Don Coryell

Don Coryell was born October 17, 1924, to Julia and George Coryell in Seattle, Washington.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=27–28}} He was the youngest of four children, all boys. Don initially had no middle name, but adopted David at his mother's suggestion, as the biblical story of David and Goliath was his favorite as a child.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=27–28}}

Coryell graduated from Lincoln High School in 1943 while World War II was in process, and immediately enlisted in the United States Army.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=41–42}} He joined the newly-formed 86th Mountain Infantry, a regiment of ski troops training at Camp Hale in Colorado; it would later be combined with two others to form the 10th Mountain Division.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=43–44}} While the bulk of his group joined the war in Italy, Coryell was promoted to platoon sergeant and remained in America as an instructor. Preferring to see combat, he applied for officer's school; he was eventually sent to Japan, but only after the war had ended. Coryell later trained as a paratrooper, joined the 11th Airborne Division and rose to the rank of first lieutenant before being discharged at the age of 21.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=45}}{{cite news

| last = Layden

| first = Tim

| title = Don Coryell 1924--2010

| publisher = SI.com

| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1171812/1/index.htm

| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102135208/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1171812/1/index.htm

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=January 2, 2013

| access-date = July 7, 2010 }}

After leaving the service, Coryell enrolled at the University of Washington, studying physical education and earning his bachelor's and master's degrees.{{cite news

| last = Farmer

| first = Sam

| title = Don Coryell dies at 85; longtime coach of the San Diego Chargers

| work=Los Angeles Times

| url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-don-coryell-20100702-story.html

| access-date = July 3, 2010

| date=July 2, 2010}} He played as a defensive back for the Washington Huskies, lettering as a senior in 1949 and playing in that year's Hula Bowl.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=48}} He also competed as a boxer, winning the university's light heavyweight crown in 1947 and 1948 before being defeated in the heavyweight title fight the following year.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=49}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Rick |title=Coryell looms as Badgers football coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111357146/1969-summary/ |work=Madison Capital Times |agency=San Diego Evening Tribune |date=December 18, 1969 |pages=36, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111357876/1969-summary/ 37]}}{{cite news |title=Stan Burke wins heavy crown in Husky ring meet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110079783/coryell-boxing/ |work=Tacoma News Tribune |date=February 25, 1949 |page=27}}

Coryell changed jobs frequently during his first decade as a coach. While earning a master's degree at the University of Washington, he remained with the Huskies as an assistant coach. After completing his studies, Coryell took a job at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he served as both an assistant coach and a biology teacher. The following year, 1952, he moved to another Honolulu school, Farrington High School, for his first head coaching post. He improved a team that had failed to win a game the previous year.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=50}} In 1953, Coryell moved to the University of British Columbia in Canada, where he compiled a 2–16 record over two seasons.{{cite web |url=http://www.ubcsportshalloffame.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?person_id=52&searchall=1 |title=UBC Sports Hall of Fame :: Inductees |access-date=April 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415093414/http://www.ubcsportshalloffame.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?person_id=52&searchall=1 |archive-date=April 15, 2012 }} The university did not prioritize sporting success;{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=50}} when Coryell earned his first victory it ended a two-year winless drought for the team, and prompted the Vancouver Sun to write, "Don Coryell has carved himself a niche in UBC's not-too-crowded football hall of fame."{{cite news |last1=Howitt |first1=Eaton |title=Coryell king of campus as 'Birds thump Cubs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110106680/coryell-ubc/ |work=Vancouver Sun |date=September 28, 1953 |page=13}}

In 1955, Coryell accepted an offer from Wenatchee Junior College in his home state of Washington. The team had gone winless the previous year.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=53}} Coryell bolstered his squad by recruiting nine players from Canada and seven from Hawaii and led Wenatchee to a 7–0–1 record, before they lost, 33–6, to {{cfb link|year=1955|team=Bakersfield Renegades|title=Bakersfield}} in the Potato Bowl.{{cite news |title=Bakersfield outscores Wenatchee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110108048/potato-bowl/ |work=Honolulu Advertiser |agency=UP |date=December 5, 1955 |page=B2}}{{efn|This Potato Bowl was a junior college bowl game discontinued in 2006, and is unrelated to the later Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.{{cite web |last1=Price |first1=Robert |title=Potato Bowl is persona non gratin, friends |url=https://www.bakersfield.com/news/potato-bowl-is-persona-non-gratin-friends/article_62326af2-0d64-548b-84f4-a5c441db3464.html |website=bakersfield.com |date=February 10, 2006 |access-date=August 15, 2023}}}} During that year, Coryell began using what he called the "IT formation", combining elements of the I formation and the T formation, with the intention of having his backs receive the ball closer to the line of scrimmage. This is today known as the power I formation.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=54–55}}{{cite web

| last = Center

| first = Bill

| title = Don Coryell, ex-Chargers, Aztecs coach dies at 85

| publisher = San Diego Union-Tribune

| url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/01/don-coryell/

| access-date = July 3, 2010 }}

Coryell changed jobs in both 1956 and 1957. First, he left Wenatchee for a military team at Fort Ord. Again making use of the I formation, he led them to the service football championship with a 9–0 record.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=60–61}} Next, he successfully applied for a vacancy in Whittier, California, replacing George Allen as the head coach of the Whittier Poets, whose most recent Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) title had come five years earlier.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=62}}{{cite journal |title=SCIAC Football Champions |url=https://www.thesciac.org/championships/past_champions/fb |website=thesciac.org |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119204714/https://www.thesciac.org/championships/past_champions/fb |url-status=dead }} Coryell remained at Whittier for three seasons (1957–59), winning SCIAC championships each time.{{cite web

| title = Former Poets coach Don Coryell dies at 85

| publisher = Whittier College Poets

| url = http://wcpoets.com/sports/fball/2010-11/releases/coryell_dies

| access-date = July 3, 2010

| date = July 2, 2010

| archive-date = August 10, 2010

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100810121306/http://www.wcpoets.com/sports/fball/2010-11/releases/coryell_dies

| url-status = dead

}} The Poets were unbeaten in conference play during his tenure, going 12–0–1 against SCIAC teams and 23–5–1 overall.{{cite web |last1=Sanders |first1=Roger |title=Air Coryell: will it land in the NFL Hall of Fame (HOF) this time? |url=https://www.morningsentinel.com/air-coryell-will-it-land-in-the-nfl-hall-of-fame-hof-this-time/article_83d8c934-58bc-5910-a5d7-39afa3109f26.html |website=morningsentinel.com |date=September 19, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2022}} Coryell adopted a flexible approach to offensive play, based on the abilities of his personnel. Early on in his time with Whittier, he used a run-based attack because his starting quarterback was injured and his backups were less accomplished. Later, Coryell converted a tailback into a talented quarterback and began passing more often. He also kept the program within its budget, which his predecessor had failed to do.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=63}}

In 1960, he was an assistant coach under John McKay for the USC Trojans, where the I formation would be its signature offense for decades. While the origin of the I formation is unclear, Coryell was one of its pioneers.

Coryell's next job was as the head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs, who had struggled prior to his appointment. In 1960, the Aztecs had posted a 1–6–1 record, and lost all five games in their conference, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The offense produced under 200 yards per game, and scored only 53 points in eight games. Only 6,000 fans were in attendance for a 60–0 home defeat by an inter-state rival, the Fresno State Bulldogs.{{cite news |title=Fresno dumps Aztecs 60–0 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109305832/aztecs-0-60-bulldogs/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 30, 1960 |page=H9}} The Aztecs had failed to win the CCAA or make a bowl game since 1951.

{{multiple image

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| image1 = Aztecs offense points per game, 1958-75.png

| alt1 = The San Diego State Aztecs' points scored per game by year from 1958 to 1975

| image2 = Aztecs defense points per game, 1958-75.png

| alt2 = The San Diego State Aztecs' points conceded per game by year from 1958 to 1975

| footer = The Aztecs' points scored per game (above) and points conceded per game (below), from three years before Coryell's arrival at San Diego State to three years after his departure. Seasons where Coryell was the head coach are highlighted in green.{{cite book |title=Aztecs Football 2021 Media Guide |date=2021 |pages=204–205 |edition=PDF |url=https://goaztecs.com/documents/2021/8/27/2021_SDSU_Media_Guide.pdf}}

}}

Coryell was named the Aztecs' new head coach on January 11, 1961, and predicted that San Diego State would be a leading small college by 1963.{{cite news |title=Coryell new Aztecs' head grid coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109307086/coryell-to-aztecs/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 12, 1961 |page=IV-1}} He installed the I formation,{{cite news |title=Bulldogs face Aztecs in win string quest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109309082/i-formation-for-aztecs/ |work=Hanford Sentinel |date=October 25, 1961 |page=13}} and instituted a policy of recruiting juniors who had played for two years at junior colleges in Southern California, reasoning that this policy allowed the Aztecs to study their recruits and be sure of their abilities before signing them, avoiding wasting any of their limited budget on sub-standard players.{{cite news |title=Aztec's Coryell to feel at home at Times banquet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111325902/recruitment-policy/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 5, 1968 |page=III-4}}{{cite news |last1=Nettleship |first1=Johnny |title=Bulldogs CCA pick but beware spoilers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109309454/juniors-to-aztecs/ |work=San Luis Obispo Tribune |date=September 11, 1961 |page=12}} Among his first crop of junior recruits was future Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Coryell knew what he had in Joe Gibbs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109784478/coryell-and-gibbs/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 30, 1988 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109784895/coryell-and-gibbs/ III-5]}}{{cite web |title=Joe Gibbs |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/joe-gibbs/ |website=pro-football-reference.com |access-date=September 18, 2022}} The Aztecs improved rapidly under Coryell, as he led the team to a 7–2–1 record in his first season. They followed with their first CCAA title for a decade, going 8–2 overall and 6–0 in their division. The decisive game came against Fresno State, who had won the CCAA the previous four consecutive seasons. Before a capacity crowd of 13,000, the Aztecs ended an eight-game losing streak to their rivals, winning 29–25. Coryell was carried from the field by his players at the end of the game. At this point, his offense was based primarily around the run; in the game against Fresno State, the Aztecs gained only 9 yards passing against 269 rushing.{{cite news |last1=Farris |first1=Bruce |title=Vengeful Aztecs edge FSC, 29-26 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109722029/aztecs-29-26-bulldogs/ |work=Fresno Bee |date=October 28, 1962 |pages=1-S, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109722341/aztecs-29-26-bulldogs/ 2-S]}} Coryell's success led to speculation that he might take a role with the San Diego Chargers or a larger college, but he affirmed his intention to stay with the Aztecs.{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=John |title=Gypsy Aztec coach finds home |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109722695/coryell-staying-with-aztecs/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 7, 1962 |page=III-7}} San Diego State went 7–2 in 1963, earning a share of the CCAA title. They scored at least 30 points in each of their first seven games.

In 1964, Coryell recruited another future Hall of Fame head coach, this time appointing John Madden as his defensive coordinator.{{cite web |title=Coryell's SDSU Legacy Includes Madden |url=https://voiceofsandiego.org/2009/04/21/coryells-sdsu-legacy-includes-madden/ |website=Voice of San Diego |date=April 21, 2009 |access-date=September 19, 2022}} Gibbs also moved from a playing role to a graduate assistant coaching position; both would remain on Coryell's staff for three years. The Aztecs went 8–2 in 1964, scoring at least 44 points in all eight of their victories and conceding only 71 points in their ten games. The team used a balanced offense, with Rod Dowhower at quarterback, Gary Garrison the leading receiver and Jim Allison at running back.{{cite news |last1=Hoyt |first1=William |title=Aztecs few but packed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109836586/1964-review/ |work=Arizona Daily Sun |date=September 3, 1965 |page=8}} They were unable to continue their run of CCAA titles, with a 7–0 loss to the eventual champions Cal State proving costly.{{cite news |last1=Sprenger |first1=Bob |title=Mighty Aztecs at S.J. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109835183/1964-aztecs/ |work=San Francisco Examiner |date=November 28, 1964 |page=42}} The Aztecs again finished 8–2 in 1965. They scored 40-plus points in six games and shut their opponents out in five, but lost two conference games and finished third in the CCAA.

