Nick Piccone
While Jeffrey Lurie didn’t own the Eagles when Buddy Ryan was the head coach, he still knows how much of an impact and how beloved Ryan is in this city. He and current Eagles head coach Doug Pederson released the following statements on the death of Ryan earlier today.
Lurie: “Buddy Ryan was arguably one of the greatest defensive masterminds in NFL history and forever left his mark on the Eagles organization and the city of Philadelphia. Over the last 20-plus years, I had the pleasure of discussing football with Buddy and I always came away from those conversations intrigued by his knowledge and passion for the game. On behalf of myself and the entire Eagles family, I’d like to offer our deepest condolences to the Ryan family.”
Pederson: “Buddy Ryan was one of the most creative and innovative defensive minds in the game of football. It was easy to sense his passion for the game and how much his players loved playing for him. His defensive philosophy remains a big part of the game today. He is a legend in our sport. My thoughts and prayers go out to Rex, Rob, Jim and the entire Ryan family.”
We’ll have reaction from former and current players, coaches, and more shortly right here.