Buffalo Bills

Rex Ryan on his dad, Buddy Ryan: 'He truly was our hero'

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:33 p.m. ET

foxsports

Defensive mastermind Buddy Ryan, who spent more than three decades as a coach in the NFL and won two Super Bowls 17 years apart, died Tuesday at the age of 82.

Ryan's son Rex remembered his father in a touching statement released on behalf of the Ryan family.

Via the Bills:

"We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their sympathies, prayers and warm thoughts with the passing of my dad. He was many things to many people - outstanding coach, mentor, fierce competitor, father figure, faithful friend and the list goes on. 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.

For Rob and me, we've had the great fortune of sharing the coaching profession that he was so proud of and cherished so much. There is no way we can possibly begin to measure how much football we have learned from him over the years and we are forever thankful to him for instilling within us his unwavering love for the game of football."