Great defensive mind. Super Bowl Jets, Super Bowl Vikings, Super Bowl Bears, Eagles. All great defenses that attacked the QB. Funny guy. Referred to players by their numbers, even in the hotel corridors.
The Bounty Bowl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounty_Bowl
NFL Legend. RIP.
>>Although Mike Ditka was the head coach, many thought it was Ryan’s coaching of the defense that really made the 1985 Bears one of the best teams in NFL history.
There WERE NOT one of the best teams in NFL history. The 1985 NFL was one of the weakest years in history. The Bears were literally the only good team. With basically the same team for several years, the Bears didn’t win another playoff game until 1988, and in 1985 they won 3 of the 5 total they won in the decade! The Cowboys and 49ers both had 3 playoff wins by the end of 1981. Hell, the Cowboys teams that never got to the Super Bowls in the early 1980s were better than the Bears team that did and won.
It would be accurate to say the Bears had a stout defense, giving up only 12 points per game, but even that is a bit misleading. Only 5 of those wins were over teams with a better than .500 record. The steel curtain or Doomsday probably would have had 6 or 7 shutouts. The Bears had 2 and gave up 29 and 24 to Tampa and Minnesota respectively. Plus, the ‘86 Bears, WITHOUT RYAN, gave up fewer points per game than the ‘85 one.
Out of all SB winners, I’d put this Bears team in the upper part of the lower half. Right around the middle, give or take 3 teams. McMahon was one of the 10 worst QBs to win the SB. He had some talent but couldn’t stay healthy, didn’t work very hard, and was a bit of a crap-head.
Buddy Ryan was always a jerk. It also seems that his twin sons are following suit.
Houston Oiler Sean Jones said he knew all about Ryan and was worried when he first took over the Oilers and called Jones to his office. Ryan said “I heard you’re an asshole. I’m making you team captain.”
RIP.