Loved Sam and “You don’t live in Cleveland” is a favorite childhood memory of the Bengals. But I mean that's just part of his personality. Sam Wyche, the former Bengals quarterback and coach, passed away Tuesday after a brief battle with recurring melanoma at the age of 74, the team announced in a statement. With a nudge from Indiana's leadership, Wyche took the job. Gil Brandt @Gil_Brandt. Mentoring Montana in … He was 74. "It was fortunate for me, I think that I was with a broad-minded head coach who was on the cutting edge himself in trying stuff that really hadn’t been done before.”. And while Dick LeBeau is considered the father of the "zone blitz," he believes it doesn't come to fruition without Wyche. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died. And, oddly, Wyche was somewhat influential in Bengals history with what he did at a previous coaching stop: Teaching Joe Montana how to read defenses. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died. Bengals 50:Sam Wyche, the genius behind the no-huddle offense. "He was a very innovative coach, and I think he was more patient," LeBeau said. All the while, Wyche had been working on developing the no-huddle offense, which revolutionized the NFL and gave the Bengals an offensive edge over nearly every opponent. But I went back with him. After two seasons and a 15-17 record, the club and Wyche seemingly broke through with a 10-6 … Wyche was to be one of the last to know, but one of NBC's commentators, who Wyche said was a former teammate of his but didn't identify by name, informed him that the NFL wanted to end the no-huddle, so he was prepared when he got Rozelle's message. Sam Wyche was one of a kind among NFL head coaches. He was 74. The Enquirer brings you the 50 most influential people in Bengals history through various forms of media, bringing you the names and untold stories that shaped this franchise over its first half century -- good, bad and ugly. People thought he was crazy running the no-huddle as a base offense back in the 80s. Wyche… He was raised along with a brother Bubba Wyche. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/03/us/sam-wyche-dies/index.html Sam Wyche, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl and later coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four seasons, has died at age 74 following complications from melanoma. They could not come up with an answer to it, so the coaches all got together and they literally put through a rule change that required time for the defense to match up.". Wyche is a former player and former head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. Samuel David Wyche (/ hw aɪ ʃ / wysh; January 5, 1945 – January 2, 2020) was an American professional football player and coach. I always enjoyed being around Sam Wyche. Despite a high-powered offense… San Francisco had already established a dynasty based on Walsh’s state-of-the-art West Coast offense. “We used to call Sam ‘wicky-wacky,’ because he would do some things that people would go what?" ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Wyche would lead the Bengals to last playoff season before the new century, going 9-7 in 1990 – a season that remains the last one to include a postseason victory. Wyche, who had a history of blood clots in his lungs and had a heart transplant in 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina, died Thursday of melanoma, officials with the Bengals confirmed. Wyche would play in Cincinnati for three years before moving on to Washington, where he played in a Super Bowl and finished his playing career in St. Louis in 1976. And it worked, and it was like wow, this guy’s genius.”. On the other side of the ball, Wyche's defensive coordinator was cooking up a new defense. Wyche had an innovative offensive mind and pioneered the no-huddle offense that helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl after the 1988 season. His greatest impact in the Queen City came when Paul Brown convinced him to leave Indiana University after just one year in Bloomington to replace Forrest Gregg in 1984. It also forced the NFL to change its rules. Wyche introduced the concept of having 12 or more players huddle on the field, then having a few leave the field. The no-huddle offense has become a staple of the NFL in 2013, but Sam Wyche, who introduced the system to the league in the 1980s, has revealed that the NFL tried to stop it when he was coaching the Cincinnati Bengals. Becuase some of his ideas were so out there they couldn't work, they were unworkable. Sam Wyche was born on Atlanta, Georgia, the U.S in 1945. Smart," said Wyche's former Bengals teammate and assistant Bruce Coslet. So wurde diese Offense schließlich ganz normaler Bestandteil aller Angriffsreihen. The no-huddle offense has become the rage, but where did it begin? Adding Tyrod Taylor gives Texans 'contingency' plan for Deshaun Watson-less season, Ryan Fitzpatrick's arrival won't keep Washington from drafting a QB early, Source: Lions finalizing trade for Rams' Brockers, Source: WFT adds CB Jackson on 3 years, $42M, Ex-Packers RB Williams says he's joining Lions, Sources: Texans adding QB Taylor on 1-year deal, Sources: Giants, DL Williams reach $63M deal, Source: Pats, TE Henry agree to 3 years, $37.5M, Source: