‘Jets Fans Forgot Where They Were Last Year’ — Rex Ryan ‘Disappointed’ With Fanbase’s Frustration After New York’s 1-2 Start

The New York Jets are 1-2, which normally means Jets fans have already started browsing mock drafts and arguing about who should be fired. Well, Rex Ryan would like everyone to put the pitchforks down.

The former Jets head coach watched New York erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Detroit Lions on Sunday before falling 31-24, and he came away more encouraged than angry.

Rex Ryan Thinks Jets Fans Are Missing the Bigger Picture

During his appearance on ESPN New York's "DiPietro & Rothenberg," Ryan argued Jets fans have already forgotten how far the team has come since last season.

"That is why I'm disappointed in Jets fans. Jets fans forgot where they were last year. Are you kidding me?" Ryan said .

"This team wasn't even competitive last year. It's a joke. Now I see a team that is just the opposite."

That is not revisionist history. New York went 3-14 in Aaron Glenn's first season and tied for the NFL's worst record. Through three games this fall, the Jets have already won once and pushed both Green Bay and Detroit to the wire.

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Ryan is not promising a miracle in 2026, though.

"This team is close. It's not there; it's not going to be there this year," Ryan said. "It's not going to be there this year, but it [expletive] sure is going to be there next year; just wait.

"They're building; they start stacking these [expletive] draft classes after each other. Not only are they going to be competitive, [but] they might shoot to the top."

The clock-management criticism around Glenn has not magically disappeared. Neither has the fact that close losses still count exactly the same in the standings. Ryan's point is that this version of the Jets at least looks capable of making somebody sweat.

Still, plenty of fans are frustrated after the 1-2 start.

"I'm tired of losing. Horrible clock management. So many players underperforming. Are we ever going to get an interception? Injuries everywhere. Too soon to say Bailey..? 😭 That Green Bay loss hurts more every day. God, it's hard being a Jets fan," one fan wrote .

"1-2 is about right for The Florham Park Clown Show," another fan added .

"I can't believe there are people out there saying Aaron Glenn is doing a great job… Aaron Glenn's head coaching record with the Jets is 4 Wins and SIXTEEN Losses… absolutely atrocious… and how about yesterday? He's supposed to be a 'defensive coach'… 24-24 against his OLD TEAM and he lets them score on like 4 plays in an easy drive with zero defensive opposition… so he's a defensive coach who can't get key defensive stops or Win any games. Great," NFL analyst and Jets fan John Frascella wrote .

Geno Smith Gives Ryan Something Real To Point Toward

Geno Smith completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns as New York rallied from a 24-10 deficit to tie the game. Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq topped 100 receiving yards, while Garrett Wilson also surpassed the century mark.

The Jets were driving for a potential tying touchdown before Smith was strip-sacked with 51 seconds remaining.

Smith ranks No. 13 in PFN NFL QB Impact Score with a 78.7 grade through three games. That is not MVP territory, but it is a long way from an offense simply waiting for the defense to bail it out.

Ryan still had complaints. He ripped the protection breakdowns and made it clear he expects more from the offensive line.

"Yeah, the left tackle, what the hell is wrong with you? A top-10 pick, how about you get a little fire in your butt and block some of these average [expletive] defensive ends that are making you look bad. That's my biggest disappointment with this football team," Ryan stated.

There is a difference between being good and no longer being hopeless. Ryan is not saying the Jets have reached the first stage yet.

His message is that fans should probably recognize they have escaped the second.