By John Dempsey, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) Legendary former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan has died. Ryan was one of the architects of the Bears 1986 Super Bowl championship team, designing the constantly blitzing “46” defense that stifled opponents, and led to the Bears only Super Bowl title.
Ryan’s agent James Solano confirms the former coach died in Kentucky at the age of 82. Ryan had long battled cancer.
The Bears carried Ryan off the field next to coach Mike Ditka after the team destroyed the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.
Ditka talked about Ryan on “The Big John Howell Show” on WLS, admitting he and Ryan’s strong personalities often clashed.
“I think people are people. We were just people and I think we had our agreements and our disagreements but I think there was respect both ways. I know there was a lot of respect on my part.”
Ryan and Ditka nearly came to blows at halftime of the Bears only loss during their championship season, a game against the Dolphins in Miami when Ditka wanted Ryan to rein in his aggressive blitzing strategy that Quarterback Dan Marino was able to successfully thwart.
However Ditka told WLS, “We had our differences but they were never anything that coulda got in the way of the football team. I mean we didn’t agree on everything but what he did defensively worked. It couldn’t work for anybody else because nobody else had that personnel to do it. I think you saw that. That personnel that we had in the 80’s was exceptional and it was perfect to play the kind of aggressive, blitzing defense that Buddy wanted to play. That’s what it was. It was the Bear defense.”
LISTEN to Mike Ditka talk exclusively with “Big” John about the life of Buddy Ryan here..
Ryan was also the linebackers coach for the New York Jets 1969 Super Bowl champions. After leaving the Bears he became head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Phoenix Cardinals. Ryan was the father of twin sons Rex and Rob Ryan, who have both been successful NFL coaches.
@ 2016 WLS-AM News
