Former NFL head coach and Korean War veteran Buddy Ryan dead at 85
 

he was bad for my Az cards :2 cents::2 cents: R.I.P. i remember he said "you have winner in town"

Former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan passed away Monday from complications due to a lengthy battle with cancer, he was 85 years old. Best known for creating the 46 Defense and helping the 1985 Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX, Ryan was an American football coach for thirty-four years and was a part of two NFL Championship winning clubs. He is survived by his twin sons Rex and Rob Ryan who are football coaches as well.
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Born James David Ryan on February 17, 1931 in Frederick, Oklahoma; Buddy Ryan grew up in southern Oklahoma and at the age of eighteen was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War where he received a field promotion to Master Sergeant during his time in the 45th Infantry due to his leadership under fire. After completing his service to his country, Ryan later attended Oklahoma A&M University in 1952 and played for the Cowboys for four seasons, lettering in each one. Buddy Ryan received his first coaching job in 1957 as an assistant coach for Dub Wooten at Gainesville High School. Two seasons later, he promoted to head coach when Wooten left for another school but soon departed a year later to join him as High School Athletic Director.

Utilizing the discipline, schemes and strategy he learned whilst serving in the military, Ryan successfully implemented them into his coaching philosophy. He became the University of Buffalo's defensive line coach in 1961 and remained with the school until 1965. After coaching for several other colleges, Buddy Ryan finally achieved his dream of coaching for a professional football club when he joined the New York Jets of the American Football League in 1968 as their defensive line coach. He created several defensive line blitzing schemes along with defensive coordinator Walt Michaels which helped their team win Super Bowl III.

Buddy Ryan's knack for creating complex yet effective defensive plays made him a vital asset. He left the Jets in 1975 and joined the Vikings' coaching staff where he helped revitalized their aging "Purple People Eaters" defense. But his vision of running his own defense was fulfilled two year later when George Halas brought him into Chicago coach the Bears defense. During his tenure with the club, he designed the 46 Defense, a scheme that had eight defensive backs (four DB and four DL) in the box led by a strong middle linebacker.

The 46 defense helped the 1985 Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX but his growing animosity with head coach Mike Ditka (who was brought in 1983) got to a point where one of them had to go. Buddy Ryan was offered a head coaching position with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1986 season and he accepted. He joined the franchise and helped turn the club around, creating a vicious hard hitting defense led by "The Minister of Defense" Reggie White. During his five seasons with the Eagles, Ryan had three winning seasons and three straight playoff appearances but they could never get past the first round.

Ryan was fired by the Eagles and after brief retirement, joined the Houston Oilers coaching staff as their defensive coordinator. But he soon left after one season to join the Arizona Cardinals as their head coach and General Manager. His tenure with the club would last two years, after an eight win 1994 season, it was followed up with a dismal 4-12 year which led to his demise. Buddy Ryan officially retired as a NFL coach and retired to his ranch in Kentucky to breed horses.

Buddy Ryan was an innovative defensive coordinator and contributed greatly to the modern era of professional football. His defensive scheme of blitz packages and the creation of the 46 Defense has made him a legend in coaching. Despite his hard headed personality and conflict management style, Ryan earned the respect of his players and peers alike and for that he'll truly be missed


Former NFL head coach and Korean War veteran Buddy Ryan dead at 85 | Examiner.com