San Diego State returned to the top of the CCAA in 1966, posting a perfect 11–0 record. They were also voted the No. 1 small college side by both the UPI and the Associated Press, and won the Camellia Bowl. Prompted by the ability of quarterback Don Horn Coryell shifted his offense's emphasis towards the pass, adopting the pro set formation and using multiple wingbacks in passing situations.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=74–75}} San Diego State began the season expected to vie with the Long Beach State 49ers for the conference title;{{cite news |last1=McCormack |first1=Jim |title=49ers pick for CCAA |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109847008/1966-aztecs-preview/ |work=Long Beach Independent |date=September 11, 1966 |page=C-3}}

the Aztecs beat Long Beach State 21–18 on October 8 to set up the CCAA title win.{{cite news |last1=McCormack |first1=Jim |title=Aztecs hold off 49ers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110464731/aztecs-21-18-49ers/ |work=Long Beach Independent |date=October 9, 1966 |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110464731/aztecs-21-18-49ers/ C-2]}} Four weeks later they were ranked No. 2 in the UPI and AP small college polls and faced No.1 North Dakota State, winning 36–0 to take over the No. 1 spot themselves.{{cite news |title=Azteca smash Bison, 36-0 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110465379/aztecs-36-0-bisons/ |work=Billings Gazette |agency=AP |date=November 6, 1966 |page=23}} Anticipating muddy conditions in the season-ending Camellia Bowl, Coryell had his offense practice in the shotgun formation; the conditions were as expected, and San Diego State defeated Montana State 28–7.{{cite news |title=Don Horn dazzles fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110517946/camellia-bowl-66/ |work=Billings Gazette |agency=UPI |date=December 11, 1966 |page=21}}

File:Aztecs run-pass balance, 1961-72.png

Coryell came close to leaving the Aztecs in 1967, but ultimately remained and again led them to a CCAA title, the No. 1 small college ranking and victory in the Camellia Bowl, this time with a 10–1 record. He was approached by the University of Arizona to coach the Wildcats, a post commanding a much higher salary than San Diego State could afford. When Coryell mentioned to Jack Murphy (a sportswriter for the San Diego Union) that he was inclined to accept Arizona's offer, Murphy approached the Greater San Diego Sports Association and they agreed to supplement Coryell's salary. This was enough to persuade him to stay.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=78–79}} On the field, Horn had graduated, and his replacements were less suited to a pass-oriented offense, so Coryell used a more balanced system.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=80}} Playing in the newly opened San Diego Stadium and drawing crowds that topped 40,000, the Aztecs won their first nine games.{{cite news |title=45,296 see S.D. State win, 16–8 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110830100/aztecs-16-8-tigers/ |work=Long Beach Independent |agency=UPI |date=September 16, 1967 |page=C-1}}
{{cite news |title=Cats fall to nation's No. 1 small college team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110829702/aztecs-14-3-bobcats/ |work=Great Falls Tribune |date=November 19, 1967 |page=17}} When they eventually lost their tenth, it ended a 25-game winning streak.{{cite news |title=Late Utah State TD ends Aztec's string |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110828586/aztecs-25-31-aggies/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 27, 1967 |page=III-5}} Two weeks after that defeat, Coryell had to replace six defensive starters due to eligibility issues, but his rebuilt team convincingly won their second straight Camellia Bowl, 27–6 against San Francisco State.{{cite news |title=Top-rated Aztecs Camellia victors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8446723/top-rated-aztecs-camellia-victors/ |work=Tallahassee Democrat |agency=AP |date=December 10, 1967 |page=1C}} During the season, the Aztecs averaged a higher attendance in San Diego Stadium than the Chargers.{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=John |title=Human, after all |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111358668/attendance-vs-chargers/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 2, 1969 |page=III-3}}

File:Dennis Shaw with Don Coryell.png as his quarterback in 1968.]]

In 1968 and 1969 Coryell had future NFL quarterback Dennis Shaw as his starter, and his offense shifted back towards the pass.{{cite news |last1=Gamage |first1=Walt |title=Sports shots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111324894/passing-offense-1968/ |work=Peninsula Times Tribune |date=December 23, 1968 |page=25}}{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=81}} Coryell was able to lure Shaw away from USC, where McKay had used him as a tight end.{{cite news |last1=Orach |first1=Ron |title=Brash passer Shaw looks at pro draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111356361/shaw-records/ |work=Greenfield Recorder |agency=Associated Press |date=December 29, 1969 |page=21}} The Aztecs finished 9–0–1 in 1968. They declined to accept any bowl invitations, and had withdrawn from the CCAA in advance of joining the new Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) the following season, but were voted the No. 1 small college team in the UPI poll and No. 2 by the AP.{{cite news |last1=Nettleship |first1=Johnny |title=JRB drops CCAA as West team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111322201/sdsu-out-of-ccaa/ |work=San Luis Obispo Tribune |date=October 24, 1968 |page=7}} In 1969, the team played in the top-tier University Division for the first time and faced higher-rated teams than in previous years.{{cite news |last1=Sakamoto |first1=Gordon |title=Jacks' Burman, Fresno duo are on Little All-Coast team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111359751/university-division/ |work=Sacramento Bee |agency=UPI |date=December 11, 1968 |page=E4}} Nonetheless, the Aztecs posted their second 11–0 record of Coryell's tenure, scoring over 40 points in seven of their games and only once winning by fewer than 10 points. They became the first PCAA champions with a 6–0 conference record, ranked No. 18 in the UPI poll, and defeated Boston University 28–7 in the Pasadena Bowl. Coryell continued to build a reputation as a top passing coach; Shaw was the nation's top passer with over 3,000 yards, and set NCAA records for touchdown passes in a game (9) and in a season (39). As a team, the Aztecs ranked first in the nation in passing yards, total yards and points scored.{{cite news |title=Aztecs win triple crown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111403079/triple-crown/ |work=San Francisco Valley Times |agency=UPI |date=December 15, 1969 |page=10}} Coryell said of his offensive philosophy, "The quickest way to move the football is with the pass. That's the shortest route to the end zone."

Coryell interviewed for Wisconsin's vacant head coach after the 1969 season, but ultimately stayed in San Diego for another three seasons.{{cite news |title=Aztec Don Coryell wanted by Badgers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111403265/badgers/ |work=Arizona Republic |agency=AP |date=December 5, 1969 |page=72}} With future NFL MVP Brian Sipe the quarterback the Aztecs went 9–2 in 1970,{{cite web |title=Former NFL MVP named assistant football coach |url=https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsuniverse/news.aspx?s=70588 |website=San Diego State University |access-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016134634/https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsuniverse/news.aspx?s=70588 |url-status=dead }} winning their first nine games before losing to Long Beach State, who shared the PCAA title with them. The loss broke a 31-game unbeaten streak and ended a 55–1–1 run that had begun in 1965.{{cite news |last1=McCormack |first1=Jim |title=Cal State 'intercepts' Aztecs on way to bowl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111403876/aztecs-11-27-49ers/ |work=Long Beach Independent |date=November 21, 1970 |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111404116/aztecs-11-27-49ers/ C-2]}} The 1971 season was Coryell's worst with San Diego State, as they finished with a 6–5 record; it was the only time

one of his Aztec teams lost more than two games in a season. Coryell was hampered by a new rule imposed by the university's Student Council removing preregistration privileges from athletes, meaning that they could not be sure of being on the courses they desired. This made recruitment much harder for Coryell, who needed to replace half his team every season due to his reliance on bringing in juniors with only two years of eligibility. He later said, "I couldn't tolerate having my future riding on the whims of others. That's when I started seriously thinking of finding a new job."{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|pages=89–90}} After interviewing for a vacancy with the Denver Broncos but failing to win the job, Coryell stayed for one further year in San Diego. The Aztecs rebounded to finish 10–1, winning the PCAA with a 4–0 conference record.

Over twelve seasons with the Aztecs, Coryell compiled a record of 104–19–2; combined with his time at Whittier, this gave him an overall college record of 126–24–3. His Aztec teams won four CCAA titles (including one shared), three PCAA titles (one shared), were voted the No. 1 small college three times by the UPI and twice by the AP, and won in each of their three bowl appearances. On his decision to leave San Diego for the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals he said, "I've gone as far as I can in the situation I'm in ... I was blessed as a college coach, yet there comes a time when you want more.{{cite news |title=Coryell takes pro job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111493187/coryell-to-cards/ |work=Fresno Bee |agency=AP |date=January 19, 1973 |page=C1}}

Coryell's first NFL job was with the St. Louis Cardinals; the Cardinals had a vacancy after dismissing Bob Hollway, whose two seasons in charge had produced a pair of 4–9–1 records.{{cite news |title=Coach Hollway sacked by Cardinals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118429199/cards-coaching-change/ |work=Hartford Courant |agency=AP |date=December 19, 1972 |page=48}} After his off-field difficulties during the 1971 season Coryell had committed to finding a job in the professional ranks, where he would be able to focus purely on coaching and not on recruitment.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=96}} He contacted the Cardinals about the vacancy and was named their head coach on January 18, 1973, signing a three-year contract.{{cite news |title=Football Cardinals name Don Coryell as head coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118430305/named-cards-coach/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=January 18, 1973 |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118430894/named-cards-coach/ 5A]}} Team owner Bill Bidwill introduced Coryell as a coach who could improve the offense, ranked last in the National Football Conference the previous season. Coryell expressed an intention to favor the pass, saying, "I believe in the passing game... I've gradually come about to a wide-open style of ball,"{{cite news |title=Coryell selected as Cardinal coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118436010/cards-coaching-philosophy/ |work=Springfield Leader and Press |agency=AP |date=January 19, 1973 |page=16}} and explaining that a weaker team's best chance of beating a stronger one lay with the pass. He brought in several of his former San Diego State assistant coaches, including Gibbs, Dowhower and Jim Hanifan.{{cite news |title=Hog aid Joe Gibbs to Cardinals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119003295/gibbs-to-cards/ |work=Victoria Advocate |agency=AP |date=March 8, 1973 |page=3B}}{{cite news |title=Two join Coryell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119000516/coaching-team/ |work=Wisconsin State Journal |agency=AP |date=January 31, 1973 |page=II-2}} When training camp began, several players praised the atmosphere created by their new head coach's enthusiasm, positive attitude and willingness to offer praise.{{cite news |last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Coryell's wild enthusiasm rubbing off on Big Red |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118436925/cards-training-camp/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=July 23, 1973 |page=4C}}

{{multiple image

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| direction = vertical

| total_width = 300

| image1 = Cardinals Offense Points.png

| alt1 = The St. Louis Cardinals' points scored per game by year from 1970 to 1980

| image2 = Cardinals Defense Points.png

| alt2 = The St. Louis Cardinals' points conceded per game by year from 1970 to 1980

| footer = The Cardinals' points scored and conceded per game from three years before Coryell's arrival in St. Louis to three years after his departure. Seasons where Coryell was the head coach are highlighted in green.{{cite web |title=Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals franchise encyclopedia |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/index.htm |website=pro-football-reference.com |access-date=March 4, 2023}}

}}

The Cardinals showed no immediate improvement in results, as their 1973 season produced a third consecutive 4–9–1 record.{{cite news |title=Cowboys win Eastern title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118442115/cardinals-3-30-cowboys/ |work=Miami Herald |agency=AP |date=December 17, 1973 |page=3-F}} They began well, taking a 21–0 lead less than seven minutes into their opening-day win in Philadelphia and following up by beating the defending NFC East champions Washington in Coryell's regular-season home debut,{{cite news |title=Cards trim Eagles on fast start 34–23 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118440841/cardinals-34-23-eagles/ |work=Idaho Statesman |agency=AP |date=September 17, 1973 |page=19}}{{cite news |title=Cardinals stun Washington behind Anderson, Shy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118441542/cardinals-34-27-commanders/ |work=Pensacola News Journal |agency=AP |date=September 24, 1973 |page=1C}} but won only twice more through the rest of the season. The team's passing attack did improve. Jim Hart, who Coryell had committed to as starting quarterback during training camp, set new personal bests by completing 55.6% of his passes (the second-best percentage in franchise history at the time), and being intercepted on only 3.1% of his attempts, second only to Fran Tarkenton in 1973.{{cite news |title=Writers to salute Big Red's Smith, Hart |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118450721/hart-success/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=January 9, 1974 |page=5C}}

Despite the losing record, Bidwill expressed satisfaction with the improved morale of the team and gave Coryell a new contract on December 27, extended by two years through to the end of the 1977 season.{{cite news |title=Coryell signs new four-year contract |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118449614/contract-extension/ |work=Moberly Monitor-Index |agency=UPI |date=December 28, 1973 |page=7}}

