Former NFL Coach Buddy Ryan Dies, Former Colt Player Dies of Gunshot Wounds

Former NFL head coach and influential defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan died Tuesday. He was 85.

Ryan, who was outspoken and coached in the NFL for 26 seasons, was known for building some of football's top defenses with a relentlessness that focused on creating havoc on the field.

"He was many things to many people -- outstanding coach, mentor, fierce competitor, father figure, faithful friend and the list goes on," his son, Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, said Tuesday in a statement. "But to me and my brothers Rob and Jim, he was so much more. He was everything you want in a dad -- tough when he had to be, compassionate when you didn't necessarily expect it, and a loving teacher and confidant who cherished his family. He truly was our hero."

James Solano, Buddy Ryan's agent, said he died in Kentucky, where he lived on a ranch in Shelbyville, but did not give a cause. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

"I wonder who just lost their defensive-coordinating job in heaven," former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael told ESPN on Tuesday.

James David Ryan was a Korean War veteran who went to Oklahoma State, then got a master's degree from Middle Tennessee State even while coaching. He got his first major job in the pros in New York, then of the American Football League, in 1968. Ryan was the linebackers coach for the Joe Namath-led Jets, a boastful, confident team that fit his personality.

Those Jets led the AFL in defense in his first season on staff, then shocked the Colts in the Super Bowl 16-7.

Buddy Ryan's first job as a defensive coordinator came in 1976 with the Minnesota Vikings under Bud Grant, like Ewbank a Hall of Fame coach. He spent two years there before moving to the rival Bears, where he concocted the 46 defense that overwhelmed the league with its aggressiveness and unpredictability.

With the Bears, Ryan's renown skyrocketed. The 46 defense was founded on sending more blitzing players than an offense could block. And in 1984, the Bears tallied 72 sacks, a record that still stands. The '85 Bears capped their Super Bowl title with seven sacks.

Former Colts RB Accidentally Shoots Himself

Zurlon Tipton, a former Indianapolis Colts running back, has died after accidentally shooting himself at a car dealership in suburban Detroit. He was 26.

Brian Taylor, a spokesman at Detroit's St. John Hospital, confirmed Tipton's death Tuesday. Police say he was handling a duffel bag when a gun in the bag fired as he dropped off his car in Roseville.

Tipton appeared in 16 games over two seasons for the Colts, gaining 38 yards on 15 carries. He was released by the team in December.

"Zurlon was a dude you rooted for -- an undrafted, talented, hardworking player who always seemed to have a smile on his face. His personality was contagious," Colts long snapper Matt Overton told ESPN's Mike Wells.

"He will always be our brother. He is family," Overton added. "Today is a tough day for many. Prayers go out to his family during this difficult time."