Rex Ryan Set To Appear On ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown After Nashville Arrest

Rex Ryan is expected on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown.© NDTV Library

Rex Ryan is still on ESPN's Sunday lineup. The network made that clear days after the former Jets and Bills coach turned himself in to Nashville authorities, accused of driving over the feet of two pedestrians on Broadway Street. He faces six misdemeanor counts, yet ESPN plans to keep him on Sunday NFL Countdown for now, and reporter Richard Deitsch does not expect Ryan to bring up the case on air. Viewers tuning in Sunday morning should find the same panel, with host Mike Greenberg leading Alex Smith, Teddy Bruschi, Randy Moss and Adam Schefter.

Rex Ryan's ESPN Status For Sunday NFL Countdown

ESPN did not leave the question open for long. A spokesperson gave the network's answer ahead of the weekend show, and Deitsch shared it on social media:

"As of now, Rex will appear as scheduled, including on Sunday NFL Countdown."

The wording covers all of his scheduled appearances, and Sunday's show is simply the first. Ryan has worked as an ESPN analyst since he stepped away from coaching in 2016, and Sunday NFL Countdown is his main stage. He also appears on "Get Up" on Mondays after the NFL slate, so viewers could see him on both mornings if the plan holds. Deitsch added that he would not expect Ryan to address the matter on air, which means the panel will likely move straight into football.

Rex Ryan Arrest Charges After The Nashville Incident

Authorities say the trouble started on Broadway Street, where Ryan's truck allegedly ran over the feet of two pedestrians. He drove off, stopped at a red light, climbed out and argued with the pair, then got back in and left again. Investigators later identified his license plate and traced the truck's registration to him, and

Ryan turned himself in early Wednesday.The six counts are all misdemeanors: two for leaving the scene of an accident, two for failure to give information or render aid, and two for failure to obey a traffic control signal. Ryan has not been convicted of any of them.

Football fans know Ryan best from his six seasons as Jets head coach, a stretch that produced a 46-50 regular-season record and a 4-2 mark in the playoffs. Both AFC Championship Game trips came in his first two years, and the four seasons after that went far less smoothly. New York has not won a playoff game since 2011, when Ryan still ran the team. He took over the Jets in 2009, then coached the Bills for two seasons before moving to television.