Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan turned himself in to authorities in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, nearly a week after a hit-and-run incident involving two pedestrians. Police charged Ryan with six misdemeanor counts, including leaving the scene of an accident, failure to render aid, and failure to obey traffic signals, according to court records.
The incident occurred shortly before midnight on November 5 as Ryan was making a right turn onto Broadway from 4th Avenue. Two pedestrians, who had the right of way with a walk signal, were struck by Ryan’s pickup truck. Both suffered minor injuries, with one person’s leg also struck. The truck continued forward before stopping at a red light, where the victims confronted Ryan. Police allege he argued with them, then drove away without providing information or assistance.
The pedestrians photographed the truck’s license plate and Ryan, which led to his identification. Ryan, who serves as an ESPN NFL analyst, surrendered for booking on Wednesday morning. His bond was set at $6,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court next month.
Incident Details and Police Account
According to a Nashville Police Department news release, the two pedestrians were crossing Broadway when Ryan’s truck turned right, running over their feet and striking one in the leg. The release states that the truck kept moving after the collision before stopping at a nearby red light. The victims flagged down Ryan, who exited the vehicle to argue before returning to the truck and driving away.
Police confirmed that the pedestrians had a walk signal at the time of the incident. The release did not specify whether Ryan was aware of the collision at the time it occurred.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Ryan faces the following charges, all classified as misdemeanors:
- 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
Court records did not list an attorney for Ryan. His next court appearance is scheduled for next month, though an exact date was not provided in the sources.
Ryan’s Background and Public Response
Ryan, 63, is a former head coach for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, leading the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. His father, Buddy Ryan, was a renowned NFL coach known for his defensive strategies, including the 1985 Chicago Bears’ historic unit.
Since retiring from coaching, Ryan has worked as an ESPN NFL analyst. ESPN confirmed in a statement that they were aware of the situation and in contact with Ryan, but did not provide further details.
A phone number believed to belong to Ryan was found to have an automatic outgoing message, and messages could not be left. Attempts to reach Ryan for comment were unsuccessful.
Pedestrian Accounts and Evidence
The two pedestrians described the collision as brief but assertive, stating that the truck did not slow down before striking them. They provided police with photographic evidence of the truck’s license plate and Ryan himself, which aided in his identification. The victims’ accounts align with the police report, though no additional statements from them were included in the sources.
The incident remains under investigation, and no further updates were provided regarding potential additional charges or civil liabilities.