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Chicago Bears: 5 Best Assistant Coaches In Franchise History

By Erik Lambert

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 30: Chicago Bears special team coach Dave Toub watches the action during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 30, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. The Bears defeted the Lions 26-24. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 30: Chicago Bears special team coach Dave Toub watches the action during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 30, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. The Bears defeted the Lions 26-24. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 26: Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan of the Chicago Bears gets carried off the field by defensive lineman Richard Dent #95 and teammate as they celebrate their victory over the New England Patriots in Super bowl XX at Louisiana Superdome on January 26, 1996 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bears won 46-10. (Photy by Mike Powell/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 26: Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan of the Chicago Bears gets carried off the field by defensive lineman Richard Dent #95 and teammate as they celebrate their victory over the New England Patriots in Super bowl XX at Louisiana Superdome on January 26, 1996 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bears won 46-10. (Photy by Mike Powell/Getty Images) /

#1:  Buddy Ryan

Did anybody really think someone else would claim the top spot? To this day, Buddy Ryan remains the only assistant coach carried off the field by his players after a Super Bowl victory. That’s how influential he was to the Chicago Bears by 1985. So much that he almost overshadowed the actual head coach in Mike Ditka. It’s little wonder the two had such a heated relationship at the time.

Ryan was the maestro behind one of the most devastating defenses in NFL history. His unit ranked in the top 10 five times during his run in Chicago, set the record for most sacks in a season (72) in 1984 and delivered back-to-back shutouts in the playoffs the next year en route to arguably the greatest defensive campaign ever.

Next: Chicago Bears: Greatest Reclamation Projects in Team History

The Bears were still good after he left, but they were never quite the same.

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