PHILADELPHIA -- Buddy Ryan, the architect of the swarming Chicago Bears' defense that allowed only 10 points in three playoff games, was named Wednesday as the new head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ryan, 51, who succeeds the fired Marion Campbell, signed a five-year contract but terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Eagles owner Norman Braman said he decided to hire Ryan because of his approach to football.
'I think Buddy Ryan offers something to this game,' he said. 'He's an innovator. He approaches the game from an attack philosophy. He developed a new concept of defense and I think you'll see a new type of offense.'
Ryan said he would bring his '46 defense' to Philadelphia and expects to be as successful with it as he was with the Bears. The '46 defense' shut out the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams during the playoffs and held the New England Patriots to 10 points in the Bears' Super Bowl victory.
'As fast as our kids here can learn, that's when we'll be dominant,' Ryan said. 'It's more a mental thing than a physical thing ... I think we'll play it good. Don't worry about the defense.'
Ryan said he did not know a lot about the Eagles personnel since the Bears have not played them recently but said his offense would be a multiple attack featuring a lot of movement to confuse defenses.
'I think that's the only way you can win in this league,' he said.
Ryan, an assistant coach who has spent the last eight seasons in Chicago and has worked for the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, also said his experience as a defensive coordinator will allow him to develop a successful offense.
'In 18 years I've defensed every offense in the National Football League and I think I'm more qualified than most of the offensive coordinators.'
Eagles General Manager Harry Gamble said he first talked to Ryan about the Eagles job shortly after the Bears won the NFC Championship game and quickly decided this was the man for the job.
'The thing that excited me was here was a guy known for his ability to motivate and get the most out of his players,' he said.
Ryan said he hopes to finish assembling his coaching staff within the next two weeks and said remaining Eagles assistants would be among those considered for the jobs.
Ryan was one of four finalists for the Eagles' job, including current Eagles' assistant Fred Bruney, Miami assistant David Shula and Pittsburgh Steelers' aide Tony Dungy.
Braman reportedly had reached an agreement two weeks ago to hire former Baltimore Stars coach Jim Mora to succeed the fired Marion Campbell. Both he and Mora denied any agreement was reached and Mora was hired Tuesday to coach the New Orleans Saints.
Shula, 26, the son of Miami coach Don Shula, was Braman's initial choice for the job, but negotiations broke down when Shula resisted Braman's demand for a five-year contract with a five-year option.
Braman revealed his interest in Dungy, the Steelers' defensive coordinator, over the weekend, but Ryan's stock soared with the Bears' rout of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
In his three seasons as Eagles coach, Campbell compiled records of 3-6, 6-9-1, and 6-9 before he was fired with one week left in the regular season. Campbell, who served as the team's defensive coordinator under Dick Vermeil, was named the head coach when Vermeil resigned, citing 'burnout.'
Since his firing, Campbell has been hired by the Atlanta Falcons as defensive coordinator.
