A year later, Rex Ryan could end up as Dallas’ defensive coordinator

Last year, the Cowboys were looking to hire a new defensive coordinator. As Rex Ryan says, it would have been him, if they had offered more money.

This time, as they are reportedly set to hire Brian Schottenheimer as Mike McCarthy’s successor, Rex could be in the running again.

That would be a role reversal from 2009 to 2011, when Schottenheimer served as the Jets’ offensive coordinator under Ryan.

Pairing succeeded. They finished with back-to-back AFC championships with Schottenheimer leading the offense and Ryan running the show.

Said Ryan in September: “I could have fixed (the Cowboys’ defense) in a minute in New York. But as said, they couldn’t raise the moneyotherwise I would be there.”

Ryan also took a shot at Mike Zimmer, the guy who got the job instead of Rex.

“You brought in a guy who was 29th in the league the last two years in Minnesota, the enthusiasm he brought when he left, that’s a guy that’s going to inspire you?” Ryan said. “This could be very bad for Dallas.”

The season did not go well for Dallas, for a number of reasons. Many Cowboys fans believe they won’t fare much better with Schottenheimer at the helm.

But Rex will make things interesting if he ends up as Dallas’ defensive coordinator, a year after (as he puts it) almost being.