Former NFL Coach Buddy Ryan Dies at 82

The apex of Ryan’s career came in 1985, when he created and developed what most believe is the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. He had been battling cancer since 2011. His best were at Chicago, working as the Bears’ defensive coach under Mike Ditka, who credits Buddy’s notorious D in leading the team to the 1985 Super Bowl win. That’s a pretty high honor from a coach as accomplished as Ditka is.

His sons, Rex (head coach of the Buffalo Bills) and Rob (Buffalo Bills assistant head coach/defense), still coach football to this day.

Ryan served in the Korean War, went to OSU (then Oklahoma A&M) and eventually began a coaching career that included 28 seasons in the NFL. Ryan’s first job as a defensive coordinator came in 1976 with the Vikings under Bud Grant, like Ewbank a Hall of Fame coach. It also spreads to Bears fan who are old enough to remember just how dominant Ryan’s 46 defense was in the mid-1980s.

It was with the rival Bears, however, where he concocted the “46 defense” that overwhelmed the National Football League with its aggressiveness and unpredictability.

Ryan coached the Cardinals for two seasons beginning in 1994, amassing a 12-20 record. Despite going 43-35-1 and never winning a playoff game in his five years in Philadelphia, he was a beloved figure in the city. He was always there to add fire to a rivalry.

Current Eagles head coach Doug Pederson also commented. When asked about the accusation, Ryan simply stated “Why put a bounty on a kicker that’s in a six-week slump?”

“He’d try and get into your head, move you emotionally and he was phenomenal at it, ” said Joyner, who was able to spend time with Ryan just before his death. “You want to be sure he kicks”. His unit finished that season third in the league in yards allowed and points allowed and the only person in the NFL with enough knowledge of his system to continue it was Fisher. But they lost all three playoff games, and he was sacked after the 1990 season by Eagles owner Norman Braman despite a 43-35-1 record.

After leaving the Eagles, Ryan landed with the Houston Oilers in 1993, where he made some waves for punching fellow coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the sideline of a game during his only year there. He knew it would be his last game coaching that defense and he made sure to say goodbye to the players he loved.

To measure the impact and influence Ryan had on the game and so many lives, you have to look at the size of his personality.