THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- The New York Jets will interview Baltimore Ravens defensive co-ordinator Rex Ryan on Sunday about their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press.

Jets officials, including owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum, will speak with Ryan in Baltimore, according to the source, who requested anonymity because the individual wasn't authorized to discuss the search to replace the fired Eric Mangini.

Ryan's stock has steadily risen with the Ravens' post-season success. His defence forced three turnovers in Baltimore's 13-10 victory at Tennessee on Saturday. The Ravens will play at either Pittsburgh or San Diego next week for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

Ryan, 46, is in his fourth season leading the Ravens' defence and is also serving this season as assistant head coach to John Harbaugh. He's the son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan and is the twin brother of Oakland defensive co-ordinator Rob Ryan.

Rex Ryan was a candidate for the Ravens job after Brian Billick was fired last season and also interviewed for the vacant Miami and Atlanta jobs at the time.

Ryan will be the seventh known candidate interviewed by the Jets, following Jets assistants Brian Schottenheimer and Bill Callahan, New York Giants defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo, fired Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski, Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach/assistant head coach Russ Grimm and Indianapolis defensive co-ordinator Ron Meeks.

As of Saturday night, no other interviews were scheduled for next week.

The Jets spoke with Meeks on Friday at the team's practice facility in Florham Park, N.J. Meeks, 54, has been in charge of the Colts' defence for the last seven seasons and was a candidate for the Washington job last off-season that went to Jim Zorn.

He was the first minority candidate to speak with New York, putting the Jets in compliance with the NFL's Rooney Rule.