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Buddy Ryan Dies At Age 85

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan died on Tuesday morning at the age of 85.

Ryan coached the Eagles from 1986-1990, going 43-38-1 in five seasons and 0-3 in the playoffs. However, Ryan transformed the Eagles from an average team to a defensive powerhouse in the NFL.

Related: Pat Summitt, Winningest Coach In D1 History, Has Died At 64

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).

"One of the most beloved coaches in the history of Philadelphia has passed away, Buddy Ryan," Angelo Cataldi, who covered Ryan during his first year in Philly, said on Tuesday morning's 94WIP Morning Show as the news broke. "Buddy Ryan has passed away at 82-years-old."

Listen: Angelo Cataldi Remembers Buddy Ryan

 

"There was never, in my entire life -- talking about Buddy Ryan -- who polarized the city more. No individual ever did in my experience than Buddy Ryan. People that liked him, loved him blindly. And he came out the first year and said he was going to sweep the division games. The Eagles were not good the first year he was here. And he was going to take over, and he came in -- I came remember the first day the media was covering. And he said to us -- no coach has ever said this to me anywhere else in my life -- he said, 'If we lose a game, and I don't expect to, and the player who screwed doesn't directly say to you as a reporter that he screwed up, I want you to let me know. Because my players own up to everything they do, good or bad, that's the why I run my football team.'"

Photos: Remembering Buddy Ryan

Watch the time Buddy Ryan ran up the score against the Cowboys here

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