Two of those happen to be his twin brothers, Rex Ryan and Rob Ryan.
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The always outspoken Ryan was a linebackers coach for the 1968 New York Jets and coordinated the ground-breaking 46 defense for the ’85 Chicago Bears, one of the NFL’s greatest defenses. The Jets led the AFL in defense that season; Ryan also played a part in constructing a gameplan that held the Baltimore Colts to 7 points in the Jets’ 16-7 win over the Colts in Super Bowl III.
In the 1985 playoffs, the Bears defense shutout both the L.A. Rams and the New York Giants en route to a 46-10 drubbing of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.
Ryan coached in the NFL for 26 seasons and earned a reputation as an influential defensive coordinator after forging one of American football’s top defense strategies.
Current Eagles head coach Doug Pederson also commented. To this day he is still the only assistant coach to ever receive that honor.
“Buddy Ryan was the architect of the greatest defense our league has seen”, Bears chairman George H. McCaskey said.
FILE – In this December 1, 1985, file photo, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan gestures during a press conference in Chicago. “Buddy’s influence will be carried on by defensive coaches for generations to come”.
Ryan, 82, has been in declining health in recent years.
But if you need to remember just one thing about the coach who died Tuesday, it shouldn’t be those moments.
After his success in Chicago, Ryan was hired as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1986.
Ryan’s first job as a defensive coordinator came in 1976 with the Minnesota Vikings under Bud Grant, like Ewbank a Hall of Fame coach.
All in all, Ryan helped shape the careers of such National Football League legends like Mike Singletary , Reggie White, Richard Dent, Randall Cunningham, Alan Page, and Jerome Brown.
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Ryan was borderline universally beloved by the players who worked under his defensive guidance. San Francisco’s offense managed just two touchdowns against Ryan’s defense in those three games, and the 49ers’ longest touchdown drive was only 45 yards. Though he had his run-ins with other coaches, to his players he was respected and admired.
