National Basketball Association

Fans greet Jets' Ryan at his home

Published Jan. 22, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan got some unexpected guests with his morning coffee Saturday when 200 fans showed up outside his New Jersey home for a surprise pep rally at 7:15 a.m.

The sign-toting crowd packed his tree-lined street in Summit after the town's mayor organized the event by spreading a viral email invitation, complete with Ryan's home address.

While this may sound like an invasion of a celebrity resident's privacy, Mayor Jordan Glatt insisted he got an OK from Ryan's wife, Michelle.

A cheerful Mrs. Ryan -- wearing brown, suede Ugg boots -- briefly wandered out to watch the festivities and snap photos.

"It's just a way to say thank you," Glatt said.

The mayor said he and the local high school football coach were in on sending out the invitations.

"It started by viral email on Thursday morning," he said. "We sent email lists to [school] sports teams."

A few fans worried that Ryan might be in for a rude awakening.

"I hope he'll be thrilled," said Jill LaZare, one of Ryan's neighbors. "I hope he's not upset."

Ryan took the spontaneous rally in good humor. He briefly greeted the crowd as he walked out to get into his pickup truck for the drive to the team's Florham Park practice facility at 7:45 a.m.

"You guys are great for being out here," he said, giving a brief wave and driving away.