voiceofsandiego.org: Opinion... Don Coryell Belongs in the Hall of Fame

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 | Aug. 2 is almost here, and the day will mark the induction of another class of Pro Football Hall of Famers that is missing someone.

Hall of Fame? Don Coryell has yet to get his due. Is it because he wasn't as funny as John Madden or as scholarly as Bill Walsh?

Yes, it's true -- Coryell didn't win a Super Bowl, like Madden and Walsh, although the Chargers advanced to two AFC Championship games. One loss was skewed by a fluke bounce of the ball to Oakland Raiders tight end Raymond Chester for a touchdown and the other by Antarctic conditions in Cincinnati.

But if George Allen, a defensive genius, is in the Hall of Fame -- Class of 2002 -- is Coryell any less deserving?

Listen to Dan Fouts, the Chargers' Hall of Fame quarterback.

"He influenced offensive and defensive football because if you are going to have three or four receivers out there, you better have an answer for it on the other side of the ball. If it wasn't for Don, I wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame."

Listen to Brian Sipe, Coryell's quarterback at San Diego State that went on to be the NFL MVP with the Cleveland Browns in 1980.

"When I went to the Browns in 1972, Don Coryell's offense was ahead of anything I saw in the NFL. I think the only reason I had the career I had, is I was so quickly able to step in and know what I was looking at. The NFL was easy for me. I felt like I was taking a step backward in terms of preparation."

Coryell, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, is still the only coach to win 100 games in college and 100 games in the NFL.

His NFL record was 114-89-1 with the St. Louis Cardinals (1973-77) and the Chargers (1978-86). His college record at San Diego State (1961-72) was 104-19-2.

His NFL teams won five division titles, in addition to those two AFC Championship games.

In 1979, he led Chargers to playoffs for first time since 1963. In 1974, he led the Cardinals to the playoffs for first time in franchise history.

His passing attacks were ranked No. 1 in the NFL seven times. He originated the "digit" play-calling system still used by many NFL teams.

Listen to Mike Martz, who won a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator of the "Greatest Show on Turf" with the St. Louis Rams and advanced to another Super Bowl as the Rams' head coach.

"Don is the father of the modern passing game. People talk about the 'West Coast' offense, but Don started the 'West Coast' decades ago and kept updating it. You look around the NFL now, and so many teams are running a version of the Coryell offense. Coaches have added their own touches, but it's still Coryell's offense. He has disciples all over the league. He changed the game."

Listen to Willie Buchanon, a Pro Bowl cornerback and 1972 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Green Bay Packers, who was an All-American cornerback for Coryell at SDSU.

"When I got in the NFL, it was easy after playing at San Diego State. I learned everything I knew from Don Coryell, Ernie Zampese and Claude Gilbert. We had a system. Coryell developed the tight end as a wide receiver when he split Tim Delaney 5 yards out. They call the passing games today the West Coast offense. That was Don Coryell's system."

A list of testimonials could go on an on from those that believe Coryell belongs in the NFL.

But Fred Dryer, a Pro Bowl defensive end in the NFL that was an All-American for Coryell at SDSU, cites new evidence. Dryer suggests looking at Coryell's players with the Cardinals and Chargers and checking their Pro Bowl trips before and after they played for Coryell.

It's quite revealing:

Hear, hear!! Don Coryell has deserved HOF induction for years. The "Walsh-designed" west coast offense is nothing more or less than a modification of what Coryell was doing in both St. Louis and San Diego with Hart and Fouts. Sometimes the Hall gets it wrong, and this is one of those times.

Posted by Buzz | reply to this comment
July 1, 2008 8:44 am

Another reason is look at the coaches he had under him, starting at san diego state. Most of them are in the HOF. He gets my vote, if I had one.....

Posted by bobB | reply to this comment
July 1, 2008 11:41 am

I have been at the chargers's games since 1964 when i took in my first game..so i have seen what football was and before and after coryell football has changed it game because of him. So it is time now for the HOF to put the coach that should have been in long time ago. Now is the time to correct the mistake and cast the votes that are needed for Coryell to be placed in the HOF Hall and set him with the couches that he trained and they make it to the final place all that deserve it. So honor Coryell and see he is elected to the HOF Hall.. Coryell u got my vote.. sdcfan

Posted by diehart charger fan | reply to this comment
July 1, 2008 11:09 pm

Have been saying this for years. Don Coryell was Yoda to the young Hall of Fame Jedi's of Madden, Walsh, and Gibbs. Walsh gets the nameplate of being the "Father of the West Coast Offense" which I believe he always humbly refered back to Coryell. Air Coryell was the most potent offense in the NFL when we were first introduced to it during the mid-70's, and I believe that football would not be as exciting today if Don Coryell didn't put his stamp on the game he so desperately loved. A creative genius as a head coach, teacher, and human being. Your a Hall of Famer in my book, Mr. Coryell. Hope you get your "Call from the Hall" soon. Peace and Health to you and your family.

Posted by Bluesbred | reply to this comment
July 2, 2008 9:09 pm

I've been saying this for years, also, and just don't get it. That is until I looked at the 44 members of the HOF Selection Board. I'd think Jerry Magee and/or Jim Trotter would fight for Don, but with all the other Charger-haters there, it's an uphill climb. link: link

Posted by mrt721 | reply to this comment
July 4, 2008 7:55 pm

Of course Don Coryell deserves to be in the NFL Hall of Fame. We, in San Diego, are only lucky that he chose to lead with such "brilliance" here in San Diego, at both the College and NFL level. We were favored by some of the best football ever played at both levels, by this outstanding Coach. NFL Hall of Fame, WAKE UP! !

Posted by Allan G | reply to this comment
July 6, 2008 11:17 am

When I attended San Diego State from 1966 t0 1971, his football teams lost only TWO games! Compare that to Pete Carrol and Bob Stoops!

Posted by RANDY POGUE | reply to this comment
January 8, 2009 1:15 am

So from now on everyone that is in the know should correct any speaker that makes the mistake of saying West Coast Offense, to Coryell Offense. Make the correction and politely and offer the explanation if asked, but firmly reinforce this offense was solely developed by Don Coryell and successfully run by Joe Walsh. This will get Don into the Hall of Fame faster than anything else.

Posted by Steve Duran | reply to this comment
May 16, 2009 9:40 am

Don Coryell Belongs in the Hall of Fame

By Tom Shanahan