St. Louis began their 1974 season with little expectation of a playoff run; Coryell expressed concern after a series of weak preseason performances.{{cite news |last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Coryell in September: 'Team will come together' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118477858/card-concerns/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 17, 1974 |pages=1–8B}} The team improved greatly once the regular season began, winning their first seven games en route to an eventual 10–4 record and their first divisional title since 1948, when they were based in Chicago.{{cite news |last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Big Red can clinch East title-again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118478400/first-title-in-st-louis/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 14, 1974 |page=5A}} Impressed by his rushing attack's performance in a victory over Atlanta late in the previous season, Coryell opted to shift away from his pass-heavy offensive philosophy, adopting a more run-based style that would control the ball for longer and reduce pressure on the defense.{{cite news |last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Coryell's lofty thoughts brought back to ground |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118478175/more-running/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=September 5, 1974 |page=2B}} The new approach yielded Pro Bowl appearances for five players, including four on offense.{{cite news |title=Vikes out-pro Big Red, 7-5 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118485077/pro-bowl-74/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |agency=News services |date=December 19, 1976 |page=2C}} Running back Terry Metcalf doubled as a kick returner and became the first Cardinal to gain over 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season,{{cite news |title=Big Red go for second title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118486435/cards-1974-review/ |work=Flat River Daily Journal |date=September 4, 1975 |page=2-B}} while Hart won the UPI NFC player of the year award, leading the conference with 20 touchdowns while throwing only 8 interceptions from 388 attempts.{{cite news |title=Hart selected player of year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118485619/hart-award/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 18, 1974 |page=2G}} The St. Louis defense won a pair of early-season games with late stops, and conceded their fewest points since the franchise moved to St. Louis with 218; Coryell considered them his most improved unit.{{cite news |title=Coryell would like to improve defense |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118485915/cards-defense/ |work=Sedalia Democrat |date=January 6, 1975 |page=8}}

St Louis travelled to Minnesota for the divisional playoffs, where they were tied 7–7 at halftime but eventually defeated 30–14 by the Vikings. Coryell said of the defeat, "We had a satisfying, wonderful season. It was great to get here. But it's still a disappointing end."{{cite news |title=St. Louis retains pride despite defeat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118491607/playoff-defeat/ |work=Palm Beach Post |agency=AP |date=December 22, 1974 |page=E5}} Despite the defeat, Coryell was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year, receiving 50 of the 78 available votes.{{cite news |title=Coryell receives top honor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118484377/coach-of-the-year/ |work=Sedalia Democrat |agency=AP |date=January 5, 1974 |page=6B}} He had his contract extended again before the following season, running for six more years through to 1980.{{cite news |title=Big Red extends pact with Coryell to 1980 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118653452/contract-to-1980/ |work=Flat River Daily Journal |agency=UPI |date=January 21, 1977 |page=7}}

St. Louis repeated as NFC East champions in 1975, finishing 11–3; they were two games behind Dallas and one behind Washington after losing to both those teams in the first four weeks of the season,{{cite news |title=Fake punt touchdown leads the way |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118551640/cardinals-17-27-commanders/ |work=Jefferson City Daily Capital |agency=AP |date=October 15, 1975 |page=9}} but defeated both their rivals while winning nine of their final ten games to top the division;{{cite news |title=Cards prevail in overtime |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118553243/cardinals-20-17-commanders/ |work=St. Joseph Gazette |agency=AP |date=November 17, 1975 |page=1B}}{{cite news |title=Otis chalks up 147 yards as Cards clinch division |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118553745/cardinals-34-20-bears/ |work=St. Joseph Gazette |agency=AP |date=December 15, 1975 |page=1B}} The team were dubbed the 'Cardiac Cards' after winning a series of close games during their run-in.{{cite news |title=Cardiac Cards roll |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118552397/cardinals-31-17-cowboys/ |work=Arlington Heights Daily Herald |date=December 8, 1975 |page=IV-2}} While Coryell's defense was worse than the previous season, ranking only 10th of 13 NFC teams, his offense continued to improve;{{cite news |title=Coryell denies rift with management |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118568975/defensive-personnel/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=January 2, 1976 |page=15A}}{{cite news |last1=Broeg |first1=Bob |title=No losers in Big red's benefit game with the Jets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118563626/cards-1975-review/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=July 27, 1976 |page=2C}} they also continued to increase their percentage of rushing plays, 555 runs to 355 passes. Coryell said of the shift, "My philosophy is exactly the same. If we're capable of running against a good team now, we will... we've matured in a lot of ways, and now we can run the ball."{{cite news |last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Improbable Big Red are playoff mystery team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118571473/running-game/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 23, 1975 |page=2C}} Metcalf set an NFL record with 2,462 all-purpose yards and the Cardinals had the NFC leaders for both rushing and receiving yards (Jim Otis and Mel Gray).{{cite news |title=Football Cardinals open camp Saturday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118564779/cards-1975-achievements/ |work=Flat River Daily Journal |date=July 8, 1975 |page=7}} With St. Louis conceding only eight sacks, they had three offensive linemen among their nine Pro Bowlers.{{cite news |last1=Grow |first1=Doug |title=No Pro Bowl for Young |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118564278/1975-pro-bowl/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 24, 1975 |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118564066/1975-pro-bowl/ 2C]}}

St. Louis were again disappointing in the playoffs, losing in the first round at the Los Angeles Rams. Hart had been more prone to interceptions than the previous year, and he threw two that were returned for touchdowns as the Rams took a 28–6 lead inside twenty minutes, eventually winning 35–23.{{cite news |last1=Grow |first1=Doug |title=Cards have confidence up their sleeves |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118574481/hart-playoffs/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 26, 1975 |pages=1–16D}} The Cardinals defense struggled to stop Rams running back Lawrence McCutcheon, who set a playoff record with 203 rushing yards.{{cite news |title=Cards out of playoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118573049/cardinals-23-35-rams/ |work=Sedalia Democrat |agency=AP |date=December 28, 1975 |page=6B}} Coryell commented, "We put our defense in embarrassing positions, but I'm proud our people had the competitiveness to battle back when we were behind".{{cite news |title=Touchdown double-sweet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118578402/comments-on-defeat/ |work=Oakland Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=December 28, 1975 |page=5C}} He was again a contender for AP coach of the year, gaining eight votes while Tom Landry of the Cowboys won the award with twelve votes.{{cite news |title=Dallas coach Landry gets honor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118568720/coach-of-the-year-runner-up/ |work=Flat River Daily Journal |agency=UPI |date=January 2, 1976 |page=7}}

File:Cardinals balance.png

Despite a third consecutive season with double-digit wins, St Louis missed the playoffs at 10–4.{{cite news |title=Cards defeat Giants, 17-14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118652487/cardinals-17-14-giants/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |agency=AP |date=December 13, 1976 |page=A-10}} They again played in a number of close games, standing at 8–2 after Jim Bakken kicked late game-winning field goals in three consecutive weeks, the third of which was a playoff rematch at the Los Angeles Rams.{{cite news |last1=Meyers |first1=Jeff |title=Big Red Hollywood finish |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118702834/cardinals-30-28-rams/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=November 15, 1976 |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118701893/cardinals-30-28-rams/ 6A]}} This left them one game behind Dallas and two ahead of Washington, but they lost to both their rivals in the space of four days, both times turning the ball over on downs in opposition territory in the final seconds.{{cite news |title=Cards squander 'patented victory' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118713022/close-finish/ |work=Southern Illinoisan |agency=AP |date=November 22, 1976 |page=11}} In the latter of the two losses, 19–14 in Dallas, there were controversial non-calls of pass interference against the Cowboys as St. Louis looked for the winning touchdown; Coryell claimed, "The game was taken away from us."{{cite news |title=Cardinals level blast at referees |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118711424/complaints/ |work=Kansas City Star |agency=AP |date=November 26, 1976 |page=20}} Despite winning their final two games, St. Louis lost the NFC's lone wildcard berth to Washington on tiebreakers. They had struggled with injuries during the season, as well as frequent fumbles on offense,{{cite news |title=Cardinals play must-win game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118760209/1976-injuries/ |work=Port Huron Times Herald |agency=Gannett News Service |date=December 10, 1976 |page=FP-1}} but set franchise season records for total yardage and first downs, and were again well-represented in the Pro Bowl, with six nominees including four offensive starters.{{cite news |title=Big Red return six to Pro Bowl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118764562/1976-stats/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 15, 1976 |pages=1–8C}}

The Cardinals finished 7–7 and missed the playoffs again in Coryell's final season.{{cite news |title=Sports talk |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118791183/1977-season/ |work=Indianapolis News |date=December 20, 1977 |page=26}} They were again in contention after ten games having won six consecutive games to stand in the NFC wild card spot at 7–3, but collapsed to lose four, beginning with an embarrassing 55–14 loss to the Miami Dolphins on national television.{{cite news |title=Cardinals become Dolphins' turkey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118872847/cardinals-14-55-dolphins/ |work=Owen Sound Sun Times |agency=Associated Press |date=November 25, 1977 |page=8}} While the offense remained strong, the defense lacked the depth to overcome a number of injuries, and became one of the league's weaker units.{{cite news |title=Cards' loss to Buccaneers costly |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118881174/1977-reflections/ |work=Naples Daily News |agency=UPI |date=December 20, 1977 |page=1C}}

{{quote box|align=right|width=30%|style=padding:10px|quote="This place is tearing my life apart... A lot of our guys are playing out their options and they would scatter if they could. The coaches are all that's holding this team together."|source=—Coryell, in a conversation with Jack Murphy he believed to be off the record.}}

St. Louis were eliminated from playoff contention following their penultimate game, a 26–20 home defeat by Washington. Coryell showed anger at the Cardinals fans and organization after the game, saying that the fans had verbally abused both himself and his family, that he had lower wages and fewer assistant coaches than his rivals, and that he should have more of a say over which new players were drafted.{{cite news |title=Coryell angry in St. Louis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118966998/cards-outburst/ |work=Billings Gazette |agency=AP |date=December 12, 1977 |page=3-C}} Following a meeting with Bidwill on December 12, the owner said that he expected Coryell to return as head coach the following season, though Coryell stated he was still disappointed and upset.{{cite news |last1=Tomjan |first1=Laszlo K. |title=Coryell remains upset |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118968158/after-meeting-bidwill/ |work=Springfield Leader and Press |agency=UPI |date=December 13, 1977 |page=14}} The following day, what he had believed to be an off the record conversation with Jack Murphy was published in the San Diego Union. The piece contained more Coryell quotes critical of the Cardinals organization, bemoaning a lack of spending, the quality of his defensive players, and a restrictive contract that forbade Coryell from having any business interests without Bidwill's permission, as well as predicting that the Cardinals would keep getting worse over the next two seasons, and stating that he would only stay in St. Louis if his salary was increased by enough for his family to live in San Diego. Coryell didn't deny the veracity of the quotes, describing them as a 'terrible mistake' and stating that he and Bidwill had made progress over his contract concerns during their meeting, as well as discussing plans to increase the role of Coryell and his staff in the drafting process.{{cite news |last1=Grow |first1=Doug |title=Coryell calls San Diego story 'terrible mistake |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118911605/second-interview/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 14, 1977 |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118911468/second-interview/ 4A]}}

Uncertainty as to Coryell's future followed his remarks, and continued after a season-ending loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His family's preference for living in San Diego prompted media speculation that he would take the San Diego Chargers head coaching job but the incumbent, Tommy Prothro, was given an extension for the 1978 season.{{cite news |last1=Grow |first1=Doug |title=Coryell's Senior Bowl job may change old answers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119033420/senior-bowl-invite/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 23, 1977 |pages=1–12B}} On December 22, Coryell accepted an invitation for himself and his staff to coach in the Senior Bowl, having consulted with Bidwill; Coryell led the North team to a 17–14 victory on January 7.{{cite news |title=Players surprise coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119078821/north-17-14-south/ |work=Columbia Record |agency=AP |date=January 9, 1978 |page=6-D}} Following a 25-minute conversation on January 9, Bidwill released a statement that his Director of Operations would handle any further meetings with Coryell.{{cite news |title=Possible LA Rams coaching shift |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119083674/last-meeting-with-bidwill/ |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |agency=AP |date=January 19, 1978 |page=12}} During the meeting, Bidwill had given his head coach permission to talk to other teams, and Coryell flew to Los Angeles to talk with the Rams the following day.{{cite news |title=Cards' price: No 1 draft pick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119086632/rams-1st-rounder/ |work=Honolulu Advertiser |agency=United Press International |date=January 12, 1978 |page=D-1}} The Rams job went instead to George Allen, in part because Bidwill was asking Los Angeles for a 1st-round draft pick to release Coryell from the remainder of his contract; Coryell also missed out on a vacancy with the New Orleans Saints, despite the price being reduced to a 2nd-round pick.{{cite news |title=Don Coryell tops list with Saints |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119088370/saints-job/ |work=Idaho Statesman |agency=UPI |date=February 5, 1978 |page=4F}}

