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Rex Ryan recounts wanting to punch Bill Belichick before playoff game

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Nov 11, 2026, 8:15 AM

Last updated Nov 11, 2026

Rex Ryan recounts wanting to punch Bill Belichick before playoff game

Summary

Former Jets head coach Rex Ryan shared a tense moment before a 2010 playoff game against Bill Belichick's Patriots. Ryan aimed to shift the focus from a previous 45-3 loss to a personal rivalry, vowing to boost his team's confidence. He provocatively stated he was ready to fight Belichick to energize his players. The Jets ultimately won the playoff game, advancing to the AFC Championship before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This rivalry marked a high point in Ryan’s tenure with the Jets, which later declined.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•Rex Ryan almost confronted Bill Belichick before the 2010 playoffs.
•Ryan sought to change the narrative of prior losses to the Patriots.
•Jets upset New England, advancing to the AFC Championship Game.
•This playoff run was the Jets' last postseason appearance under Ryan.
•Ryan was fired after the 2014 season following a decline.

Latest Updates

8:15 AMYahoo Sports — ‘I’ll Punch Him Right In The Face’ — Former Jets HC Reveals Why He Was Ready To Throw Hands at Bill Belichick

What they're saying

"
For nearly two decades, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady made the New England Patriots the team to beat in the AFC East. Between 2001 and 2019, New England won the division 17 times, with the New York Jets among the few teams to interrupt its dominance.
— Yahoo Sports

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