Former NFL coach and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, father of Buffalo Bills coach Rex and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, passed away Tuesday in Kentucky. He was reportedly 82, though his agent stated Ryan’s real age as 85, citing a paperwork error decades ago as reason for the confusion.
Buddy Ryan’s NFL legacy is far-reaching, but also a little complicated
Buddy Ryan never shied away from conflict in his time in the NFL.
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Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears, arguably the greatest defense of all time. He went on to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and, later, the Arizona Cardinals. He also had a brief, but memorable stint as the Houston Oilers defensive coordinator in 1993. Ryan’s impact on the game can be seen far and wide even today.
Now, several of Ryan's former players and members of his coaching tree are leading teams across the league. Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the architect of the defending Super Bowl champions' dominant defense, worked under Ryan during his time in Philadelphia. In 1984, Panthers coach Ron Rivera was a rookie linebacker on Ryan's Bears defense, and Ryan saw Rivera's potential as a coach almost immediately.
His influence can also be seen in the careers of his sons, who now coach together in Buffalo. Both Rex and Rob Ryan began their careers on their father’s coaching staff during his time in Arizona. Don’t be surprised if the Bills defense takes the field in Week 1 in Buddy’s “46” defense.
The Bears paid tribute to Ryan via Twitter, including a letter the players wrote to owner George Halas in 1981 asking him not to fire Ryan, which of course paid off four years later in the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.
Buddy Ryan was revered and respected for his defensive genius, but he was also a little tempestuous.
- Ryan and Bears head coach Mike Ditka had a relationship filled with conflict, and managed to field a successful team in spite of it.
- There was the Bounty Bowl, when Ryan allegedly put bounties of $500 and $200, respectively, on Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and kicker Luis Zendejas.
- Most infamously, there was the time Ryan punched his colleague, Oilers offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, during a game.
- And remember when he ran up the score on the Cowboys? Up 10 with the clock ticking, Ryan had quarterback Randall Cunningham fake a kneel down, instead throwing for the end zone. The Eagles won with a final score of 37-20.
SINGLETARY TO LA: The Los Angeles Rams have added former San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary to the staff as a defensive advisor. Singletary played for the Bears under Buddy Ryan, as did Rams coach Jeff Fisher.
FORMER COLTS RB DEAD: Zurlon Tipton died after accidentally shooting himself at a Michigan car dealership. The former running back, who played with the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 and 2015, was arrested in December for criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon after firing an AR-15 outside of his girlfriend's home.
RIGHT TACKLES ARE PEOPLE TOO: NFL teams need better play and production out of the right tackle position, because defenses are scheming to take advantage of that perceived weakness. Still, though the right tackle is often called upon to contain the opponent’s best pass rusher, teams currently value the left tackle much more highly.
BOYKIN WORKING FOR PLEA DEAL: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Trevone Boykin is still dealing with the consequences for an incident in December when he allegedly struck a police officer. He was charged with assault this week, but his agent believes the charges with be resolved soon and that the rookie will be ready to participate in training camp. A plea deal is the expected outcome for Boykin, which should finally put the incident to bed after it dominated most of the pre-draft process for the former TCU star.
FIND YOUR NFL SPIRIT ANIMAL: Pick the year you turned 18 and check the day your birthday is on to find out who your NFL spirit animal is. Is it a slow news day for us? It’s June. What do you think?
BREAKING: MARIOTA NOT RETIRING: A concerned young Titans fan was worried Marcus Mariota would retire soon. But the 22-year-old quarterback confirmed that he’s not hanging up his cleats anytime soon to a room of laughs. The bigger concern is whether or not the former Heisman Trophy winner can stay healthy after suffering through knee problems as a rookie. Mariota is hopeful that having two “workhorses” in the backfield, DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, should help.
THE FRIDGE IS SPIRALING: William “The Refrigerator” Perry was a fan favorite, but his time out of the spotlight hasn’t been kind to him. Perry is dealing with complications from diabetes, along with a list of other medical problems, and isn’t helping himself any with his alcoholism and refusal to get help.
PITTSBURGH DOESN’T MISS WALLACE: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace says he has improved in the years since he left the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it’s tough to say that the Steelers offense has missed him too much. Had he never left, Wallace may have given Pittsburgh his best years and the Steelers could’ve benefited, but the team hasn’t had much trouble replacing him with other dynamic receivers. Advantage: Pittsburgh.
BALDWIN SIGNED THROUGH 2020: The Seahawks signed wide receiver Doug Baldwin to a contract extension worth $46 million after he racked up more than 1,000 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015.
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