On February 10, 1978, Bidwill officially announced that Coryell had been dismissed as head coach of the Cardinals, explaining "I just don't think it's in the best interest of the football team for a coach to say that he's unhappy and that he wants another job." By the terms of their agreement, Coryell would still only be able to coach in the NFL in 1978 with Bidwill's permission.{{cite news |title=Don Coryell loses job with Cards |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119090578/out-with-cards/ |work=Odessa American |agency=AP |date=February 11, 1978 |page=3B}}

Coryell compiled a record of 42–27–1 during his five years in St. Louis, setting a franchise record for wins by a head coach;{{efn|Ken Whisenhunt broke this record in 2012.{{cite magazine |last1=Harner |first1=Andrew |title=Best Head Coaches in Arizona Cardinals History |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/Best-Head-Coaches-in-Arizona-Cardinals-History |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 29, 2022 |access-date=February 19, 2023}}}} his postseason record was 0–2. The two NFC East titles he won with the Cardinals were their only divisional crowns in the city of St. Louis,{{efn|The Cardinals played in St. Louis from 1960–87.}} the previous having come in 1948 (as the Chicago Cardinals) and the next arriving in 2008 (as the Arizona Cardinals).{{cite news |title=Inside the numbers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119127013/next-division-title/ |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=December 8, 2008 |page=3DD}} A Sports Illustrated article published in 2020 named Coryell as the best head coach in franchise history. He is credited with improving offensive stars such as Hart, Gray, and Hall of Fame offensive lineman Dan Dierdorf.{{cite web |title=Gold Jack Spotlight: Even Big Men Like Dan Dierdorf Can Create Separation |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2022/05/gold-jack-spotlight-even-big-men-like-dan-dierdorf-can-create-separation/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 19, 2023}}

{{See also|Air Coryell}}

Coryell moved back to San Diego in April 1978, having apparently missed out on any head coaching posts for the coming season.{{cite news |title=Coryell taking life easy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119281366/back-to-san-diego/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |agency=AP |date=April 28, 1978 |page=B-1}} He coached a San Diego State alumni team in a match against their current varsity, losing 37–14,{{cite news |title=Varsity thumps alumni, 37-14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119282754/alumni-14-37-varsity/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=April 30, 1978 |page=B-1}} and attended a preseason scrimmage between the Chargers and Cowboys.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Chargers' center lost; hurts knee on opening play |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119284644/attends-scrimmage/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 20, 1978 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119285617/attends-scrimmage/ III-8]}} With Tommy Prothro's contract set to expire in one more year, Coryell was rumored to be a likely replacement in 1979.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Prothro retires early as coach of Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119309456/head-coach-switch/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 26, 1978 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119310388/coaching-switch/ III-4]}} In the event, he missed only four regular season games before he was back to work.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/09/26/prothro-out-coryell-hired/14ed5e41-f243-4df0-ac1f-b61a717c4402/ |title=Prothro Out, Coryell Hired |date=September 26, 1978 |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}

The Chargers, after struggling for most of the 1970s, had entered their 1978 season with hopes of a playoff push; the previous year they had gone 7–7 despite their offense being hampered by a ten-game holdout from starting quarterback Dan Fouts.{{cite news |last1=Pascarelli |first1=Peter |title=Chargers could jolt AFC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119475846/chargers-dominate-broncos/ |work=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle |date=July 24, 1978 |page=6D}} They opened with a 1–3 record under Prothro, winning their opener before losing three straight, culminating in a 24–3 defeat to the Green Bay Packers in which they committed eleven turnovers. Believing that the team needed "a rude awakening", Prothro chose to resign.{{sfn|Klein|Fisher|1987|page=135}} The transition happened quickly on the morning of September 25; Chargers owner Gene Klein accepted Prothro's resignation at 5am and telephoned Coryell at 6am to offer him the job, which Coryell enthusiastically accepted. By 10am, Klein had negotiated Coryell's release from the Cardinals in exchange for a 3rd-round draft pick in 1980.{{sfn|Klein|Fisher|1987|page=136}} Coryell described the appointment as "like a dream come true" at his introductory press conference, also stating that he would retain Prothro's staff and noting that his predecessor's offensive system was similar to Coryell's own.{{cite news |title=From San Diego State to San Diego Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119311283/coryell-in-at-chargers/ |work=Palm Springs Desert Sun |agency=AP |date=September 26, 1978 |page=B1}} The Los Angeles Times described the appointment as "a merger made in Heaven", with Coryell's expertise expected to improve the offense to match the already-strong defense.{{cite news |last1=Oates |first1=Bob |title=Pro football |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119422274/reaction-to-appointment/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 1, 1978 |page=III-2}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| total_width = 300

| image1 = Chargers Offense Points.png

| alt1 = The San Diego Chargers' points scored per game by year from 1975 to 1989

| image2 = Chargers Defense Points.png

| alt2 = The San Diego Chargers' points conceded per game by year from 1975 to 1989

| footer = Charts showing the Chargers' points scored and conceded per game, from three years before Coryell's arrival in San Diego to three years after his departure. Seasons where Coryell was the head coach are highlighted in green (light green when he coached for part of a season).{{cite web |title=Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Franchise Encyclopedia |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/ |website=pro-football-reference.com |access-date=February 24, 2023}}}}

Coryell lost his first game in charge at New England, then won on his return to San Diego Stadium (still shared by the Chargers and Aztecs); a crowd of 50,000 gave him an ovation at both the start and finish of a 23–0 victory over the Denver Broncos.{{cite news |last1=Kaegel |first1=Dick |title=Coryell returns, San Diego roars |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119474663/chargers-23-0-broncos/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 9, 1978 |page=1-BC}}{{cite news |title=Chargers dominate Broncos |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119475846/chargers-dominate-broncos/ |work=Berkeley Gazette |agency=AP |date=October 9, 1978 |page=11}} San Diego lost their next two games, and were 2–6 heading into a game at the Oakland Raiders, coached by Coryell's former protégé John Madden.{{cite news |title=Revenge motive for San Diego |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119480698/oakland-preview/ |work=Daily Oklahoman |agency=AP |date=October 29, 1978 |page=B12}} The Chargers won that game,{{efn|The 27–23 victory was the Chargers' first in Oakland for ten years.{{cite news |title=Unknown leads SD to win over Raiders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119488051/chargers-27-23-raiders/ |work=Salinas Californian |agency=UPI |date=October 30, 1978 |pages=25, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119487771/chargers-27-23-raiders/ 27]}}}} beginning a run of seven wins in eight weeks to finish with a 9–7 record.{{cite news |title=Supercharged San Diego runs over playoff-bound Houston |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119488691/chargers-45-24-oilers/ |work=Victor Valley Press |agency=UPI |date=December 18, 1978 |page=6}} While they missed the playoffs by one game, it was their first winning season since 1969.{{sfn|Jaworski|Plaut|Cosell|2011|page=90}}

After playing conservatively for much of the season, Coryell's offense put up 985 passing yards while scoring a combined 122 points over the final three games.{{cite news |last1=Maffei |first1=John |title=Chargers end on a high note |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119546611/1978-review/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 27, 1978 |pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119549942/1978-review/ D-3]}} Fouts finished with a career-high 2,999 yards, tying a franchise record with 369 in the finale, while wide receiver John Jefferson, the Chargers' top pick in the 1978 draft, had 1,001 yards receiving and tied a rookie record with 13 touchdowns. As a team, the Chargers led the league with 3,375 passing yards.{{cite news |title=Chargers appear to be contender |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119552784/1979-preview/ |work=Flat River Daily Journal |agency=UPI |date=September 17, 1979 |page=17}}

Coryell added Hanifan and Gibbs to his staff for the third time early in the offseason,{{cite news |title=Hanifan comes home to join Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119629222/gibbs-and-hanifan-to-chargers/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |agency=AP |date=January 18, 1979 |page=D-2}} soon promoting Gibbs to offensive coordinator.{{efn|Gibbs replaced Ray Perkins, who left to coach the New York Giants.{{cite news |last1=Slater |first1=Chuck |title=Fouts has passed the test; QB's stats say he's no fluke |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119630070/offensive-coordinators/ |work=New York Daily News |date=December 19, 1979 |page=72}}}} He was more involved in the draft process than he had been in St. Louis, and instrumental in the Chargers trading up to pick tight end Kellen Winslow in the first round.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Fast deal made with the Browns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100914830/winslow-drafted-4-may-1979/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 4, 1979 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100914610/winslow-drafted-4-may-1979/ III-8]}} San Diego entered 1979 with high expectations after their strong finish the previous year,{{cite news |last1=Ruben |first1=Harry |title=The day the set went off |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119616410/optimism-for-1979/ |work=Chula Vista Star-News |date=December 21, 1978 |page=B-4}} though Coryell played down their Super Bowl chances, noting that they had yet to win even a divisional title since joining the NFL.

In the event, the Chargers did capture their first AFC West title, posting a 12–4 record and clinching the division by beating Denver 17–7 in the final game of the regular season.{{cite news |last1=Maffei |first1=John |title=Chargers turn out the lights with a power surge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119620859/chargers-17-7-broncos/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 18, 1979 |pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119621059/chargers-17-7-broncos/ D-3]}} Nicknamed Air Coryell,{{cite news |title=Chargermania |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119631849/ac-nickname/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 30, 1979 |page=3}} their passing attack was the focus of the offense throughout the year, as they called more passing plays (541) than rushing (481), unusual for a successful team at the time.{{cite news|last=Elderkin |first=Phil |title=Chargers, in passing, write a book |date=September 16, 1980 |magazine=Christian Science Monitor |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0916/091626.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201191827/http://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0916/091626.html |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=live }} Fouts broke Joe Namath's single-season passing record with 4,082 yards, and both Jefferson and eleventh-year veteran Charlie Joiner went over 1,000 yards receiving. Speaking of the success of the passing game, Fouts said, "Ninety percent of it is coaching... wanting to pass, teaching it properly, working on it by the hour."{{cite news |last1=Oates |first1=Bob |title=San Diego's other mountain man |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97411116/fouts-house-14-dec-1979/ |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97410923/fouts-house-14-dec-1979/ III-16] |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=December 14, 1979 |via=Newspapers.com}} The defense was also strong, claiming four interceptions of Denver quarterback Craig Morton in the finale and five of Terry Bradshaw in an earlier win over the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.{{cite news |last1=Kenney Jr. |first1=Ron |title=Dee-fense does it for Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119666164/1979-defense/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 18, 1979 |pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119666564/1979-defense/ D-3]}}{{cite news |last1=Oberjuerge |first1=Paul |title=Steel curtain ripped |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119668787/chargers-35-7-steelers/ |work=Port Huron Times Herald |date=November 22, 1979 |page=3B}} Coryell received 10 votes for AP Coach of the Year, finishing in third place.{{efn|Washington head coach Jack Pardee won the award with 30 votes.{{cite news |last1=Lowitt |first1=Bruce |title=Commanders' Pardee is Coach of Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119691998/coty-1978/ |work=Buffalo News |agency=AP |date=December 19, 1979 |page=59}}}}

{{quote box|align=right|width=30%|style=padding:10px|quote="We weren't beaten by signals. We were beaten by the Oilers. We were beaten by a stubborn fine defense, and our mistakes. We're making no excuses about signals."|source=—Coryell, reacting to reports that Houston had decoded his offensive signals in the Chargers' divisional playoff defeat.}}

San Diego entered the 1979–80 NFL playoffs having earned home field advantage as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and were favored by 8 points in their opening game against the Houston Oilers. Despite being without starting quarterback Dan Pastorini and NFL rushing champion Earl Campbell, the Oilers won 17–14; Fouts threw five interceptions, two of which led to Houston touchdowns.{{cite news |title=Phillips: 'character exhibited' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119690816/chargers-17-14-oilers/ |work=Lancaster Sunday News |agency=AP |date=December 30, 1979 |page=C-3}} It emerged after the game that Houston defensive coordinator Ed Biles had broken the code the Chargers used to hand-signal in their offensive plays, giving his defense advanced knowledge of what was to come.{{cite news |last1=Collett |first1=Ritter |title=Another controversy for Eddie Biles |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93916651/code-breaking-4-jan-1980/ |newspaper=Dayton Journal Herald |page=13 |date=January 4, 1980 |via=Newspapers.com}} Coryell was skeptical as to the truth of the story, and whether any signal-stealing would have a major impact on the game, believing that Oilers would have needed a high degree of experience with the Chargers' system to take advantage of the information. He defended the use of hand signals as opposed to having a runner relay the play calls to Fouts, as the former system was quicker and less prone to error.{{cite news |last1=Brady |first1=Dave |title=Coryell Scoffs At Reports of Signal Theft |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/01/05/coryell-scoffs-at-reports-of-signal-theft/8b8472c0-ca71-4023-be8f-75f975ab8d0b/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=February 25, 2023}}

