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Crime

Ex-NFL coach Rex Ryan surrenders to police over alleged Nashville hit-and-run

Police say two pedestrians had minor injuries, and Ryan, an ESPN analyst, faces six misdemeanor charges, including leaving the scene of an accident.

9 news outlets reported this
Liberal3 outletsPolice account, charges and Ryan's coaching careerCenter1 outletThe incident sequence and six misdemeanor chargesConservative5 outletsThe incident, with the old foot-fetish videos in focus
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan, 63, surrendered to police in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday on six warrants. Police say two pedestrians were crossing Broadway from Fourth Avenue on a walk signal just before midnight on Nov. 5, in downtown Nashville, when a pickup truck turned right and ran over both people's feet. Police say it also touched one person's leg and that the pedestrians suffered minor injuries.

The pedestrians told police the truck kept going, then stopped at a red light a block away, where they waved down the driver. They said he stepped out to argue, got back in and drove away. They photographed the license plate, which police said is registered to Ryan.

Charges against him cover two counts each of leaving the scene of an accident, failing to give information or render aid, and failing to obey a traffic control signal. All are misdemeanors. A judicial commissioner set bond at $6,000, and Ryan was granted pretrial release on Wednesday.

He is due in court in December. Ryan, an ESPN analyst, formerly coached the Jets and the Bills. ESPN said it is aware and in touch with him.

Key figures
  • $6,000bond set by a judicial commissionerABC News
  • six outstanding misdemeanor warrantson which Ryan surrendered, per Nashville policeABC News
  • two pedestriansinjured, with minor injuries, per policeABC News

Three sides of the story

3Liberal1Center5Conservative

9 news outlets reported this

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Liberal3 outlets

Police account, charges and Ryan's coaching career

ABC News builds its report on the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's press release. It says Ryan surrendered on six outstanding misdemeanor warrants and quotes police that the truck ran over "both victims' feet." It adds that online court records list no attorney and that ESPN is owned by ABC News' parent company, The Walt Disney Company.

The Boston Globe runs the AP report, which opens with Ryan turning himself in. It adds that he was granted pretrial release and is due in court next month. The Guardian's headline says Ryan was "charged after allegedly hitting pedestrians."

It says all six charges are misdemeanors and lists his coaching record with the Jets and Bills. It also mentions that Ryan's late father, Buddy Ryan, was a renowned NFL coach. ABC News and the Globe quote ESPN's statement that it is in touch with Ryan, and all three describe him as an ESPN analyst.

Center1 outlet

The incident sequence and six misdemeanor charges

Newsweek's headline says Ryan "Faces Six Charges After Alleged Hit-and-Run." Its first paragraph reports that the incident in downtown Nashville left two pedestrians with minor injuries. Newsweek dates the incident on Broadway to Nov. 5 and says Ryan turned himself in on Wednesday morning.

Citing police, it says a pickup turning right from 4th Avenue ran over the feet of both walkers, who were crossing on a signal, and hit one of them in the leg. The pedestrians told officers the truck did not stop until a red light, where they confronted the driver. Ryan allegedly stepped out to argue, then left without giving them his details.

Photos of the plate that the pedestrians took led police to him, Newsweek says. He was booked on six misdemeanor warrants, including counts for departing a crash site and not sharing details or helping the injured. Newsweek adds that he has not coached in the NFL since 2016.

Conservative5 outlets

The incident, with the old foot-fetish videos in focus

The Blaze headlines the story with "the most ironic charges" and opens on years of accusations that Ryan has a "foot fetish", citing HLN, his 2021 "toe expert" remark and a Dr. Scholl's partnership. Breitbart calls him a "noted feet aficionado" and the Daily Caller recalls the 2010 videos with his wife. The Post Millennial says, citing TMZ, that the incident drew attention because of Ryan's "previous association with feet," and adds that Deadspin published videos in 2010.

Each also gives the police account of the incident, the charges and the $6,000 bond or . Breitbart and the Daily Caller quote the police statement and cite the New York Post. The Blaze and The Post Millennial report pretrial release.

Breitbart and the Daily Caller report his release early Wednesday. The Blaze, The Post Millennial and the Daily Caller give a court date next month or in December.

What a side did not mention
All sources: 9 articles from 9 outlets

Liberal (3)

Center (1)

Conservative (5)

Felony and misdemeanor

A felony is a serious crime that can bring more than a year in prison, and a conviction can cost the right to vote or some jobs. A misdemeanor is a lesser offence: up to a year in jail, a fine or probation.

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Bail (bond)

Money or conditions a judge sets so that an accused person stays free until trial. “Held without bond” means the judge kept the person in jail. Rules differ by state.

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