Rex Ryan, the former head coach of the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, turned himself in to Nashville police on Wednesday after he allegedly struck two pedestrians with his car downtown and left the scene, marking the start of a misdemeanor case against the ESPN analyst.
Police said the two pedestrians had the right of way while crossing a main downtown street last week. Investigators allege that Ryan turned at a red light, drove over their feet and then left the scene.
Court records list six misdemeanor counts against Ryan. Two concern leaving the scene of an accident, two concern failing to provide information or render aid, and two concern failing to obey a traffic signal. His court appearance is scheduled for next month.
The 63-year-old Ryan coached the Jets from 2009 to 2014 and the Bills from 2015 to 2016. He took the Jets to consecutive AFC championship games after the 2009 and 2010 seasons, the high point of his tenure in New York. His father, the late Buddy Ryan, was a celebrated NFL coach who served as defensive coordinator for the 1985 Chicago Bears, a defense widely regarded as one of the greatest in league history.
Since leaving coaching, Ryan has worked as an NFL analyst for ESPN, including on the network’s pregame coverage. He is known for his exuberant personality, which carried over from his coaching career into his broadcast work.