NFL Coach And Oklahoma Native Buddy Ryan Dies At Age 82

The NFL lost one of its most colorful and innovative defensive legends on Tuesday morning as Buddy Ryan died at the age of 82.

Ryan, the father of Bills head coach Rex Ryan and Buffalo defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, was one of the most brash, bold men in NFL history.

Ryan was born in Frederick, Oklahoma. 

The former Eagles and Cardinals coach was most notable for his stretch with the Chicago Bears -- Ryan was Chicago's defensive coordinator from 1978-1985, inventing the "46" defense and constructing perhaps the greatest defense in NFL history, the 1985 Bears. Mike Ditka, hired in 1982 by George Halas, retained Ryan, but the two weren't really fond of one another at the time.

The success in Chicago landed Ryan the head coaching position with the Philadelphia Eagles, where Ryan went 43-38-1 in five years (and 0-3 in the playoffs). 

Ryan won two Super Bowls as a defensive assistant coach, one with the New York Jets (Super Bowl III) and the other with the Chicago Bears (Super Bowl XX).