The Air Down There

Don Coryell, aggravator of defensive coaches both foreign and domestic, has died at the age of 85. As the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, and even more so with the San Diego Chargers, Coryell helped usher in the wide-open passing offense in the NFL with his brand known as Air Coryell. With Hall of Famers Dan Fouts at quarterback, Charlie Joiner at wide receiver and Kellen Winslow at tight end, the Chargers made the postseason 4 times, twice reaching the AFC Championship game, in Coryell’s 8-year tenure. Coryell’s passing game then indirectly changed defenses, increasing substitutions with nickel and dime backs, situational blitzes and forcing an overall focus on speed in the secondary. Coryell also built the San Diego State football program, and was the first coach to win 100 games in the pros and in college, making the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999, but failing to get the credit for his innovations by pro football voters.