# NFL coach Buddy Ryan dies at 85

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coach-buddy-ryan-dies-at-85/758654>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 28, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coach-buddy-ryan-dies-at-85/758654 "2016-06-28T23:13:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coach-buddy-ryan-dies-at-85/758654/1 "2016-06-28T23:13:46Z")

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[He was also, of course, father of the currently coaching Ryan twins.](http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/16579465/former-nfl-coach-defensive-guru-buddy-ryan-dies-age-85)

Bad day for well known sports coaches.

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**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coach-buddy-ryan-dies-at-85/758654/2 "2016-06-28T23:57:47Z")

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Kevin Gilbride can finally sleep soundly.

RIP Buddy, you were one of a kind.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coach-buddy-ryan-dies-at-85/758654/3 "2016-06-29T00:22:30Z")

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His defenses got results. I’m not sure Buddy could get away with that “rip their fucking heads off” mentality today. New Orleans found that out the hard way a couple years ago.

But at the time, Buddy was coaching within the rules and he certainly left an impression on a lot of battered and bloodied offenses. His time with Mike Ditka and the Bears will be remembered for a long time.

> **[Mike Ditka on Buddy Ryan: No way we win anything without his defense](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2016/06/28/mike-ditka-buddy-ryan-chicago-bears/86463092/)**
>
> Former Bears head coach and his defensive coordinator had strained relationship.

> [@](#):
>
> "Buddy was such an integral part of the Chicago Bears and the ‘85 Bears,” Ditka told the NFL Network. “There’s no way we win anything without his defense and without his coaching. I think everybody understands that. We had that great offensive line, the great Walter Payton, (quarterback Jim) McMahon and great receivers, but we won because of our defense. That’s just the way it was.”

RIP dude.