Coryell's Chargers repeated as division champions with an 11–5 record in 1980; they stood at 6–4 following a mid-season loss to Denver,{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Denver draws the line on Chargers, 20–13 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111934492/chargers-13-20-broncos/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 10, 1980 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111934277/chargers-13-20-broncos/ III-9]}} but ran off five victories in their final six games and beat Oakland to the title on tiebreakers.{{cite news |title=Benirschke, Fouts pace Chargers to 26–17 win |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94056829/chargers-26-17-steelers-23-dec-1980/ |agency=AP |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94057276/chargers-26-17-steelers-23-dec-1980/ C4] |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |date=December 23, 1980}} While the Chargers improved their running game with the midseason acquisition of Chuck Muncie,{{cite news |title=Chuck Muncie's arrival delights Charger coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112551405/coryell-on-muncie/ |work=Berkshire Eagle |agency=UPI |date=September 30, 1980 |page=25}} it was their passing attack that continued to dominate, described by the New York Times as having "more in common with fast-break basketball offense than with traditional ball-control football."{{cite news |last1=Vecsey |first1=George |title=Warfield says Jefferson best receiver in football |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119742498/jefferson-profile/ |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |agency=The New York Times |date=December 25, 1980 |page=18}} Winslow, who had missed most of his rookie season with a broken leg, was available for all of 1980.{{cite news |last1=Caser |first1=Dan |title=Chargers' Winslow prepares for a Missouri homecoming |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119743726/winslow-profile/ |work=St. Joseph News-Press |date=September 28, 1980 |page=3F}} Coryell had him line up as both a tight end and wide receiver, and he led the league in receptions with 89. With Winslow, Coryell redefined the tight end position into a deep, pass-catching threat too fast for a linebacker and too big for a defensive back, reasoning that "If we're asking Kellen to block a defensive end and not catch passes, I'm not a very good coach."{{cite web

| title = Ex-Chargers coach Don Coryell dies

| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5347434

| access-date = July 2, 2010 |date = July 2, 2010}} Winslow also joined Jefferson and Joiner in gaining over 1,000 receiving yards—the first trio of teammates to achieve that feat in the same season.{{cite news |title=Charlie Joiner enjoys his role |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94072056/receiving-trio-22-dec-1980/ |agency=AP |newspaper=Palm Springs Desert Sun |page=B5 |date=December 22, 1980 |via=Newspapers.com}} Fouts improved on his own passing yardage record with 4,715, while breaking three other single-season records (attempts, completions and 300-yard games), and the Chargers as a team broke the records for most first downs and yards in a season.{{cite news |title=Lowe may miss the playoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94812352/fouts-1980-records-24-dec-1980/ |agency=AP |page=D-1 |newspaper=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 24, 1980 |via=Newspapers.com}} On defense, the pass rush provided by defensive linemen Fred Dean, Louie Kelcher, Gary "Big Hands" Johnson and Leroy Jones was a strength. San Diego had the league leader in sacks (Johnson with {{fract|17|1|2}}) and also ranked top as a team, with 60.{{efn|While the NFL did not keep sack statistics until 1982, they were unofficially reported in 1980.{{cite web |title=NFL not making pre-1982 sack stats official? |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-not-making-pre-1982-sack-stats-official/ar-AAMeYLw?li=BB15ms5q |date=July 16, 2021 |last1=Wassink |first1=Zac |website=MSN}}}}{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=David Leon |title=Chargers, Raiders bring intense feud to field |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119763530/oakland-preview/ |work=Sioux Falls Argus Leader |agency=Gannett News Service |date=January 11, 1981 |page=9D}}

Again the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, San Diego opened with a home divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, who possessed the league's top-ranked defense and had beaten the Chargers earlier in the season.{{cite news |title=Chargers, Bills to test strength |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119777721/bills-preview/ |work=Moline Dispatch |agency=UPI |date=January 3, 1981 |page=9}} Buffalo led 14–3 at halftime before the Chargers came back to win 20–14, the winning touchdown being scored by backup wide receiver Ron Smith with barely two minutes to play.{{cite news |title='Electric' Chargers shock Bills, 20–-14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94130921/chargers-20-14-bills-4-jan-1981/ |agency=AP |pages=47, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94130748/chargers-20-14-bills-4-jan-1981/ 50] |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=January 4, 1981 |via=Newspapers.com}} San Diego won despite having to change their offensive formation when blocking tight end Gregg McCrary was injured early in the game. "It took a lot of our offense away from us," said Coryell, who won his first playoff game at the fourth attempt.{{cite news |title=Ex-Ram Ron Smith key man for Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119779284/offensive-adjustments/ |work=Hartford Courant |agency=AP |date=January 4, 1981 |page=D8}} McCrary would also miss the AFC championship game against Oakland, forcing Winslow to do more blocking and less receiving.{{cite news |last1=Bock |first1=Hal |title=Injuries to Eagles, Chargers may force new game plans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119781530/mccrary-injury/ |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |date=January 6, 1980 |page=32}} Despite again having homefield advantage, San Diego committed three early turnovers and fell behind 28–7 to the Raiders, eventually losing 34–27. Coryell said, "We didn't play well enough to win... Actually, I was very proud of our comeback in the second half—but it wasn't quite enough."{{cite news |last1=Maffei |first1=John |title=Chargers' story ends on super sour note |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94135104/chargers-27-34-raiders-12-jan-1981/ |newspaper=Escondido Times-Advocate |pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94135640/chargers-27-24-raiders-12-jan-1981/ D-2] |date=January 12, 1981 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Early in the 1981 season, Coryell lost high-profile players on both offense and defense, with Jefferson and Dean both holding out.{{cite news |last1=Tully |first1=Mike |title=John Jefferson holds out for more money |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119837892/jefferson-holdout/ |work=St. Mary and Franklin Banner-Tribune |agency=UPI |date=July 28, 1981 |page=2}}{{cite news |title=Unhappy Fred Dean returns to Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119838471/dean-holdout/ |work=Madison Capital Times |agency=AP |date=September 26, 1981 |page=17}} Klein, who had a personal rule against renegotiating a contract, opted to trade both players.{{efn|Jefferson was traded to the Packers for one 1st-round pick, two 2nd-round picks, two opportunities to swap 1st-round picks, and wide receiver Aundra Thompson; Dean went to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2nd-round pick and one chance to swap 1st-round picks.{{cite news |title=Chargers, Packers complete Jefferson deal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119840929/jefferson-trade/ |work=Lebanon Daily News |agency=UPI |date=September 23, 1981 |page=24}}{{cite news |title=Discontented Dean sent by Chargers to 49ers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119840012/dean-traded/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |agency=UPI |date=October 3, 1981 |page=5A}}}} Coryell was not involved in either decision, but did not publicly criticize them.{{sfn|Klein|Fisher|1987|page=160}} He said of Jefferson, "My job is to coach the football players on the field and that's what I'm going to do—I want to coach the people who want to play,"{{cite news |title=Chargers trade John Jefferson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119850663/jefferson-quote/ |work=Salinas Californian |agency=AP |date=October 3, 1981 |page=21}}

and of Dean, "We regret it, but this was his choice."{{cite news |title=San Diego's Fred Dean traded to San Francisco |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101035579/dean-trade-3-oct-1981/ |work=Palm Beach Post |agency=Post Wire Services |date=October 3, 1981 |page=D6}}

Despite the high-profile departures, and despite an indifferent 6–5 start to the season,{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Seahawks join the crowd, rout Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94213624/chargers-17-40-seahawks-17-nov-1981/ |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94211086/chargers-23-44-seahawks-17-nov-1981/ III-5] |date=November 17, 1981 |via=Newspapers.com}} San Diego eventually finished 10–6 and won their third consecutive AFC West crown, edging out Denver on tiebreakers.{{cite news |title=Chargers in playoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119852349/chargers-23-10-raiders/ |work=Matton Journal Gazette |date=December 22, 1981 |page=6}} Deprived of Dean's pass-rushing ability and hampered by injuries, the Charger defense declined sharply, rated second worst in the league for total yardage; their pass defense was particularly weak, as they gave up an NFL-record 4,311 yards.{{cite news |title=Late charge puts San Diego in NFL playoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119878839/1981-defense/ |work=Whitehorse Daily Star |agency=AP |date=December 31, 1981 |page=21}} By contrast, and despite Gibbs leaving the coordinator role, Coryell's offense continued to break records.{{efn|Gibbs left to take the available head coach job at Washington.{{cite news |title=Joe Gibbs leaves Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120119863/gibbs-out/ |work=Hattiesburg American |agency=AP |date=January 13, 1981 |page=14}}}} They spent some of their capital from the Jefferson trade bringing in his replacement, Wes Chandler,{{efn|San Diego acquired Chandler from the Saints in exchange for 1st- and 3rd-round draft picks and Thompson.{{cite news |title=Saints trade Chandler |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100978699/chandler-trade-30-sep-1981/ |work=St. Joseph News-Press |agency=AP |date=September 30, 1981 |page=B1}}}} who joined Winslow and Joiner in gaining over 1,000 receiving yards.{{cite news |title=San Diego at Miami |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119879075/1981-imbalance/ |work=Wilmington News Journal |agency=Gannett News Service |date=January 2, 1982 |page=B1}} As a team, the Chargers broke their own records for total yardage and led the league in scoring.{{cite news |last1=Bock |first1=Hal |title=Cowboys, Dolphins are veteran playoff teams |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119879196/epic-preview/ |work=Winona Daily News |agency=AP |date=January 2, 1982 |page=13}} Individually, Fouts again broke the NFL passing yardage record with 4,802 and Muncie tied another record with 19 rushing touchdowns while gaining over 1,000 yards; both benefitted from an experienced offensive line who allowed only 19 sacks from 648 pass plays.{{cite news |title=AFC championship matchups |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119926611/sack-stat/ |work=Hackensack Record |date=January 10, 1982 |page=B-12}}{{cite news |last1=Janofsky |first1=Michael |title=Veteran linemen give Fouts protection |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94263609/offensive-line-20-dec-1982/ |agency=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |page=5C |date=December 20, 1982 |via=Newspapers.com}} After clinching the division Coryell pronounced himself satisfied to have come through the off-field distractions, blaming the press for stories of discontent within his squad and for criticisms of the defense.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Coryell says the Chargers weren't so bad after all |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119928073/coryell-annoyed/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 26, 1981 |page=III-8}}

{{quote box|align=left|width=15%|style=padding:10px|quote="I have coached for 31 or 32 years and there has never been a game like this. It was probably the most exciting game in pro football history."|source=—Coryell, reflecting on the Epic in Miami.}}

San Diego entered the postseason with a trip to Miami to face the AFC East champion Dolphins. Aware that the game would be played in taxing, humid conditions, Coryell decided on the flight over that his players should eat bananas beforehand, reasoning that they contained potassium and would reduce the risk of cramp.{{sfn|Klein|Fisher|1987|page=138}} In what came to be known as the Epic in Miami; San Diego led 24–0, trailed 38–31 and won 41–38 after nearly fourteen minutes of overtime, having blocked two potential game-winning field goals by the Dolphins.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=Chargers pass by Dolphins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119948719/chargers-41-38-dolphins/ |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |agency=Los Angeles Times News Service |date=January 3, 1982 |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119948762/chargers-41-38-dolphins/ 12B]}} In keeping with their regular season, San Diego set several offensive records for a playoff game, including most pass attempts, completions and yards for Fouts and most receptions for Winslow; with the Charger defense struggling to stop Miami, the game also set playoff records for combined points and yardage.{{cite news |last1=Maffei |first1=John |title=Records, notes and quotes from the Chargers' game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119986371/epic-records/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=January 4, 1982 |page=D4}} San Diego advanced to the AFC championship game, where they would meet the Cincinnati Bengals in what were expected to be freezing conditions; Coryell was concerned that the cold would make the ball heavier and harder, affecting the Chargers' passing attack.{{cite news |last1=Grimsley |first1=Will |title=Coryell's nightmares include the weather in Cincinnati |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120107061/ice-bowl-preview/ |work=Wilmington News Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=January 10, 1982 |page=D6}} Swirling winds on game day made for even colder conditions than expected and added to the difficulty in passing; San Diego lost the game, which would become known as the Freezer Bowl, by a score of 27–7.{{cite news |last1=Carucci |first1=Vic |title=Fouts couldn't stop the game from slipping away |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120109926/freezer-bowl/ |work=Fort Myers News-Press |agency=Gannett News Service |date=January 19, 1982 |page=3C}} In the aftermath of the game, Coryell proposed that playoff games should all be played at neutral, warm-weather sites.{{cite news |title=Coryell: warm-weather sites are needed for NFL playoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120114737/warm-weather-proposal/ |work=Rapid City Journal |agency=AP |date=January 12, 1982 |page=18}}

