Rex Ryan believes Woody Johnson never wanted to fire him as head coach of the New York Jets.

Ryan said the media "wouldn't allow" him to remain with the Jets after John Idzik was fired as general manager.

"We talk like brothers. I know Woody never wanted to fire me," Ryan told HBO's Andrea Kremer, via NFL.com. "I could've been his coach for 20 years, that's what Woody wanted. There's no question Woody wanted that."