- Target:
- Professional Football Hall of Fame
- Region:
- United States of America
Born in Frederick, Oklahoma in 1931, the great James David Ryan started on an epic journey that would serve to touch the lives of many. James Ryan, or as he was more commonly known as "Buddy", would go on to be one of the greatest, yet most unaccredited coaches of all time. He has led some of the NFL's greatest defenses of all time.
During the 1976 and 1977 season he was the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings historic "Purple People Eaters" defense. After that he left the Vikings for the Chicago Bears where he went on to form what may be his greatest accomplishment, the 46 Defense. This brilliant scheme changed the game of football. It was the key aspect to forming what is known as the greatest defense of all time, the 85 Bears.
Buddy had a knowledge for the game that few others had. Sadly it has not been recognized as much as it deserves to be. His players however, were definitely present to his brilliance. Buddy Ryan can be accredited for guiding and mentoring many of the NFL's greatest defensive players of all time, and they would all vouch for his skill and care for his players. He touched the lives of them, and no one was hurt more after his passing in the summer of 2016.
We, the undersigned, call on the Professional Football Hall of Fame to submit James David "Buddy" Ryan for enshrinement in Canton.
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