SUNRISE, Fla. -- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan apologized Sunday for making an obscene gesture at a mixed martial arts event.
Ryan was booed Saturday night while doing a television interview at the MMA event at Bank Atlantic Center, home to the NHL's Florida Panthers. Ryan was smiling when a cell-phone camera captured him making the gesture.
"It was stupid and inappropriate," Ryan said in a statement released by the Jets. "I wouldn't accept that type of behavior from one of the coaches or players, and it's unacceptable from me. I apologize to the Jets' organization, the National Football League and NFL fans everywhere."
Ryan led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game this season after they went 9-7 to earn a wild-card playoff berth in his first year as an NFL head coach. Ryan made headlines with his confident statements, including saying the Jets should be favored to win the Super Bowl when the playoffs began.
Ryan previously had a verbal feud with Miami linebacker Channing Crowder, and deep in Dolphins territory, the coach was a likely target for boos.
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum added in the statement that the organization will internally address the matter.
"Rex showed extremely poor judgment, and his conduct was inappropriate," Tannenbaum said. "He knows he was wrong, has apologized, and we have accepted his apology."
Ryan could be subject to a league fine under the NFL's personal-conduct policy.
