Rex Ryan agrees on extension
— -- The New York Jets announced Thursday that coach Rex Ryan has signed a contract extension.
League and team sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Ryan received a multiyear extension. Ryan had one year remaining on a deal he reworked in 2010 worth about $3 million annually. The new contract ties Ryan to the Jets through at least the 2016 season.
The deal is heavily incentivized based on postseason wins. The Jets haven't won a playoff game since the 2010 season.
Ryan is 42-38 in five seasons, the second-highest winning percentage in Jets history. He also holds the franchise record with four postseason wins.
Despite Ryan's new contract, the Jets are in a challenging position with assistant coaches on expiring deals. They already lost their special-teams coach and are in danger of losing other assistants.
The Jets were 8-8 this season, but they exceeded expectations with a young roster devoid of Pro Bowl players. New York won three of its last four games and improved late in the season, especially under rookie quarterback Geno Smith.
Both owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik refused to say the Jets overachieved, although it was apparent they were pleased with the results.
Johnson, in a letter sent to season-ticket holders after the regular-season finale, praised Ryan despite the team's "overall up-and-down 2013 performance."
It was widely assumed that Idzik, who replaced Mike Tannenbaum as general manager last January and was forced to keep Ryan, would hire his own coach after one year on the job. However, Idzik downplayed that notion, saying he didn't need to be persuaded to keep Ryan.
Ryan previously received overwhelming public support from the locker room, with players offering daily testimonials. After the finale against the Dolphins, several players said they were glad that upper management decided in favor of Ryan.
For all his bluster, Ryan still hasn't delivered on his day one promise. In his inaugural news conference in 2009, he predicted a Super Bowl. He came close, with trips to the AFC Championship Game in his first two seasons. But Ryan hasn't been able to sustain the success, with the Jets going 8-8, 6-10 and 8-8 the past three seasons.
Information from ESPN.com's Rich Cimini was used in this report.
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