Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan turned himself in to authorities in Nashville on Wednesday following an incident in which he allegedly struck two pedestrians with his pickup truck. The 63-year-old, who currently works as an analyst for ESPN, faces six misdemeanor charges related to the event.
According to the Nashville Police Department, the incident occurred just before midnight on Tuesday at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Broadway Street. Police stated that Ryan allegedly turned his vehicle at the intersection while pedestrians were crossing with a valid walk signal, running over the feet of two individuals and making contact with one of their legs.
Ryan is accused of leaving the scene after the initial contact, though he reportedly stopped at a red light when confronted by the victims. Following a brief argument, he drove away from the area. Authorities later issued a warrant for his arrest after witnesses captured images of his license plate.
The six charges filed against Ryan include two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to provide information or render aid, and two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal. His bond was set at $6,000.
In a brief statement regarding the situation, ESPN Communications said they are aware of the reports and are in contact with Ryan. The analyst is a regular contributor to the network's football coverage, including "Sunday NFL Countdown" and ESPN Radio.
Ryan served as an NFL head coach for 10 seasons, leading the New York Jets from 2009 to 2014 and the Buffalo Bills from 2015 to 2016. He notably guided the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship appearances during his first two years with the franchise.
Following his tenure as a head coach, Ryan joined ESPN in 2017. He is scheduled to appear in court next month to address the charges.
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