ESPN analyst Rex Ryan was arrested Wednesday after allegedly hitting two pedestrians in a hit-and-run crash in downtown Nashville, according to police.
The incident occurred in a popular tourist area where two people were crossing a main street and had the right of way, police said. Ryan allegedly turned at a red light and ran over the pedestrians’ feet, according to authorities.
The pedestrians suffered minor injuries and told police they waved Ryan down at the next red light. According to police, Ryan then stepped out of his vehicle to argue with them, but the victims were able to snap a photo of the driver and the vehicle’s license plate.
“We are aware and are in touch with Rex,” ESPN said in a statement Wednesday.
The incident actually took place last week, Nashville police said. Ryan turned himself in at Nashville’s Downtown Detention Center early Wednesday morning.
Six misdemeanor charges face Ryan
Court records show Ryan faces six misdemeanor charges stemming from the collision. These include:
Former NFL head coach and current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan was arrested this morning in Nashville after allegedly running over the feet of two pedestrians with his pickup truck last week, per the Nashville Police Department. Ryan ran over both of the victims' feet in his truck as… pic.twitter.com/jDObtjHJjn
- Two counts of leaving the scene of an accident
- Two counts of failure to give information or render aid
- Two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal
A judicial commissioner set Ryan’s bond at $6,000. However, he was released on non-financial conditions after qualifying for pretrial release, and he is scheduled to appear in court next month.
While Ryan was appearing on ESPN’s NFL pregame show on Sunday and a morning show on Monday, the network noted those programs are taped in New York. An ESPN source told The Independent that the network has made no decision on disciplinary action as information is still being gathered.
A career in the NFL spotlight
Ryan is widely recognized for his tenure as a head coach in the NFL, previously leading the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. During his time with the Jets, he guided the team to consecutive AFC Championship Games following the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
He became a prominent figure in the league due to his brash and colorful approach during press conferences. Although he has not coached since being released by the Bills with one game remaining in the 2016 season, he has remained active in football circles. In 2025, he interviewed for the New York Jets’ head coaching vacancy before Aaron Glenn was hired.
The Ryan coaching legacy extends through his family. His father, the late Buddy Ryan, was a legendary NFL coach known for coordinating the 1985 Chicago Bears defense. His son, Seth Ryan, is currently serving his first season as the passing game coordinator for the Jets.
Ryan is scheduled to appear in court next month.
More on Rex Ryan
Former NFL HC Rex Ryan was arrested Wednesday morning in Nashville after allegedly running over the feet of two pedestrians with his pickup truck last week. Police say Ryan continued driving before the pedestrians caught up to him at a red light. He allegedly got out, argued… pic.twitter.com/xnFsRxcXqI
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