R.I.P. - Don Coryell

Don Coryell, the San Diego Chargers coach who became an architect of pro football’s modern passing game with his spectacular offense known as Air Coryell, died Thursday at a hospital in La Mesa, Calif. He was 85.




His death was announced by the Chargers.



As coach from 1978 to 1986, Coryell led the Chargers to the postseason four times. His teams played twice in the American Football Conference championship game.



Featuring the future Hall of Famers Dan Fouts at quarterback, Charlie Joiner at wide receiver and Kellen Winslow at tight end, along with running back Chuck Muncie, Coryell’s Chargers were usually atop the National Football League passing statistics.