1994: The year Buddy’s Eagles became Arizona Cardinals

Buddy Ryan was hired in 1994 to fix the Arizona Cardinals and a bevy of his ex-players followed him to the Valley of the Sun

The Arizona Cardinals were asking for it. By giving the keys to the store to the late Buddy Ryan, the organization basically had to step aside and let the charismatic coach do what he pleased. And boy, did he ever.

Not only was Ryan hired to be the club’s head coach, he was also appointed general manager. With this brand new power bestowed upon him, the former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles made some calls. Suddenly, the Cardinals were looking a lot greener.

Ryan reached out to a group of his ex-Eagles. The most heralded of those players turned out to be linebacker Seth Joyner and defensive end Clyde Simmons. Two men who, by all accounts, would run through walls for their former mentor.

Joyner, a born leader on the field and off, was a rare combination of strength and speed. He had made it to two Pro Bowls while playing in Philly, and was voted to another after his first season with Arizona. Joyner played three campaigns with the Cards, two under Ryan and one for his successor, Vince Tobin in 1996.

Simmons, a close friend of Joyner, would sign a five-year contract worth just under $15 million. He tallied just six sacks in ’94, but rebounded nicely in 1995 when he collected 11. Simmons played just two years in the desert, departing when Ryan was fired at the end of ’95.

Two of Ryan’s starting safeties from his time with the Eagles also became Cardinals. Andre “Dirty” Waters played the final two seasons of his career in Arizona (1994-95). Sadly, the graduate of tiny Cheyney University died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in 2006.

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The other safety, Terry Hoage, hung around for three years with the Redbirds before retiring following the 1996 campaign. He appeared in 33 games with Arizona, collecting five interceptions and two sacks for the Cards’ version of the “46” defense.

Three more Ryan devotees made it onto the Cardinals’ roster in ’94. Punter Jeff Feagles remained with the franchise for four seasons. Jim McMahon knew the coach initially from their days with the Chicago Bears (Ryan was defensive coordinator), and was then reunited with him in Philly (1990). He joined Ryan for a third time out West, making one start at quarterback for him.

Finally, running back Mark Higgs played for Ryan as an Eagle in 1989. He finished his career with his former coach as a Cardinal (1994-95).

Ryan loyalists weren’t limited to just ex-Eagles. Linebacker Wilber Marshall played under Ryan in Chicago during the 1980’s. He played well for Arizona during the ’94 campaign before finishing his career the next season in New York for the Jets.

Defensive end Keith McCants was with the coach in 1993, when Ryan was the defensive coordinator of the Houston Oilers. He was one of the players who helped break up the infamous sideline brawl between Ryan and the Oilers’ offensive coordinator at the time, Kevin Gilbride. McCants played two years with the Cards (1994-95), appearing in 24 games while starting three.

Ryan logged an unimpressive won-loss record of 12-20 during his two campaigns as the Cardinals’ head man. But despite the lack of success, there’s no denying the love that many of his ex-players had for him. And still do to this day.