1985 Chicago Bears Coaches Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan To Reunite
Published by Nicholas Fisch on September 7, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
As the Bears of 2010 prepare for their journey to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV, news is coming out about a reunion of the two best coaches in NFL history.
Twenty-five years after their Super Bowl XX win, head coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan will finally get together at “Glory Days: Legends of the Chicago Bears,” a November 5 celebration of the 25th anniversary of Super Bowl XX at Arie Crown Theater, according to chicagobreakingsports.com.
Ditka was known for being the offensive mind behind the 1985 Bears, led by quarterback Jim McMahon, wide receiver Willie Gault, and running back Walter Payton.
Ryan lead the 46 defense, named after safety Doug Plank. It was led by defensive linemen Richard Dent and Dan Hampton and linebacker Mike Singletary.
The Bears went 15-1 in 1985, and their only loss was on Monday Night Football to the Miami Dolphins, 38-24.
Ditka and Ryan had a falling out before, during, and after the 1985 season, as Ryan thought he deserved some of the credit for the Super Bowl victory. Ditka acknowledged this in 2010, saying, “Without Buddy Ryan, we wouldn’t have won the championship, it’s that simple. Those guys believed in him, and they believed in everything he did.”
Ditka later became head coach of the New Orleans Saints, infamously known as the person who traded all of the Saints‘ picks to acquire running back Ricky Williams.
Ryan became coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1986. He also coached the Arizona Cardinals. They never reached the same level of success they did while with the Bears in 1985, however.
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