The Philadelphia Eagles released an official statement following the passing of former head coach Buddy Ryan on Tuesday morning.
First, from Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey 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."
Current Eagles head coach Doug Pederson also commented.
"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."
Ryan may have only coached for the Eagles for five seasons, but he clearly left a lasting impression on Philadelphia. RIP, Buddy.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) June 28, 2016