Jags land CB Griffin with $44.5M deal, Source: Dolphins replace Fitz with Brissett at QB. He was 74. It also forced the NFL to change its rules. During the 1985 season, the team wore a special patch marking their tenth season. SWC – In 1989 you handed the Oilers and then coach Jerry Glanville a 61-7 beat down where you continued to pass until the final minutes of a game even after the score was 30-0 at half time. Following the season head coach Sam Wyche was fired and replaced by assistant Dave Shula. After two seasons and a 15-17 record, the club and Wyche seemingly broke through with a 10-6 mark in 1986, missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker. He was 74. Very innovative. Wyche said the league had previously informed then-Bengals owner Paul Brown and NBC, which was televising the game, of its plans. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL's norms along the way, has … Will Dallas Cowboys' free-agency approach change any in 2021? He started nine games at quarterback with a 2-7 record. Sam Wyche Last updated May 02, 2020. "Paul Brown called me in and in those days you did not take an agent into the room with you. Wyche, who had a history of blood clots in his lungs and had a heart transplant in 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina, died Thursday of melanoma, officials with the Bengals confirmed. Prior to the team's season finale in 1995 against the Lions, coach Sam Wyche suggested that the Buccaneers wear the orange pants with their orange jerseys. Sam’s birthday is celebrated on the 5 th of January and holds Capricorn zodiac sign. It was a unique concept that seemed like it could be born only from a unique mind. So we suddenly had this big advantage," Bengals owner and president Mike Brown said. Marv Levy selbst wurde nur wenig später der größte Fan dieser Offense. Shula, the son of former Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Colts head coach Don Shula , served as the team’s wide receivers coach after a stint with the Miami Dolphins under his father, and the Dallas Cowboys as its offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach under head coach Jimmy Johnson . Coach Sam Wyche. He was 74. Sam was the true innovator. Always hates that the Bills were given credit by many for revolutionizing NFL offenses through using no-huddle when they petitioned the league office to ban the sugar huddle right before the ‘88 AFC Championship. I used to like to say I took a lot of his ideas and made 'em work. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died. "I turned down Paul four times. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died. Sam Wyche was born on Atlanta, Georgia, the U.S in 1945. Sam Wyche Interviews NFL legend Sam Wyche talks Joe Montana, Bill Walsh, Jerry Glanville, the Super Bowl and getting fired by the Bengals. Heck of a guy and a brilliant offensive mind. The relationship between Sam Wyche and the Cincinnati Bengals began with a tryout at St. Xavier High School in the summer of 1968, when Paul Brown signed Wyche to play quarterback for his startup AFL franchise. "I said PB, you don't want a crybaby – and we had a great relationship too, by the way – I could talk to him and not feel uncomfortable in expressing how I really felt about things. I even cried on the fourth time," Wyche said with a laugh. I always enjoyed being around Sam Wyche. Wyche’s 64 wins with the Bengals were the most … Sam Wyche Read More » Wyche was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2019 and died at his home in Pickens, South Carolina, on January 2, 2020, three days short of his 75th birthday. In 2002, 2003 and from 2006–2008, Wyche volunteered as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Pickens High School Blue Flame in Pickens, South Carolina. He's a very brilliant guy. 3,548 likes. Wyche wasn't about to teach an impossibly complicated offense to scabs, so he didn't. Wyche was drafted … Sam Wyche, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl and later coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four seasons, has died at age 74 following complications from melanoma. You go through some slings and arrows and you go down some blind alleys, but Sam was patient with me and let us have the time to work it out. Sam passed away on January 2, 2020 after a short, but aggressive bout of metastatic melanoma. He went on to become known as one of the best offensive minds in football. That doesn’t happen overnight and you go out the next day and it works. Sam Wyche, the former Indiana University coach who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged … When operating in the no-huddle, the offense typically lines up in a predetermined formation at scrimmage, possibly with a predetermined play in mind. Sam passed away on January 2, 2020 after a short, but aggressive bout of metastatic melanoma. 30 years ago:Sam Wyche’s ‘You don’t live in Cleveland’ speech. "What that did was make it difficult, even impossible, for the opponent to substitute and matchup. