Sam Wyche

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Lore & Background

Wyche coached Cincinnati from 1984 to 1991, and his 64 wins with the Bengals were the most by a coach in franchise history until he was surpassed by Marvin Lewis in 2012. Wyche also played for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, St. Louis Cardinals, and Buffalo Bills. He also coached at the University of South Carolina and Indiana University, and for the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Buffalo Bills. Wyche was known as the 'Always Innovative Sam Wyche' by Norman Chad, as well as the nickname, 'Wicky Wacky Wyche' for his unconventional play-calling. He introduced the concept of having 12 or more players huddle on the field, then having a few leave the field, called the 'sugar huddle.' After a 1989 game against the Seahawks, he refused to allow the media into the locker room, a violation of NFL policy for which he was fined $3,000. A year later, he refused to allow a female reporter from USA Today in the locker room after a game, saying he did not want his players to be naked in front of her. The NFL fined him $27,000, the largest fine ever assessed for that specific violation.

In Their Own Story

On December 10, 1989, during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Riverfront Stadium, snowballs began raining down on the field in protest of an officiating call. The Seahawks refused to play from their own 4-yard line until the throwing stopped. Wyche was handed a house microphone and famously chided the crowd: "Will the next person that sees anybody throw anything onto this field, point 'em out, and get 'em out of here. You don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!" His relationship with the media was equally volatile; after losing that game, he barred reporters from the locker room, drawing a $3,000 fine. A year later, he refused entry to a female reporter from USA Today, stating he did not want his players "naked in front of her," resulting in a record $27,000 fine.

Reader's Guide

Wyche played college football at Furman University from 1963 to 1965 as a quarterback. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Carolina. He played for the Wheeling Ironmen of the semi-professional Continental Football League from 1966 through 1967. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 and played for them through 1970, then played for the Washington Redskins (1971–1973), Detroit Lions (1974), St. Louis Cardinals (1976), and Buffalo Bills (1976). His coaching career included stints as an assistant at the University of South Carolina (1967), with the San Francisco 49ers (1979–1982), as head coach at Indiana University (1983), head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1991), head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992–1995), and quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills (2004–2005). He also volunteered as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for Pickens High School in Pickens, South Carolina in 2002, 2003, and from 2006 to 2010.

Did You Know?

• Wyche was the first coach to use the no-huddle offense as a standard offense.
• He was fined $27,000 for refusing a female reporter locker room access, the largest fine ever assessed for that specific violation.
• Wyche played for the Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League before joining the Bengals.
• He earned his MBA from the University of South Carolina while working as an assistant coach there.