Ex-Bears defensive coordinator Ryan battling

Ex-Bears defensive coordinator Ryan battling cancer
By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 3/23/2011 12:23 PM

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – According to the New York Daily News, former Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan was diagnosed with a cancer a few weeks ago.


The newspaper reported that Ryan, 77, underwent tests and received a second opinion Tuesday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.


Ryan served as Bears defensive coordinator from 1978-85. He created the “46” defense and coached three Hall of Famers in Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton and Richard Dent on a dominant unit that helped lead the Bears to the Super Bowl XX championship in 1985.

“It’s going to take more than this to get rid of him,” said Jets coach Rex Ryan, Buddy’s son. “That’s what he always says. He’s had other things in his life. He overcame encephalitis. He’s overcome cancer twice. He’s tough.”

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/New...?story_id=7681

Sorry to hear that I was always a big fan of the old crumudgeon. Great coach and great innovator and I'm damn glad we had him for a while. For now I'll side with what Rex says. He's a tough old bird and probably to ugly and ornery to die just yet.

GET WELL BUDDY! WE'LL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU.

It is a real shame that as we age, our body breaks down and medical maladies take shape to destroy what sustains us. I wish Buddy Ryan well. He was the spark plug behind the 1985 Bears, not Mike Ditka. Had it not been for Ryan, that defense might never have lived up to its designation as the most dominant defense of its, and perhaps any, time.