The carnival barker has reinvented himself. Welcome to the evolution of Rex Ryan.
With each step his team takes toward remaining competitive through this season that was supposed to be one step short of a complete forfeit, it is becoming more imperative people take Reincarnated Rex more seriously.
This observation is not based only on the Jets’ scintillating 30-28 upset victory over the Falcons Monday night in Atlanta — arguably the most impressive win Ryan has delivered since he was last leading the team to the playoffs in 2010.
This is based on the fact Ryan, coaching a team with a rookie quarterback and limited skill position resources around him, has the Jets one game behind the Patriots for first place in the AFC East with a 3-2 record entering Sunday’s home game against the 0-4 Steelers.
The same people who predicted the Jets were a lock to be competing with the likes of Jacksonville for the worst record in the league in 2013 and the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2014 are the ones who installed Ryan as even-money to be the next NFL coach to be fired.
Ryan, with one year remaining on his contract after this season and working for a newly hired general manager, was perceived by many as a dead coach walking.
If Ryan keeps the Jets in the hunt for a playoff berth as Christmas approaches he should be a candidate for Coach of the Year. And, barring a complete collapse from here, he should be on a fast track for a contract extension by New Year’s.
Ryan’s evolution has manifested itself in a number of ways this season — some by his choice through experience, and some as a way of survival under the new world order of buttoned-up first-year general manager John Idzik.
So in terms of public persona, Bombastic Rex is gone, replaced by Company Guy Rex.
Inside the walls at the Jets Florham Park, N.J. training facility, however, Ryan remains the same passionate coach whose players will run through walls to play for — something rather evident in Monday night’s win in Atlanta, where the talented Falcons were favored by 10 points.
“I think Rex has evolved, but I promise you that the same old Rex is still there behind closed doors,’’ former Jets offensive lineman and current ESPN analyst Damien Woody told The Post Tuesday. “That’s the evolution of Rex. He has tweaked some things with the way he goes about his daily business, keeping things more close to the vest publicly.
“That has allowed people to take Rex more seriously. Before, when he was making predictions and guarantees and things didn’t go the way he thought they would he became an easy target. Now, Rex is saying the things that you need to say as a head coach. He has just wisened, and it’s served him well.’’
Ryan, it should be noted, has not gone completely soft. He bristled Monday night when he thought a reporter put negative words into his mouth in assessing rookie quarterback Geno Smith.
And on Tuesday, when a reporter brought up the fact his team’s three wins have come against opponents with a combined 3-11 record, Ryan said: “You can try to discredit us all you want. That’s fine. We know what we have in our building.’’
Woody conceded he didn’t think Ryan would last past this season, saying: “I thought it was going to be a really, really tough situation with a new GM hired, Rex a lame-duck coach, the quarterback situation was unsettled and there were a lot of question marks on the roster.’’
Now, having seen the way Ryan has this team playing, Woody called it a “no-brainer’’ for Idzik and team owner Woody Johnson to pony up with a contract extension.
“If they’re on the uptick in November and December and playing meaningful football, how do you get rid of him?’’ Woody said. “The biggest thing the Jets need and have always lacked is stability. In my opinion, what Rex has done since he came here is bring an identity to the organization that it didn’t have before he got there.
“They’re in transition now, but I like the pieces they have. They should build on what they have. It won’t be long before people really, really take this team seriously. People got caught up in all the stuff Rex used to do and that made him an easy target. But you’ve got to look at the body of work and give him credit for his coaching ability.’’
This is the evolution of Rex Ryan. Dead coach walking is walking tall.