Buddy Ryan Is Dead At 82

Former Philadelphia Eagles coach and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan has died. He was 82.

Ryan was a defensive genius of his era. He utilized the 46 defense, which stacked the box with eight players and pushed opponents to pass. The gamble of a scheme was easier to execute when Ryan had Mike Singletary at middle linebacker, but when it worked, it was unstoppable. Here’s Bill Belichick gushing over the scheme:

Ryan’s work with the 1985 Bears resulted in the single greatest NFL defense of all time:

Ryan was also involved in notable moments that didn’t feature him showing off his defensive prowess. There was the Eagles game in 1987 where he ran up the score against Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys:

And the time he tried to punch his offensive coordinator, Kevin Gilbride:

Though Ryan had been out of football since 1995, his loud mouth and defensive prowess live on in the form of his two sons, Rex and Rob. Rob joined Rex on the Buffalo Bills this season, and the two told MMQB’s Jenny Vrentas that they hoped their father could see them on the same team this fall:

VRENTAS: What does your dad think about the two of you coaching together?

ROB: He’s struggling (health-wise). That’s another reason…

REX: …we’re going for broke, man.

ROB: Because, who knows? He’s not going to be able to watch us coach for much longer, I don’t think. But hopefully he can see this one, because we have got big plans. Bring Belichick on. We got him.