Don Coryell Changed The Face Of Pro Football

July 3, 2010   ·   Bill Hare   ·   Jump to comments

Don Coryell died Thursday at the age of 85 according to a news release from the San Diego Chargers, the team with which he enjoyed his greatest coaching success.
Coryell died at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in suburban La Mesa. The Chargers revealed that he had been ill for some time but did not state a cause of death.
To say that Coryell changed the face of professional football involves not even the slightest exaggeration. His imaginative offensive attack led by future NFL Hall of Famer Dan Fouts was labeled “Air Coryell” and brought misery to opposing defensive coordinators.
After learning of Coryell’s death Fouts told the Associated Press:
“We’ve lost a man who has contributed to the game of pro football in a very lasting way with his innovations and with his style.  They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery -- look around, it’s there.”
The Chargers offense was so good that during one tough AFC champi...

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