All-Time Jets QBs Ranked: Namath #1, Pennington #2

Pat Ryan

Retired 12 Years In The NFL
Pat's
HAIR
25.4
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Pat Ryan or the Jets?

Pat Ryan Legacy

HEYTC AI
Pat Ryan, the ultimate Jets insurance policy, hung around for 12 gritty seasons as the most dependable backup in a quarterback carousel from hell—drafted 11th round out of Tennessee, outlasting 13 higher picks just to be there when Richard Todd and Ken O'Brien faltered. His signature shine? That shocking 1986 wild-card start over O'Brien, torching Kansas City for three TD passes in a 35-15 rout, the Jets' first playoff W in four years, capped by a flea-flicker dart against Cleveland before injury struck. Even un-retired at 36 for a disastrous Eagles cameo, Ryan embodied blue-collar longevity, now calling Vols games with that same steady voice.

Pat Ryan Rating Breakdown

Season
Average
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Average
Overall
Delulu
12 years with the Jets

Pat Ryan Career Stats via Wikipedia

4,320 Pass Yards
31 Touchdowns
35 INTs
55.4% Comp %
25.4 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Pat Ryan

How does Brady Cook compare to Pat Ryan?

Brady Cook's got the Jets starting gig now, but he's no Pat Ryan—Ryan went 6-5 as starter in '84 with 1,939 yards, 14 TDs, and lit up the '86 playoffs with three TD bombs in a 35-15 wild-card rout of KC, nearly upsetting Cleveland in double OT. Cook's early flashes pale next to Ryan's proven grit when the Jets needed a reliable arm.

Is Pat Ryan in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Pat Ryan's not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—no Canton plaque for the 11th-rounder who hung around 13 years, mostly as Jets backup. But he stepped up big in '84 (6-5 record) and owned that '86 playoff win over the Chiefs with three TDs. Longevity like his 141 Jets games beats flash for me every time.

What is Pat Ryan doing now in 2026?

Pat Ryan's calling games as color analyst on the Vol Radio Network for Tennessee, his alma mater—perfect gig for a guy who slid into the '78 draft at 11th round and outlasted 13 QBs picked ahead. No splashy business or charity headlines in '26, just steady Vols broadcasts, keeping that quarterback wisdom alive.

How would Pat Ryan perform in today's NFL?

Pat Ryan's gunslinger style—1,939 yards, 14 TDs in '84, playoff heroics—would feast under today's pass-happy rules with no bump-and-run coverage and quick protections. His 25.36 passer rating from the brutal '80s? Easily 90-plus now, like a poor man's Rich Gannon adapting to RPOs and soft zones.

How does Pat Ryan compare to Joe Namath?

Pat Ryan and Joe Namath both Jets QBs, but Broadway Joe owned a 40.81 rating with Super Bowl magic, while Ryan's 25.36 came from gritty '84 starts (6-5) and that '86 playoff gem. Namath's the legend; Ryan's the ultimate pro who played 141 games, proving you don't need glamour to stick.