Buddy Ryan: Who he was, what he said
Born: Feb. 17, 1931
Died: June 28, 2016
Facts about his life
- Four-year letterman as an offensive lineman at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State).
- Coached at the University of Buffalo, Pacific and Vanderbilt before landing his first pro job as the defensive line coach with the Jets in 1968.
- Joe Namath gets the glory for guaranteeing a win, but it was Ryan's Jets defense that held the powerful Colts to just one touchdown in Super Bowl 3. Baltimore came into the game averaging more than 28 points per game. New York beat 'em, 16-7.
- Ryan's next stop was Minnesota for two years where he was the d-line coach for the "Purple People Eaters."
- He was hired by George Halas in 1978 to coordinate the Bears defense.
- When Chicago fired all of its coaches after the 1981 season, Bears defensive players saved Ryan's job by writing a letter to Halas imploring Ryan be retained.
- Four seasons later, the 1985 Bears defense - using Ryan's famed 46 scheme - became the measuring stick for all others.
- So beloved, Ryan was carried off the field by his players after the Super Bowl win. This was an unprecedented gesture at the time.
- Two days later, he was given his first pro head coaching job by the Eagles. Dolphins assistant David Shula and former Philadelphia Stars coach Jim Mora previously turned downed the job. Steelers defensive coordinator Tony Dungy and Eagles assistant Fred Bruney also were considered.
- Ryan particularly hated the Cowboys, even going so far as to supposedly offer his players a bounty in 1989 to take out quarterback Troy Aikman ($500) and kicker Luis Zendejas ($200).
- Went 43-35-1 in five seasons as the Eagles head coach, but an 0-3 mark in the playoffs led to his firing after the 1990 season.
- After sitting out for two seasons, Ryan became the defensive coordinator for the Houston Oilers. The highlight of that season, at least from a national perspective, was the 59-year-old Ryan getting into a fight with 42-year-old offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.
- Was hired by the Cardinals and immediately boasted that "you've got winner in town." Ryan went 8-8 in his first season, 4-12 in his last and was done coaching after the 1995 season.
Quotable
Some of the more interesting things that were said during Buddy Ryan's tenure as Eagles head coach:
"Ryan's going to do with offense what he did with defense in Chicago. You're going to see the most exciting football you've ever seen in Philadelphia."
- Norman Braman, the night before Ryan was introduced as head coach.
"I expect to get along just fine with Buddy. He's the boss. He'll have free rein. I got along with Marion Campbell, too. I never picked up a telephone and attempted to call a play."
- Braman, the day he hired Ryan
"I don't think it's anywhere (near) what they offered (Mike) Quick, and (Roynell Young is) just as important to this football team as Quick is. You all go talk to Harry and the guy in France about it."
- Ryan, frustrated that 10 of his players were holding out during training camp, takes a jab at Braman, who was vacationing in his European villa at the time.
"If he's as good as I think he is, he'll compete for a starting job. But he's going to have to learn. He'll start off being the third receiver, and things like that."
- Ryan, after the Eagles acquired wide receiver Cris Carter in a 1987 supplemental draft
"All he does is catch touchdowns."
- Ryan explaining why he cut Carter three years later. What the coach wasn't saying was that Carter had serious drug and alcohol problems, something Carter disclosed in 1997. Getting released, Carter has said getting released made him turn his life around. He went on to a Hall of Fame career with Minnesota.
"Everything I've been able to do, I owe to Buddy Ryan."
- Linebacker Mike Singletary, captain of the '85 Bears defense, when asked about Ryan
"In 18 years I've defensed every damn offense in the NFL, so I think I'm probably more qualified than most offensive coordinators."
- Ryan on questions about his offensive acumen when he was hired by the Eagles
"I'll probably give my offensive guy the same kind of leeway I gave Ditka."
- Ryan, needling the Bears head coach one more time
"I'm not overly critical of people, I don't think. I just want perfection."
- Ryan explaining his coaching style
"I'd trade him for a sixpack. It doesn't have to be cold."
- Ryan, on Eagles running back Earnest Jackson.