EAGAN, Minn. -- Not long after becoming an NFL quarterback, Kevin O'Connell earned a reputation as a future coach. It wasn't just because of his leadership skills. Early in the 2009 season as a backup with the New York Jets, he started suggesting pass-rush schemes to coach Rex Ryan and his staff.
"He was really good working with Rex at designing schemes to defeat the opponents' protections," said Mike Tannenbaum, who was the Jets general manager at the time and is an ESPN analyst. "That's where he was particularly good. Rex was like, 'Mike, this guy is the best defensive coordinator in the building, myself included.