San Diego made numerous changes to try and improve their defense during the offseason.{{cite news |last1=Cobbs |first1=Chris |title=Charger trade catches Shaw by surprise |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120164223/defensive-changes/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 14, 1982 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120163948/defensive-changes/ III-12]}}
{{cite news |last1=Dyer |first1=Bob |title=San Diego |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120165546/1982-preview/ |work=Des Moines Register |date=September 5, 1982 |page=5D}} They impressed in the first two weeks, forcing six turnovers in a 23–3 win at Denver.{{cite news |title=Charger defense is surprising |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120171935/chargers-23-3-broncos/ |work=San Francisco Examiner |publisher=Examiner News Services |date=September 13, 1982 |page=F6}} After one more game, an NFL players strike interrupted the season. With no games to coach, Coryell attended some college football and scouted future prospects.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=It's not Coryell's style to play a waiting game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120174578/coryell-during-strike/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 5, 1982 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120174722/coryell-during-strike/ III-10]}} He expressed his frustration as the strike continued, as well as his fears that the whole season would be cancelled, wasting a year of his career.{{cite news |title=Season is over—Don Coryell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120175021/coryell-concerned/ |work=Hazelton Standard-Speaker |agency=AP |date=October 26, 1982 |pages=24}} The strike ended after 57 days, resulting in a reduced regular season of nine games.{{cite news |title=Tentative agreement reached; NFL to resume play Sunday with nine-week abbreviated season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94265277/nflpa-strike-17-nov-1982/ |agency=AP |page=1B |newspaper=Eau Claire Leader-Telegram |date=February 5, 1982 |via=Newspapers.com}} San Diego finished with a 6–3 record, earning the No. 5 seed in an expanded eight-team AFC playoff bracket.{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Peter |title=NFC seedings still in doubt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120185819/1982-seedings/ |work=Oakland Tribune |date=January 3, 1982 |page=D-7}} They reverted to their form of the previous season after the resumption, both scoring and conceding points at a rapid pace.{{cite news |title=Steelers, Chargers could be offensive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120188761/steelers-preview/ |work=Twin Falls Times-News |agency=UPI |date=January 9, 1983 |page=C-4}} In back-to-back weeks they beat the San Francisco 49ers and the Bengals by scores of 41–37 and 50–34, with the latter game featuring an NFL-record 883 passing yards.{{cite news |last1=Cobbs |first1=Chris |title=Chargers win arms race, 41–37 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94281141/chargers-41-37-49ers-12-dec-1982/ |agency=Los Angeles Times |page=III-4 |date=December 12, 1982 |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{cite news |last1=Dodd |first1=Mike |title=Chargers outduel Bengals, 50–34 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94288888/chargers-50-34-bengals-21-dec-1982/ |newspaper=Ithaca Journal |page=17 |date=December 21, 1982 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Chargers led the league in points, total yardage and passing yardage, while their defense was the third-worst in the AFC; explaining the lopsided nature of his team, Coryell blamed the lack of time his rebuilt defense had spent playing together.

San Diego began the playoff tournament with a trip to Pittsburgh.{{cite news |last1=Mattiace |first1=Peter |title=Making playoffs not enough for Pittsburgh |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120194439/three-rivers/ |work=Somerset Daily American |agency=Associated Press |date=January 5, 1983 |page=17}} Their ability to perform in a cold-weather city was questioned after the previous season's Freezer Bowl defeat, but they came from eleven points behind in the final quarter to beat the Steelers 31–28.{{cite news |last1=Cobbs |first1=Chris |title=Chargers boot first play, win on their last |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120196323/chargers-31-28-steelers/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 10, 1983 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120196157/chargers-31-28-steelers/ III-8]}} The following week, they travelled to face the Dolphins in a rematch of the Epic in Miami.{{cite news |title=Defense keys Miami charge vs. San Diego |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120217669/rematch-preview/ |work=San Francisco Examiner |agency=UPI |date=January 16, 1983 |page=C7}} The game proved anticlimactic as Miami's top-ranked defense shut down the Charger offense in an easy 34–13 win, with San Diego committing seven turnovers; Coryell said afterwards, "We would have had to play our best game against Miami to have a chance to beat them. We didn't do it."{{cite news |last1=Bokor |first1=Matt |title=Beaten Chargers have no excuses |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120218069/after-miami-defeat/ |work=Lansing State Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=January 17, 1983 |page=1C}} It would be the last time he coached in the playoffs.{{cite news |title=Chargers drop Chiefs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120218393/chargers-17-0-chiefs/ |work=Titusville Herald |agency=AP |date=January 3, 1993 |page=B2}}

File:Chargers balance 2.png

San Diego finished 6–10 in 1983, their first losing record of the Coryell era.{{cite news |last1=Patton |first1=Gregg |title=Raiders home for the playoffs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120229390/chargers-14-30-raiders/ |work=Salinas Californian |agency=Gannett News Service |date=December 19, 1983 |page=23}} The Chargers continued to lead the league in total yardage and passing yardage, but following a midseason injury to Fouts, they could no longer overcome the frailties of the defense.{{cite news |title=San Diego Chargers at Los Angeles Raiders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120238182/some-stats/ |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |agency=AP |date=December 18, 1983 |page=12F}}
{{cite web |title=1983 San Diego Chargers stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/1983.htm |website=pro-football-reference.com |access-date=March 6, 2023}} Coryell described the disappointment of missing the playoffs as less intense than the depression of losing in them.{{cite news |last1=Cobbs |first1=Chris |title=Chargers' season ends on a high note for Charlie Joiner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120236856/1983-review/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 20, 1983 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120237208/1983-review/ III-9]}} After the season, he accepted an invitation to coach in the Senior Bowl for the second time,{{cite news |title=Don Coryell to lead Senior's South squad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120238722/back-to-senior-bowl/ |work=Johnson City Press |agency=Associated Press |date=December 21, 1983 |page=44}} leading the South to a 21–20 victory.{{cite news |last1=Shearer |first1=Ed |title=South holds on in Senior Bowl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120241865/senior-bowl-ii/ |work=Myrtle Beach Sun-News |agency=AP |date=January 15, 1984 |page=6-B}}

Coryell's employer changed shortly before the season when Klein sold the Chargers to builder Alex Spanos, previously a minority owner.{{cite news |title=Builder seeks to buy Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120253862/ownership-switch/ |work=Sunbury Daily Item |agency=AP |date=July 31, 1984 |page=17}} San Diego began the season 4–2 and in the thick of the AFC West race,{{cite news |last1=Hiserman |first1=Mike |title=Chargers hold off Packers to win, 34–28 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120262115/chargers-34-28-packers/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 8, 1984 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120262309/chargers-34-28-packers/ III-13]}} but won only three more games and finished last in the division with a 7–9 record.{{cite news |title=Chiefs overwhelm Chargers, 42–21 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120262896/chargers-21-42-chiefs/ |work=Longview News-Journal |agency=AP |date=December 17, 1984 |page=2-B}} Coryell made over forty roster changes during the season, mostly due to injuries, and several starters missed time;{{cite news |title=Chargers need injured Fouts against Bears |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120459611/roster-changes/ |work=Columbia Record |agency=AP |date=December 15, 1984 |page=2-D}} Winslow missed eight games with a shattered knee and Fouts three games with a groin injury,{{cite news |last1=Norcross |first1=Don |title=Winslow's injury could end his career |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120457505/winslow-knee-injury/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=October 23, 1984 |pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120457261/winslow-knee-injury/ C-4]}} while Muncie was suspended for violating the league's drug policy.{{cite news |title=Muncie leaves treatment centre |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120455638/muncie-rehab/ |work=Jackson Clarion-Ledger |agency=Associated Press |date=October 18, 1984 |page=4G}} The defense was again a weakness and the pass offense again a strength, though for the first time in Coryell's tenure they did not lead the league in passing yardage, instead ranking second behind Miami.{{efn|The Dolphins broke San Diego's team record set in 1981, while their quarterback Dan Marino broke Fouts' individual record from the same season.{{cite news |title=NFL records broken in 1984 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120462498/dolphins-records/ |work=Mansfield News-Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=December 20, 1984 |page=8-B}}}}{{cite web |title=Don Coryell |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-coryell/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=March 8, 2023}} Spanos gave Coryell a public vote of confidence towards the end of the season.{{cite news |last1=Cobbs |first1=Chris |title=Spanos denies staff changes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120466607/vote-of-confidence/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 7, 1984 |page=III-10}}

On July 9, 1985, the Chargers waived seven veteran players; Coryell stated that the move would allow younger players to gain more experience.{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Chargers waive goodbye to veterans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120533293/seven-veterans-waived/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=July 10, 1985 |page=D1}} Later that month he denied rumors that the players had been cut without his knowledge; he agreed that he had not been part of the decision, but publicly claimed to agree with it.{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Something's changing with the Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120532880/coryell-on-releases/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=January 21, 1985 |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120532705/coryell-on-releases/ D3]}} One of the released players, Ray Preston, claimed in a 2006 interview that a tearful Coryell had telephoned to tell Preston of his release and assure him that Coryell would have retained him given the choice.{{cite book |last1=Tobias |first1=Todd |title=Bombs Away! Air Coryell and the San Diego Chargers |date=2006 |publisher=Bandana |isbn=0-9785729-0-4 |chapter=Ray Preston |page=78}} Spanos invested heavily in new players during the offseason and suggested that Coryell needed to produce at least an 8–8 record to keep his job.{{cite news |title=Chargers owner hopes $8.5 million buys him a winner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120593260/spanos-spending/ |work=San Bernardino County Sun |agency=Associated Press |date=August 14, 1985 |page=C-6}}{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=A half-season of disappointment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120592493/mid-season-1985/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=October 31, 1985 |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120592354/mid-season-1985/ C4]}}

Coryell's Chargers met Spanos' requirement with an 8–8 record in 1985.{{cite news |title=Pass-happy Chiefs outlast Chargers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109602497/chargers-34-38-chiefs/ |work=San Angelo Standard-Times |agency=AP |date=December 23, 1985}} The offense bounced back to reclaim their league-leading status,{{cite news |title=Chargers run and gun with NBA abandon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120644539/1985-offense/ |work=Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice |agency=Washington Post News Service |date=December 10, 1985 |page=50}} despite Fouts again missing time through injury.{{cite news |title=Cleveland outruns San Diego after Fouts injures knee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94343998/fouts-knee-30-sep-1985/ |agency=AP |page=8 |newspaper=Dayton Journal Herald |date=September 30, 1985 |via=Newspapers.com}} Coryell had a new weapon in 5 foot 6 inch Lionel James,{{cite news |last1=Anastasia |first1=Phil |title=Eagles have to untrack 'Little Train' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120651873/little-train/ |work=Camden Courier-Post |date=December 12, 1985 |page=3E}} whose 2,535 all-purpose yards broke the NFL record Metcalf had set for Coryell in 1975. He also set a new record for receiving yards by a running back with 1,027 as the Chargers topped the league in passing for the seventh time in eight years.{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Chargers notes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120654999/little-train-1k/ |page=D2 |newspaper=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 23, 1985 |via=Newspapers.com}} With the defense again among the league's worst,{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Goodbye to the No-D defense |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120653577/coaching-restructure/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 25, 1985 |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120653434/coaching-restructure/ C3]}} San Diego won games by scores of 44–41, 40–34 and 54–44.{{cite news |last1=Cobbs |first1=Chris |title=Chargers win on a late field goal by Thomas, 44–41 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54067338/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 23, 1985 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94345628/chargers-44-41-bengals-23-sep-1985/ III-4]}}
{{cite news |last1=Heisler |first1=Mark |title=Fouts drives Chargers to win, Raiders to distraction |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111945049/chargers-40-24-raiders/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 11, 1985 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111944954/chargers-40-34-raiders/ III-24]}}
{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Better than a point a minute |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112177252/chargers-54-44-steelers/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=December 9, 1980 |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112177089/chargers-54-44-steelers/ C4]}}

{{quote box|align=left|width=15%|style=padding:10px|quote="I want to go out on top as a real winner. I want to be part of this team when it wins. I don't want to wait. I want to win now."|source=—Coryell, after signing a one-year contract extension. He would be dismissed after only eight more games.}}

The day after the season finished, Spanos pronounced himself satisfied that his goal of an 8–8 record had been met and extended Coryell's contract by a year to run through 1987 (though the new contract had no guaranteed money past 1986).{{cite news |last1=Georgatos |first1=Dennis |title=Charger owner retains Coryell as head coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120656801/chargers-extension/ |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |agency=AP |date=December 24, 2000 |page=1B}} Spanos also promoted receivers coach Al Saunders to assistant head coach, where he would act as a liaison for Spanos and a potential heir to the head coach role.{{cite news |last1=Cobbs |first1=Chris |title=Coryell's contract extended |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120657463/coaching-changes/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 24, 1985 |page=III-2}} Coryell welcomed the moves, stating that Saunders' promotion would give him more time to work with the defense.

