Buddy Ryan

The defensive coordinator who built the 46 defense and the 1985 Bears' record-setting unit.

Buddy Ryan (James David Ryan, 1931-2016) was an American football coach whose 35 seasons in the NFL and AFL included eight years as the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator, from 1978 to 1985. He later served as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, and many regard him as one of the greatest defensive minds the sport has produced.

Quick Facts

Born: 17 February 1931
Birthplace: Frederick, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died: 28 June 2016
Place of death: Shelbyville, Kentucky, U.S.
College: Oklahoma State
Highlights: 2× Super Bowl champion as assistant coach (III, XX)

Facts from the source article.

Background

Ryan came to Chicago in 1978 when owner George Halas hired him to run the defense. There he devised the 46 defense, a scheme named for safety Doug Plank, though it took until 1981 and Mike Singletary's command of the middle of the field for the system to be perfected. His players were so devoted to him that when head coach Neill Armstrong was dismissed in 1982 they asked Halas either to promote Ryan or to make the new coach keep him as coordinator.

Mike Ditka got the head job instead, and the two feuded in the open even though Ditka largely left the defense to Ryan. During the 1985 Monday night game in Miami, with Chicago 12-0 and behind 31-10, Ditka challenged Ryan to a fight at halftime and players had to pull the two apart; the 38-24 defeat was the team's only loss that year. The season ended with a 46-10 rout of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX, after which the defense carried Ryan off the field right behind Ditka, the first time two coaches had been carried off at a Super Bowl. That 1985 unit set several league records, led the NFL in turnovers forced and allowed the fewest yards, points and first downs.

Before Chicago, Ryan had coached the defensive line of the New York Jets team that won Super Bowl III and the Minnesota Vikings' Purple People Eaters, where he started work on the nickel scheme that became the 46. The Eagles hired him as head coach after the Super Bowl XX season. His sons Rex Ryan and Rob Ryan both became NFL coaches.