Don Coryell: Class of 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame snapshot

Don Coryell, shown coaching the St. Louis Cardinals against Dallas in 1976.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Don Coryell was head coach in 195 NFL games and was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his 36th year of eligibility.

Class of 2023 profiles: Today we are featuring a snapshot of each individual being enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton in the order they will be inducted. Enshrinement starts at noon Saturday, Aug. 5, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Class of 2023: Rondé Barber, Don Coryell, Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, Darrelle Revis, Ken Riley, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware.

Lived: 1924-2010. Born in Seattle, died in La Mesa, California.

Speech order: Seventh.

Presenter: Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts.

Induction: Coach / contributor.

College: Washington.

Teams and years coached: 14 - 1973-77, St. Louis Cardinals; 1978-86, San Diego Chargers.

The knock: Hall of Famer and Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts gave the news to the Coryell family that the coach made the hall.

Special artifact in the Hall: Notes Coryell used when he presented Fouts and Joe Gibbs for enshrinement and a trophy he received from the Pro Football Writers of America as NFC Coach of the Year in 1974.

Quote: “Attago!” – Columnist Nick Canepa, quoting one of Coryell’s famous sayings. Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

Note: Mindy Coryell Lewis, Don’s daughter, will speak on behalf of her father.

About Coryell in 50 words: Coached in nine playoff games. Famous for his “Air Coryell” offense, a precursor to the passing attacks that have become prevalent. Under Coryell, the Chargers led the NFL in passing for a league-record six consecutive seasons (1978-83) and again in 1985. He was AP’s NFL Coach of the Year in 1974.

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I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. For my recent stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursdays. Twitter: @mbona30. My latest book, co-authored with Dan Murphy, is “Joe Thomas: Not Your Average Joe” by Gray & Co.

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