Coryell had a strained relationship with Spanos,{{cite news |last1=Hyvonen |first1=Gary |title=Chargers Hall of Fame to finally admit Coryell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120700860/chargers-hall-of-fame/ |work=North County Times |date=December 13, 1993 |page=C-5}} who began meeting with Saunders to discuss the future of the team, reducing Coryell's authority.{{cite news |last1=Simers |first1=T.J. |title=Beathard retires, leaving Chargers in familiar state |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120700049/authority-1986/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 26, 2000 |page=D14}} The Chargers cut starting linebacker Linden King on July 25, only two days after Coryell had praised his progress in a new inside linebacker role.{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Linden King is dropped |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120697710/linden-king-out/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=July 25, 1986 |page=C1}} King defended Coryell and blamed scouting director Ron Nay (an adviser to Spanos) for his release.{{cite news |last1=Heisler |first1=Mark |title=Chargers' Linden King is acquired by Raiders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120699503/king-on-chargers/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 2, 1986 |page=III-13}}

San Diego began their 1986 season with an impressive 50–28 win over Miami, but it was to be the last victory of Coryell's 37-year coaching career.{{cite news |title=Air and ground Coryell blast Dolphins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94353249/chargers-50-28-dolphins-8-sep-1986/ |agency=AP |page=B5 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |date=September 8, 1986 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Chargers lost their next seven consecutive games, and Spanos dismissed his head coach on October 29, 1986, after over nine years in the job, replacing him with Saunders. While Coryell agreed to put his name to a statement saying that he had resigned, and Spanos denied having influenced him, this version of events was met with some scepticism by Coryell's former players; King declared that Spanos was looking for scapegoats to blame for the team's struggles.{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Coryell: coaches, players say he's no quitter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94355485/coryell-resigns-30-oct-1986/ |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94355385/coryell-resigns-30-oct-1986/ D5] |newspaper=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=October 30, 1986 |via=Newspapers.com}} Coryell remained silent on the matter for several years, but stated in a 1992 interview that his exit had been Spanos' decision. Spanos confirmed this in his 2002 autobiography; he also said that he regretted not dismissing Coryell and the rest of Klein's personnel as soon as he took over control of the team, noting that Jerry Jones had "cleaned house" when he bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 with good results.{{cite book |last1=Spanos |first1=Alex |last2=Seal |first2=Mark |last3=Kasparian |first3=Natalia |title=Sharing the Wealth: My Story |date=2002 |publisher=Regnery |isbn=978-0895261588 |edition=Audiobook |chapter=11: Learning by Losing}}

Coryell never returned to coaching after leaving the Chargers, turning down a number of subsequent offers.{{cite news |last1=Gosselin |first1=Rick |title=Don Coryell long gone but not forgotten |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120721499/after-retiring/ |work=Corpus Christi Caller-Times |agency=Dallas Morning News |date=August 2, 1992 |page=C15}} His regular season record with the Chargers was 69–56, giving him an overall NFL record of 111–83–1; in the postseason, his record was 3–4 with the Chargers and 3–6 overall.{{cite news |title=Don Coryell's record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120728474/pro-record/ |work=Lafayette Journal and Courier |date=October 30, 1986 |page=B2}} The San Diego Union Tribune named him the second-best head coach in Charger history in a 2012 article.{{efn|Sid Gillman was ranked above him.{{cite web |last1=Paris |first1=Jay |title=Ranking the all-time Chargers head coaches |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-ranking-the-all-time-chargers-head-coaches-2012dec06-story.html |website=San Diego Union Tribune |date=December 6, 2012 |access-date=March 12, 2023}}}} The Chargers inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1994.

Coryell was the first head coach to win 100 games at both the collegiate and professional levels. He earned a reputation for quickly turning around a losing team, doing so with numerous college programs before taking both the Cardinals and Chargers into the playoffs in his second seasons with the franchises.{{cite news |last1=Distel |first1=Dave |title=San Diego coach specializes in intensity and turnarounds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121005119/1979-profile/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 28, 1979 |pages=III-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121005595/1979-profile/ III-9], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121005779/1979-profile/ III-10]}} Coryell is remembered primarily as an offensive coach who could tailor his offense to suit the skills of the personnel available. More specifically, he is associated with innovations in the passing game; the Air Coryell offense he developed with the Chargers was called "one of the most explosive and exciting offenses that ever set foot on an NFL field" by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.{{cite news|title=Air Coryell |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1738 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606033030/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1738 |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Three principle players from that offense (Fouts, Winslow and Joiner) would go on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, as would Coryell himself.{{cite magazine |last1=Cothrel |first1=Nick |title=Former Chargers Coach Don Coryell Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/chargers/news/chargers-don-coryell-pro-football-hall-of-fame-nfl-head-coach |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 9, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2023}}

San Diego's offense was statistically dominant during Coryell's tenure. They led the league in passing yards an NFL-record six consecutive years from 1978 to 1983 and again in 1985; they also led the league in total yards and first downs in 1980–1983 and 1985, and in scoring in 1981, 1982 and 1985.{{cite web |last1=Kerr |first1=Jeff |title=Don Coryell, architect of Air Coryell offense, named coach/contributor finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/don-coryell-architect-of-air-coryell-offense-named-coachcontributor-finalist-for-pro-football-hall-of-fame/ |website=cbssports.com |date=August 24, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2023}} During his career, Coryell advocated for the league to adopt rules changes that would assist offenses; as well as wanting playoff games to be played in neutral, warm-weather cities, Coryell suggested widening the field and allowing multiple men in motion, as in the CFL.{{cite news |title=Coryell wants NFL to think Canadian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121014425/canadian-rules/ |work=Regina Leader-Post |agency=CP |date=May 22, 1982 |page=A11}} Air Coryell remained influential in the league after Coryell's retirement, with Washington, Dallas and the St. Louis Rams all winning Super Bowls while using versions of the offense.{{cite web |last1=Watkins |first1=Calvin |title=Don Coryell's offense is Jason Garrett's |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4669232/don-coryells-offense-is-jason-garretts |website=espn.com |date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=March 18, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Eric D. |title=Innovator Don Coryell misses out on Hall of Fame again |url=https://www.espn.com.au/blog/san-diego-chargers/post/_/id/19444/innovator-don-coryell-misses-out-on-hall-of-fame |website=espn.com |date=February 5, 2017 |access-date=March 18, 2023}}

Detractors of Coryell point to the Chargers' defensive shortcomings, given that his defenses were in the bottom five league-wide in points allowed from 1981 to 1986. Tom Bass, who was a defensive coordinator for Coryell with both SDSU and the Chargers, said Coryell focused on offense during practice. He left the coaching of defensive players and the defensive game plan to Bass. "In planning and designing defense, he simply had no interest", said Bass.{{sfn|Jaworski|Plaut|Cosell|2011|page=82}} However, in 1979, the Chargers allowed the fewest points (246) in the AFC,{{cite news |title=Whirlwind finish rallied Staubach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121128781/afc-leading-defense/ |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |agency=AP |date=December 20, 1979 |page=39}} while their defense led the NFL with 60 sacks in 1980. They declined quickly after the trade of Dean in 1981, becoming a frequent liability for the next five seasons.{{cite news |last1=Posner |first1=Jay |title=Chargers defense seems very familiar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111434559/chargers-35-49-seahawks/ |work=Escondido Times-Advocate |date=September 16, 1985 |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111434407/chargers-35-49-seahawks/ C2]}} Meanwhile, Dean would go on in the same year to win UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year (while playing in only 11 games) and help lead the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl both that year and again in 1984. Dean was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.{{cite news|last=Thomas |first=Jim |title=Fred Dean: Situational pass-rusher made most of his opportunities |date=July 30, 2008 |newspaper=The State Journal-Register |url=http://www.sj-r.com/article/20080730/NEWS/307309952?template=printart |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919215259/http://www.sj-r.com/article/20080730/NEWS/307309952?template=printart |archive-date=September 19, 2016 |url-status=live }} The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2013 called the trade "perhaps the biggest blunder in [Chargers] franchise history."{{cite news |last=Krasovic |first=Tom |title=Chargers had a Fearsome Foursome, too |date=June 5, 2013 |newspaper=U-T San Diego |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Jun/05/chargers-deacon-jones-fred-dean/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140127082714/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Jun/05/chargers-deacon-jones-fred-dean/ |archive-date=January 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

As a character, Coryell was known as a scowling, intense presence on gamedays. His focus on football would often lead him to walk straight by friends or players without noticing them or responding when they greeted him;{{sfn|Klein|Fisher|1987|page=138}} he worked late hours, and would sleep at his team's training facility two or three times a week while the season was ongoing.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jack |title=Cards fall for Coryell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121144171/sleeping-patterns/ |work=Torrance Daily Breeze |date=June 22, 1975 |page=E3}} Coryell's team talks on the eve of a game were described as highly motivational despite being difficult to follow. Klein said, "Players loved playing for him. He was so sincere that even if the things he said sometimes made no sense, they didn't care."{{sfn|Klein|Fisher|1987|page=137}} His relaxed approach to discipline and willingness to forge personal connections made him popular with his players. "The most important thing to me about Don Coryell is him as a person. He actually cared about us as players. A lot of coaches don't even know who you are", said Fouts.{{sfn|Jaworski|Plaut|Cosell|2011|page=82}} Coryell did not want to intimidate his players and instead treated his players with respect, allowing them to showcase their strengths. "I don't think a coach has to be a son of a bitch to be successful. I think you can treat men like men", he said.{{sfn|Jaworski|Plaut|Cosell|2011|page=85}}

After his retirement, Coryell was inducted into the halls of fame of the city of San Diego,{{cite news |title=Hall of Champions names Gwynn, Petranoff '86 stars |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121068813/breitbard/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 7, 1987 |page=III-18}} San Diego State,{{cite web |title=Don Coryell (1988) |url=https://goaztecs.com/honors/hall-of-fame/don-coryell/25 |website=goaztecs.com |access-date=March 17, 2023}} the San Diego Chargers, college football,{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/former-chargers-head-coach-don-coryell-elected-to-pro-football-hall-of-fame/|title=Former Chargers Head Coach Don Coryell elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame|last=Fioresi|first=Dean|date=February 10, 2023|work=CBS News Los Angeles|access-date=February 11, 2023}} and the University of Washington.{{cite web |title=Inductees by year |url=https://www.uwtyeeclub.com/big-w-club/the-husky-hall-of-fame/inductees-by-year/ |website=uwtyeeclub.com |access-date=March 24, 2023}} In 1993, the Chargers inducted Fouts and Joiner but not Coryell; this embarrassed Fouts, who publicly stated that the coach should have gone in before any of his players. Coryell was inducted the following year.{{cite book|last=Lahman|first=Sean|title=The Pro Football Historical Abstract: A Hardcore Fan's Guide to All-Time Player Rankings|pages=279–280|year=2007|publisher=Globe Pequot|isbn= 9781592289400|url=https://archive.org/details/profootballhisto0000lahm/page/279/mode/1up|via=Internet Archive|url-access=registration|access-date=January 4, 2021}}