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals, died on Thursday at his home in Pickens, South Carolina, 3 days before his 75th birthday. He was raised along with a brother Bubba Wyche. With a nudge from Indiana's leadership, Wyche took the job. "I immediately told the NFL delegate along with the referee who was in the office there with me and [now-Bengals owner] Mike Brown, I said 'Go get Pete Rozelle on the phone right now because I want to tell him that he's interfering with the competitive balance of this game, and if we get penalized and lose this ballgame, the first thing I'm bringing up in the press conference is this conversation and there are a lot of gamblers out there who aren't going to be very happy.'. The rise of the no-huddle offense When Walsh took over in San Francisco, he brought along Sam Wyche, Cook's former backup with the Bengals, to coach the passing game. He was 74. Wyche is a former player and former head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. With Paul Brown anyway," Wyche recalled. Heck of a guy and a brilliant offensive mind. Gil Brandt @Gil_Brandt. Rather, the lack of huddle allows the offense to threaten to snap the ball quickly, denying the defending team time to substitute players and communicate effectively between coaches and players. "He was a darn good head coach. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died. He was 74.Wyche… "And then two hours before he said, 'You can't use that.'". https://scfootballhof.org/inductees/inductees-2013/sam-wyche Wyche had an innovative offensive mind and pioneered the no-huddle offense that helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl after the 1988 season. Sam Wyche, who guided the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl during the 1988 season by using a no-huddle offense, died Thursday at the age of 74. He was 74. But for the most part, he was a brilliant offensive mind.". Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. Samuel David “Sam” Wyche is a former American football player and current coach at Pickens High School in South Carolina. He was 74. Sam’s birthday is celebrated on the 5 th of January and holds Capricorn zodiac sign. "He was a little flaky. He's a hell of a coach. "I'm not a stranger to Cincy at all," Wyche said. He was a great teacher," Montana said. "It wasn't 20 seconds before he came back, he left the room and came back, I'm not exaggerating, I bet it wasn't 20 seconds. Bengals 50:Sam Wyche, the genius behind the no-huddle offense Wyche was drafted by the Bengals in 1968 out of Furman University. 'Uh, commissioner says go ahead and use the no-huddle, no problem,'" Wyche said. He was 74. Wyche, who now lives in South Carolina and received a heart transplant in November, 2016, still has family in Cincinnati and visits frequently. Perhaps best known for introducing the use of the No-huddle offense as a standard offense (as opposed to use at the end of the half), Wyche's greatest achievement as a head coach was leading the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII, which they lost to the 49ers 20–16, relinquishing the … He was 74. This was meant to confuse the defense as to the personnel grouping and give the offense an advantage. "And he knew how to use it. Heck of a guy and a brilliant offensive mind. He was a player and head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals and a quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers.As head coach, he led the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII, which they lost to the 49ers 20 – 16, relinquishing the lead on a last-minute touchdown. For the 1993 season, the Buccaneers added a commemorative … With Andy Dalton gone, which way will Dallas Cowboys turn for backup QB? "The team would go yo, you sure that’s going to work? Sam Wyche; No. Sam Wyche, who was the last coach to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl, but who was later fined by the National Football League for barring a … "I don't know about other teams. Whether it’s in looking at today’s offenses around the league, or the most successful in his own era, Sam Wyche was the architect of a trailblazing NFL system. Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died. This season marks the 50th of football for the Cincinnati Bengals, five decades filled with highs, lows, dynamic personalities and innovations that changed the face of the National Football League. Once the strike was over, the Bengals went into a free fall and they finished the season 4-11. People thought he was crazy running the no-huddle as a base offense … He led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 1988 but perhaps is best known for taking the field microphone during a game against the Seahawks in 1989. I sat down and Paul eventually went over the workout and he offered me a contract, a one-year, $11,000 contract in 1968 to come play quarterback.". Sam Wyche, who pushed the boundaries as an offensive innovator with the Cincinnati Bengals and challenged the NFL’s protocols along the way, has died. "You don’t make something that was as far off the diving board as we were going. "We'd been using it for five years, that's all we used all season long, we had the No. I always enjoyed being around Sam Wyche. He was 74. But that was an absolute no-no. The no-huddle offense is usually employed as part of a hurry-up offense, but it is not necessarily an attempt to snap the ball (begin the play) more quickly. People thought he was crazy running the no-huddle as a base offense …