Sam's football affiliation spans some 27 years when he started with the Continental Football League's Wheeling Ironmen before becoming one of the original Cincinnati Bengals in 1968. One year later, he was quarterback on the Bengal's first-ever play-off team. During his years on the field, Sam played with the Washington Redskins, playing on three more play-off teams, including Super Bowl VIII; he also played for the Detroit Lions, the pro-footbal team in St. Louis and the Buffalo Bills before retiring as a player in 1976.
From an inauspicious coaching start in 1979 where he coached the San Francisco 49er's and then-rookie quarterback Joe Montana, Sam's coaching career reached a high point when the 49er's and Joe Montana won Super Bowl XVI! Successfully coaching for several years, Sam was key to one of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history when the Cincinnati Bengals went from a record of 4-11 in 1987 to Super Bowl contenders the following year. Sam's coaching career includes Head Coach at Indiana University before taking the same post with the Cincinnati Bengals and another Super Bowl (XXIII) when the Bengals played the 49ers. After four years as Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sam ended his coaching career in 1995.
Following his years on the field, Sam paired with Marv Albert on NBC's Sunday broadcasts of the AFC. After a year, he was promoted to NBC's pre-game and half time shows and then joined CBS as an analyst with Kevin Harlan.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Sam earned his BA degree from Furman University and his MBA from the University of South Carolina. He has been a private pilot for over nearly 30 years and when not on the golf course or tennis courts, he enjoys riding his Harley and performing magic tricks.
Considered one of the most innovative coaches in NFL history, Sam Wyche has perfected lessons well-learned on the field to become an accomplished, inspiring speaker and master of motivational techniques. Generating warm, personal appeal while sprinkling humor throughout, Sam's custom presentations both engage and excite audiences teaching how success on the field can be applied to any endeavor.
Most Innovative Coach in NFL History