Coryell took far longer to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his election coming in 2023 after he had first become eligible in 1992.{{efn|Coaches and players become eligible once they have been retired for five years.{{cite web |title=Becoming a Hall of Famer - FAQs |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/becoming-a-hall-of-famer-faqs/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=March 24, 2023}}}} Possible reasons for the long delay include Coryell's failure to lead his teams to a Super Bowl, a 3–6 postseason record and his perceived weakness in the defensive side of the game.{{cite book|last1=Carroll|first1=Bob|last2=Gershman|first2=Michael|last3=Neft|first3=David|last4=Thorn|first4=John|title=Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League|pages=1799–1800|year=1999|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|url=https://archive.org/details/totalfootballoff0000unse/page/1799/mode/1upp|url-access=registration|isbn=9780062701749|access-date=June 6, 2022|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite news

| last = Trotter

| first = Jim

| title =Don Coryell's bold approach helped mold the NFL into what it is today

| publisher = SI.com

| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jim_trotter/07/02/coryell.original/index.html

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704131155/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jim_trotter/07/02/coryell.original/index.html

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=July 4, 2010

| access-date = July 10, 2010

| date=July 2, 2010}}
{{cite web

| last = Miklasz

| first = Bernie

| title =Don Coryell changed the NFL

| date = July 2, 2010

| publisher = STLToday.com

| url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/article_ce350b0c-85f1-11df-8f97-0017a4a78c22.html

| access-date = July 11, 2010 }}
{{cite web

| last = Carucci

| first = Vic

| title =Coryell's attacking offense mirrored his attitude on game, life

| work = NFL.com

| url=https://www.nfl.com/news/coryell-s-attacking-offense-mirrored-his-attitude-on-game-life-09000d5d818f07fe

| access-date = July 12, 2010 }} Sports Illustrated writer Jim Trotter, a voter on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors, said selectors were hesitant to vote for coaches while there was a backlog of deserving players.{{cite news|last=Canepa |first=Nick |title=Canepa: NFL Hall of Fame tough nut to crack |date=February 21, 2010 |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/21/nfl-hall-of-fame-is-one-tough-nut-to-crack/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122053510/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/21/nfl-hall-of-fame-is-one-tough-nut-to-crack/ |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Shortly before his death in 2010, he was among the 15 finalists considered by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee on the Saturday before the Super Bowl. He was not selected that year, and was also a losing finalist in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.{{cite web

| title = Coryell denied entry to Hall of Fame

| url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/06/hall-fame-passes-over-don-coryell/

| access-date = February 8, 2010 | date=February 6, 2010

}}
{{cite news|title=Pro Football Hall of Fame must break up traffic jam|date=January 29, 2015|work=wlwt.com|agency=The Sports Xchange|url=http://www.wlwt.com/sports/pro-football-hall-of-fame-must-break-up-traffic-jam/30997744|access-date=January 31, 2015}}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/isaac-bruce-don-coryell-among-hall-of-fame-finalists/article_76c32338-07f5-5625-89a2-edd23122eff7.html|title=Isaac Bruce, Don Coryell among Hall of Fame finalists|date=January 4, 2019 }}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/heroes-of-the-game/hall-of-famers-yearly-finalists/|title = Hall of Famers: Yearly Finalists - Hall of Famers | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site}}

Advocates for Coryell's inclusion included Madden and Gibbs, both Hall of Fame inductees and former members of his San Diego State staff, and his former players Fouts and Winslow.{{Cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/release.jsp?release_id=2178|title=John Madden's Enshrinement Speech Transcript, August 5, 2006 (accessed October 4, 2008)}}{{cite web

|title = Hall of Fame notes: Gibbs lobbies for Coryell, Thurman for Reed

|url = http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10917526

|access-date = November 2, 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130105022052/http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10917526

|archive-date = January 5, 2013

}} Fouts said, "He influenced offensive and defensive football because if you are going to have three or four receivers out there, you better have an answer for it on the other side of the ball. If it wasn't for Don, I wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame."{{Cite web |url=http://www.voiceofsandiego.com/articles/2008/07/01/opinion/01shanahan070108.txt |title=Shannhan, Tom. 2008. "Don Coryell Belongs in the Hall of Fame", July 1 (accessed October 4, 2008) |access-date=October 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919032826/http://www.voiceofsandiego.com/articles/2008/07/01/opinion/01shanahan070108.txt |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |url-status=dead }} Winslow noted that Coryell's influence on the game, with his basic offensive scheme still in use years later: "It's just a personnel change, but it's the same thing. When the Rams won their Super Bowl, it was the same offense, same terminology. For Don Coryell to not be in the Hall of Fame is a lack of knowledge of the voters. That's the nicest way that I can put that. A lack of understanding of the legacy of the game."{{cite web

|title = Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend blog

|website = NFL.com|url = http://www.nfl.com/halloffame/story?id=09000d5d809a866c&template=with-video&confirm=true

|access-date = November 2, 2008

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090308183917/http://www.nfl.com/halloffame/story?id=09000d5d809a866c&template=with-video&confirm=true

|archive-date = March 8, 2009

}}

The selection committee chose him as the finalist out of a group of 12 coaches and contributors for induction in the class of 2023.{{Cite web |date=August 24, 2022 |title=Innovative coach Coryell finalist for football HOF |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34451848/don-coryell-innovative-former-coach-chargers-cardinals-picked-pro-football-hall-fame-finalist |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=ESPN |language=en}} In February 2023 he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame; his formal induction took place on August 5, with Fouts presenting Coryell at the ceremony while his daughter Mindy accepted the honor on his behalf.{{cite web |title=Pro Football Hall of Fame to enshrine nine in Class of 2023 |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2023/pro-football-hall-of-fame-to-enshrine-nine-in-class-of-2023/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=March 20, 2023}}

Coryell met his future wife Aliisa during his year coaching Fort Ord; she worked as a recreation director at the facility.{{sfn|Stein|Clark|1976|page=61}} The couple had a son and a daughter, Mike and Mindy.{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Mike |title=Coryell credits his family |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121499226/family/ |work=San Antonio Express |date=December 29, 1974 |page=22}} After leaving the Chargers, Coryell and his wife spent time backpacking and fishing while not at their home on the island of Friday Harbor in the State of Washington. Often living without a telephone or television, Coryell did not follow football closely during his retirement.

Coryell died on July 1, 2010, at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, California. The cause of death was not officially released, but Coryell had been in poor health for some time.

File:Don Coryell 1968.png.]]

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Whittier Poets

| conf = Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

| startyear = 1957

| endyear = 1959

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1957

| name = Whittier

| overall = 6–2–1

| conference = 3–0–1

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1958

| name = Whittier

| overall = 8–1

| conference = 4–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1959

| name = Whittier

| overall = 8–2

| conference = 5–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Whittier

| overall = 22–5–1

| confrecord = 12–0–1

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = San Diego State Aztecs

| conf = California Collegiate Athletic Association

| startyear = 1961

| endyear = 1967

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1961

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 7–2–1

| conference = 2–2–1

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1962

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 8–2

| conference = 5–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1963

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 7–2

| conference = 3–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1964

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 8–2

| conference = 4–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1965

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 8–2

| conference = 3–2

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1966

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 11–0

| conference = 5–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Camellia

| bowloutcome = W

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1967

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 10–1

| conference = 5–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Camellia

| bowloutcome = W

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = San Diego State Aztecs

| conf = NCAA College Division independent

| startyear = 1968

| endyear = single

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = national

| year = 1968

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 9–0–1

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = San Diego State Aztecs

| conf = Pacific Coast Athletic Association

| startyear = 1969

| endyear = 1972

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1969

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 11–0

| conference = 6–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Pasadena

| bowloutcome = W

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 18

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1970

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 9–2

| conference = 5–1

| confstanding = T–1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1971

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 6–5

| conference = 2–3

| confstanding = T–4th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking =

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1972

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 10–1

| conference = 4–0

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = 20

| ranking2 =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = San Diego State

| overall = 104–19–2

| confrecord = 44–10–1

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 126–24–3

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Wenatchee Valley Knights

| conf = Washington Junior College Conference

| startyear = 1955

| endyear = single

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1955

| name = Wenatchee Valley

| overall = 7–1–1

| conference = 5–0–1

| confstanding = 1st

| bowlname = Potato Bowl

| bowloutcome = L

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Wenatchee Valley

| overall = 7–1–1

| confrecord = 5–0–1

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 7–1–1

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = UBC Thunderbirds

| conf = Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association

| startyear = 1953

| endyear = 1954

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1953

| name = UBC

| overall = 2–7

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1954

| name = UBC

| overall = 0–9

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = UBC

| overall = 2–16

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 2–16

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

}}

• AP NFL Coach of the Year, 1974
• UPI NFC Coach of the Year, 1974
• PFWA NFC Coach of the Year, 1974
• PFWA AFC Coach of the Year, 1979
• Breitbard Hall of Fame, class of 1987
• San Diego State Aztecs Hall of Fame, class of 1988
• San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame, class of 1994
• College Football Hall of Fame, class of 1999
• Washington Huskies, class of 2000
• Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 2023
• San Diego Chargers 40th Anniversary Team{{cite news |title=Chargers look back to future |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121426089/40th-year-team/ |work=Boca Raton News |agency=Associated Press |date=November 12, 2000 |page=1B}}
• San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team{{cite news |last=Canepa|first=Nick |title=Greatest Chargers list rings true |date=November 16, 2009 |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/16/this-chargers-list-rings-true-canepa/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114050717/http://signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/16/this-chargers-list-rings-true-canepa/ |url-status=dead|archivedate=January 14, 2010}}

• 3× SCIAC champion (1957–1959)
• 4× CCAA champion (1962–1963, 1966–1967)
• 3× UPI NCAA College Division champion (1966–1968)
• 3× AP NCAA College Division champion (1966–1967)
• 2x Camellia Bowl winner (1966–1967)
• 3× PCAA champion (1969–1970, 1972)
• Pasadena Bowl winner (1969)

• 2x NFC East champion (1974–1975)
• 3x AFC West champion (1979–1981)

The following records, set during Coryell's tenure with the San Diego Chargers, remain in the NFL Record & Fact Book {{As of|2023|lc=y}}.{{cite web |title=2022 Official National Football League Record & Fact Book |url=https://operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 22, 2023}}

• Most consecutive seasons leading league, first downs: 4 (1980–1983)
• Most consecutive seasons leading league, net yards gained rushing and passing: 4 (1980–1983){{efn|Tied with Chicago Bears (1941-44).}}
• Most consecutive seasons leading league, passing yards: 6 (1978–1983){{efn|Tommy Prothro was the head coach for the first four games in 1978.}}
• Most consecutive games, 400+ yards gained rushing and passing: 11 (1982–1983)
• Most touchdown passes, game: 7 (week 12, 1981){{efn|Tied with numerous other teams.}}

Assistant coaches under Coryell who subsequently become college or professional head coaches:

• John Madden: Oakland Raiders (1969–1978)
• Ray Perkins: New York Giants (1979–1982), Alabama (1983–1986), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1990)
• Joe Gibbs: Washington Redskins (1981–1992), (2004–2007)
• Jim Hanifan: St. Louis Cardinals (1980–1985), Atlanta Falcons (1989)
• Rod Dowhower: Indianapolis Colts (1985–1986)
• Al Saunders: San Diego Chargers (1986–1988)
• Jim L. Mora: Atlanta Falcons (2004–2006), Seattle Seahawks (2009), UCLA (2012–2017), UConn (2022–present){{cite web |title=Jim Mora - Football Coach |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jim-mora/993 |website=uconnhuskies.com |access-date=March 22, 2023}}

• List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins

{{notelist|60em}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Stein |first1=Joe |last2=Clark |first2=Diane |title=Don Coryell: "Win With Honor" |year=1976 |publisher=Joyce Press |isbn=978-0-89325-003-4}}
• {{cite book |last1=Jaworski |first1=Ron |last2=Plaut |first2=David |last3=Cosell |first3=Greg |title=The Games That Changed the Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-34551-796-8}}
• {{cite book |last1=Klein |first1=Gene |last2=Fisher |first2=David |title=First Down and a Billion: the Funny Business of Pro Football |date=1987 |publisher=Morrow |isbn=0-688-06894-4}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Profootballhof|don-coryell}}
• {{College Football HoF|1933}}
• [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/CoryDo0.htm Don Coryell at Pro-Football-Reference]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coryell, Don}}

Category:1924 births

Category:2010 deaths

Category:American football halfbacks

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