Buddy Ryan was a defensive innovator who oversaw perhaps the greatest defense in football history: the 1985 Bears. Ryan created the 46 defense, an aggressive strategy whose goal was overwhelming pressure on the quarterback, upon his arrival as Bears defensive coordinator in 1978. The 46 eventually would be used as the Bears’ base defense under head coach Mike Ditka. A master of both defensive strategy and player motivation, the fiery Ryan became a rare legend in Chicago – unusual for any assistant coach. And he would not be forgotten in another city, Philadelphia, whose Eagles hired Ryan as their head coach in 1986 and led the Eagles to three straight 10+ win seasons. An Oklahoma native and a former Army master sergeant during the Korean War, Ryan later passed the sport of football down to his children, Rex and Rob Ryan, who became NFL coaches.