He certainly is a firecracker.
Rex Ryan’s Fourth of July festivities served as an ESPN reunion with former colleagues Sam Ponder and Sage Steele, the latter of whom documented the celebrations on social media and called out the ex-Jets coach’s cheeky attire.
“Only Rex Ryan can pull off a shirt like that!!” Steele exclaimed Monday of Ryan’s “Just here to bang” T-shirt that featured a sparkler animation.
“What an awesome reunion weekend full of reminiscing with some of the most wonderful humans I know!!”
Steele, who departed ESPN in 2023 after 16 years, opened up about her two decades-plus friendship with Ryan, who joined the Worldwide Leader in 2017 after head-coaching stints with the Bills and Jets.
“25 years of friendship with Rex (dating back to our @ravens days!) and almost 15 years of friendship with the beautiful @samanthaponder,” Steele said of the duo.
“Thank you to Rex and Michelle [Ryan’s wife] for including us and inviting us to your home away from home!!”
Ryan, 62, frequently contributes to ESPN’s “Get Up” and serves as an analyst on “Sunday NFL Countdown,” which Ponder, 39, had hosted since 2017 until her shocking firing in August 2024.
Mike Greenberg took over hosting duties last year.
Ponder, the wife of former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder, recently shared she’s still close with her former “College GameDay” colleagues Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and David Pollack.
“David Pollack is stuck with me as the big brother I never (jk) wanted, and I was texting with Kirk Herbstreit the day before I got fired,” Ponder said in an Instagram Q&A last month.
“Rece Davis is my forever favorite. I’ll never forget how all 3 of them loved Jesus and treated people. I will be a ‘college gameday’ fan as long as they continue to make it about the people. It’s such a special show.”
Ponder had originally joined ESPN in 2011.
She remains close with Steele, who is two years removed from her ESPN departure.
“Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely,” she posted on X in August 2023.
“I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and am excited for my next chapter!”
Steele sued ESPN and its parent company Disney in April 2022 over circumstances that led to her being sidelined in 2021.
The lawsuit alleged Steele was retaliated against over comments made about the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and how it violated her right to free speech.