Sam Wyche

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Sam Wyche (born January 5, 1945) is a former American football player and head coach, who currently serves as an assistant coach in the NFL. 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 Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII, where they dropped a last-minute 20-16 decision to the San Francisco 49ers.

Examples of his Outspoken Behavior

Known as an emotional coach, he bonded well with his players and occasionally collided with superiors. His ongoing feud with Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville was best exemplified in late 1989, when the Bengals scored early and often in a 61-7 thrashing. He also helped stoke the flames of the Cleveland - Cincinnati intrastate rivalry with several other comments and play calling during his tenure.

On December 24, 1991, just three years after the Bengals' Super Bowl appearance, Wyche was fired by owner Mike Brown, who had taken over the team upon the death of his father's, club founder Paul Brown four months earlier. Controversy erupted when the Bengals claimed Wyche had resigned, relieving the team of any future payments, but Wyche stated he was fired.

He went on to spend the next four years as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Following his dismissal at the conclusion of the 1995 season, he became a broadcaster, first for NBC, the CBS.

Timeline

1945: Born January 5 in Atlanta
1963-65: Played quarterback at Furman University
1967: Attended University of South Carolina, received MBA, also was assistant coach
1968: Played for the Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League
1968-1970: Played quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals
1971-1973: Played for Washington Redskins (played in Super Bowl VII)
1974: Played for Detroit Lions
1976: Played for St. Louis Cardinals
1976: Played for Buffalo Bills
1979-1982: Assistant coach for San Francisco 49ers
1983: Head coach Indiana University
1984-1991: Head coach Cincinnati Bengals
1992-1995: Head coach for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1996: Worked as a sports analyst with Marv Albert on a weekly NFL game for NBC
1997-1998: Was promoted to the studio on NBC's weekly pre-game and half time shows
1998-1999: Worked as an analyst by CBS with Kevin Harlan on the weekly NFL games
2000: Underwent a biopsy on lymph nodes in his chest. His left vocal cord was severed during the procedure, leaving his voice a whisper.
2004: Quarterbacks coach for Buffalo Bills

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