Finally!

https://www.chargers.com/news/don-coryell-chargers-head-coach-elected-pro-football-hall-of-fame

Pioneering Chargers' Head Coach Don Coryell Elected into Pro Football
Hall of Fame

Feb 09, 2023 at 07:39 PM

Don Coryell, the pioneering Chargers head coach of the late 1970s and
1980s who led the National Football League into an era of explosive
offensive football, has been officially selected for enshrinement into
the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Hall announced on Thursday.

"Don Coryell has had a tremendous influence on the game we know and love
today," said Dean Spanos, Chargers Owner and Chairman of the Board.
"Whether it was through the coaches he mentored, the players he taught
and led, the offenses he orchestrated or the defenses that were created
to stop his offenses, today's NFL is a direct reflection of Don's mind
and imagination. While it's obviously been a long time coming, we're
grateful that his family, as well as the players he meant so much to,
are now officially able to welcome him to his rightful place in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame and celebrate his legacy."

Ahead of his time, the influential coach revolutionized the game through
his famed and electrifying "Air Coryell" offense. Coryell's offensive
genius not only changed the game of football, his teachings and concepts
are still prevalent throughout the collegiate and pro levels today.
After first becoming an NFL Head Coach with the St. Louis Cardinals in
1973, NFL offenses averaged nearly 45 more yards per game while
utilizing his pass-heavy schemes, use of the tight end position became
more prevalent, the dime defense saw its first implementation and the
"passing tree" numeric system was adopted into the mainstream.

"Don Coryell has earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,"
said Chargers Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts of his former head
coach. "Simply put, Air Coryell changed the game on both sides of the
ball. One cannot write the history of the National Football League
without the contributions of Coach Coryell."

Coryell, a member of the Chargers Hall of Fame, was hired as the team's
head coach in 1978 and immediately led the team to its first winning
season since 1969. In the following seasons, Coryell led the Chargers to
four division championships (including The Epic in Miami), three
straight division titles (1979-81) and four consecutive trips to the
playoffs (1979-82). After 14 seasons as an NFL head coach, Coryell
posted a 111-83-1 record, making him the only coach in history to win
100 games at both the professional and collegiate levels.

The "Air Coryell" offense was adopted once Coryell became head coach of
the Chargers. Headed by Fouts, Hall of Fame Tight End Kellen Winslow and
Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Charlie Joiner, the Chargers offense led the
NFL in total offense five times, passing yards six times (ranked second
once during that period) and scoring three times. Fouts led the NFL in
passing yards for four straight seasons (1979-1982) and became the first
player in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in three consecutive
seasons (1979-1981). "Air Coryell" focused on a pass-first offense
predicated on moving the ball downfield allowing the Chargers to
separate themselves from their competition and confuse opposing
defenses. This type of offense focused on three things: a strong inside
running game, the ability to hit deep passes with two or more receivers
and adding the mid-range game with a tight end or wide receiver.

Along with the offense taking deep shots, Coryell's scheme also made the
other side of the ball defend every blade of grass by moving all
offensive weapons in motion. Opposing teams had to bring in extra
defensive backs to try and slow down his pass offense resulting in the
'nickel defense' and the 'dime' defense. It was then that tight ends
like Winslow evolved into pass-catchers; another piece of the game that
was revolutionary at the time but commonplace for NFL offenses today,
thus cementing Coryell as a true visionary. Ultimately Winslow, Fouts,
and Joiner were all enshrined in Canton after remarkable careers
shepherded along by Coryell. It's now only fitting that after multiple
stints of being named a finalist, their head coach officially joins them
in football immortality.

"He's more than deserving to have this honor," said Winslow. "You can't
say I changed the tight end position without mentioning Don Coryell's
name. I did not. I didn't call the plays. I didn't set up the offense.
That's Don Coryell's offense. That's where the credit belongs. He was
very genuine. He wanted to coach. He loved coaching. He loved seeing the
success the team was having, especially when you talk about passing the
football. His contribution to the game is hard to match."

"Don changed the game of football as we know it," said Joiner. "He had
an impact on both sides of the ball with his innovative and
groundbreaking offenses. One only needs to look back to Don to see how
offenses have developed since he came into the league. His explosive
passing game changed the face of defenses. Opposing teams had to bring
in extra defensive backs to try and slow down his pass offense resulting
in the nickel defense and the dime defense. Somebody who can force other
teams to play those kinds of defenses should be in the Hall of Fame."

Born in Seattle, Washington, Coryell grew up the youngest of four boys.
After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Army
during World War II. After being discharged at the age of 21, Coryell
enrolled at the University of Washington, studying physical education
and earning his bachelor's degree and master's degree. He played
defensive back for the Huskies during his time at Washington and while
earning his master's degree, Coryell remained with the Huskies as an
assistant coach.

After coaching stops that included schools in Hawaii and British
Columbia, Coryell took a head coaching job at Whittier College in 1957
and in three years with the Poets, recorded a 23-5-1 record while
claiming three Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
titles utilizing a new concept – the "I" formation offense. In 1960,
Coryell became an assistant coach under John McKay at the University of
Southern California where he helped further pioneer the "I" formation
offense. A year later, he became head coach of the San Diego State
Aztecs in 1961 and remained at the helm for the next 11 years. In his
first season as head coach, he led the Aztecs to a 7-2-1 record, going
6-0 in their division. During his time at San Diego State, Coryell led
the Aztecs to three Big West Conference titles (1969-70, 1972),
(formerly known as Pacific Coast Athletic Association), four California
Collegiate Athletic Association titles (1962-63, 1966-67) and three
straight NCAA College Division II titles. Ultimately leaving the
collegiate ranks for the NFL, he concluded his time at SDSU with a
remarkable 104-19-2 record.

Coryell, who passed away on July 1, 2010 in La Mesa, California at the
age of 85, becomes the 11th Charger to be enshrined in the Pro Football
Hall of Fame; joining WR Lance Alworth, T Ron Mix, Coach Sid Gillman, QB
Dan Fouts, TE Kellen Winslow, WR Charlie Joiner, DE Fred Dean, LB Junior
Seau, RB LaDainian Tomlinson and Executive Bobby Beathard.

In news:k4lu2iFai6fU1@mid.individual.net, Robin Miller
<robin.miller@invalid.invalid> typed:

> Finally!

> https://www.chargers.com/news/don-coryell-chargers-head-coach-elected-pro-football-hall-of-fame

> Pioneering Chargers' Head Coach Don Coryell Elected into Pro Football
> Hall of Fame

It's about time!

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8:04:36 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> Finally!
>
> https://www.chargers.com/news/don-coryell-chargers-head-coach-elected-pro-football-hall-of-fame
>
>
> Pioneering Chargers' Head Coach Don Coryell Elected into Pro Football
> Hall of Fame

Long overdue. Glad he finally got the recognition he earned, even though it is unfortunately posthumous.

Michael