRN reports that Ryan allegedly ran over the feet of both pedestrians when they crossed Broadway from 4th Avenue with a walk sign. The pedestrians claim Ryan kept driving before stopping at a red light, where they confronted him. Police said Ryan then got out of his vehicle and argued with the couple before driving away. Nashville’s Broadway entertainment district has also seen other incidents lately. In October, a Tennessee father was accused of leaving his four-month-old daughter alone in a car while waiting in line outside a downtown bar.

Rex Ryan’s career spans almost thirty years, developing a reputation as one of the NFL’s more outspoken personalities. He spent 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, first as a defensive line coach and then became its defensive coordinator in 2005.

In 2009, he became head coach for the New York Jets where he led the team to the AFC Championship Game for two consecutive years. The New York Jets have made headlines for their coaching decisions. In 2024, the team fired head coach Robert Saleh. The Buffalo Bills later hired Ryan, who served as head coach for two seasons.

His father, James David “Buddy” Ryan, was also a defensive coach who served the NFL for 26 seasons from 1968 to 1995. In 1986, he led the Chicago Bears to victory at Super Bowl XX and is credited with developing the 46 defense. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 85.

Rex Ryan transitioned to sports broadcasting in 2017, joining ESPN as an NFL analyst. He’s been a regular contributor to the network’s football coverage, having appeared on numerous programs including Sunday NFL Countdown, Get Up, SportsCenter, and ESPN Radio.