Rex Ryan Arrested in Nashville Over Alleged Hit-and-Run
Former NFL head coach and ESPN analyst Rex Ryan was arrested in Nashville on Wednesday after turning himself in to police over an alleged hit-and-run in which his pickup truck struck two pedestrians last week.
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said Ryan, 63, surrendered on Wednesday morning, 11 November, on six outstanding misdemeanor warrants. He was booked at the Davidson County Jail and released early on Wednesday after a judicial commissioner set his bond at $6,000. The Associated Press reported that Ryan qualified for pretrial release and is scheduled to appear in court next month.
What police say happened on Broadway
Police say the incident happened just before midnight on Thursday, 5 November, at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Broadway in downtown Nashville. Two pedestrians were crossing Broadway from Fourth Avenue with a walk signal when a pickup truck turned right from Fourth Avenue, ran over both of their feet and made contact with one person’s leg, according to the police account.
Both pedestrians suffered minor injuries. Police allege Ryan drove on without stopping, and warrants were later issued for his arrest.
Ryan faces two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to give information or render aid, and two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal. NBC Sports reported that Ryan turned himself in on the six warrants after the incident on 5 November.
ESPN responds, Ryan stays silent
ESPN, where Ryan works as an analyst on its “Sunday NFL Countdown” show, said in a statement: “We are aware and are in touch with Rex.” The network has not announced any change to his television assignments.
Ryan has not commented publicly on the charges. The Associated Press reported that online records did not identify a lawyer for him. The charges are allegations and have not been tested in court.
A familiar face around the league
Ryan coached the New York Jets from 2009 to 2014, taking the team to back-to-back AFC Championship games in his first two seasons, before spending two seasons in charge of the Buffalo Bills. He joined ESPN as an analyst in 2017 and has become one of the network’s most outspoken voices on the NFL.
He remains a familiar figure around the league, which has seen a busy stretch of coaching and roster moves, including the Vikings reacquiring Kirk Cousins from the Raiders.
Ryan is also known for his brash public persona. NBC Sports noted that he joked on ESPN last month that he is “an expert in a few things. One of them is feet” — a reference to a personal video that surfaced online in 2010.
What happens next
The case will now move through the Nashville courts, where Ryan is expected to enter a plea to the six misdemeanor charges. If convicted of leaving the scene of an accident, he could face fines and further penalties under Tennessee law, though the misdemeanor charges are far less serious than the felony cases that dominate the state’s courts.
The arrest is the latest high-profile case for Tennessee authorities, who recently ended a nine-day manhunt for an escaped Tennessee murderer captured in Missouri. Nationally, violent crime has fallen sharply, with a Justice Department survey finding violent crime fell 25% in 2025.
For now, the two pedestrians are recovering from minor injuries, and the focus turns to Ryan’s court appearance next month — and to whether ESPN keeps one of its loudest analysts on air while the case plays out.
