According to a Wednesday report by the New York Daily News, NFL coaching legend Buddy Ryan is battling cancer for the third time. The announcement was confirmed by Buddy’s son, and current New York Jets head coach, Rex Ryan.
The diagnoses reportedly came “a couple of weeks ago,” and as of this point the family was seeking out options to deal with the disease. On Tuesday, Buddy was the subject of follow-up examinations at a cancer center in Manhattan.
While the form of cancer that Buddy is dealing with was not revealed to the press, Ryan confirmed it was not melanoma. Prior to this incident, the former head coach of both the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals overcame and triumphed in battles with the disease on two separate occasions.
Nevertheless, Rex revealed that his father was in good spirits, “doing great” and would fight off the latest disease as he had done the two previous times.
Speaking with reporters at the annual NFL coaches breakfast in New Orleans, the Jets leader had this to say:
"It's going to take more than this to get rid of him," he said. "That's what he always says.
"He's tougher than sh*t... He's had other things in his life. He overcame encephalitis [an acute inflammation of the brain]. He's overcome cancer twice. He's tough."
Buddy’s career as an NFL coach spanned three decades.
