The New York Jetshave spent years trying to put the “Same Old Jets” narrative behind them. One postgame comment from safety Minkah Fitzpatrick brought that familiar criticism back into the conversation, and former head coach Rex Ryan had a strong reaction.
Following Sunday's 38-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders
, Fitzpatrick was asked about the defensive mistakes that contributed to another disappointing finish.His response was widely reported as, “Some bad penalties, bad mistakes. Jets being Jets.” The comment quickly gained attention, prompting the organization to contact reporters and clarify that Fitzpatrick intended to say “Jets beating the Jets.”
The Jets say that Minkah Fitzpatrick meant "Jets beating Jets" not Jets "being" Jets. FWIW: I (and
others) did listen a bunch of times and it sounds like "being" but wanted to pass along that clarification. https://t.co/yO4KB3EOb2
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 1, 2026
Ryan weighed in on the controversy during an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up," where the former Jets coach reacted angrily to Fitzpatrick's remarks. His opinion? If Fitzpatrick did indeed say "Jets being Jets,” that isn't the type of attitude he'd like to see from a leader.
This should have been clarified by now by @nyjets and @minkfitz_21 - it’s gotten so much Attention right after game and we are a day later -hear Rex Ryan on @GetUpESPN this morning if Minkah (I don’t want to believe it) did say that? #Jets pic.twitter.com/awwY72nnuI
— Connie Carberg (@ConnieScouts) November 2, 2026
Rex Ryan expects more from a player brought in to lead
Ryan's criticism goes beyond the choice of words. During his discussion of the situation on ESPN New York's "DiPietro & Rothenberg", he questioned whether Fitzpatrick was providing the leadership the organization expected when it acquired him.
Rex Ryan had a message for Minkah Fitzpatrick. pic.twitter.com/wLMgZXDwnd
— DiPietro & Rothenberg (@DRonESPN) November 2, 2026
Ryan pointed to linebacker Demario Davis as an example of the kind of presence the team needs, then made his expectations clear: “We don’t need you to go against us. We need you to build this team up.”
Interestingly, Ryan acknowledged that his understanding was that Fitzpatrick meant the Jets were hurting themselves with their own mistakes. Still, he felt the comment came across differently than intended, calling the wording troubling.
The organization's clarification may explain what Fitzpatrick meant, but it doesn't erase the reaction to what initially came out, or what everyone thinks he said. For a franchise still trying to change how it is viewed around the league, even an unintended return to the old narrative can create an unnecessary distraction.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Rex Ryan reacts to Minkah Fitzpatrick’s viral Jets comments
