When thinking about the last great decade of Chicago Bears football, most people will point to the 1980s. It was a great time to be a fan. The team won their only Super Bowl in 1985 and maintained a stranglehold on the division from 1984 through 1991. Most of the credit for that success goes to head coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, even though Ryan left after the ’85 season. It is so easy to forget the team remained successful after his departure. Yet nobody gave his replacement credit for it.
That dubious honor belonged to Vince Tobin. The 43-year-old had concluded a successful three-year run in the USFL that saw his team win two championships, led by his suffocating defenses. Ditka took notice and brought him to Chicago. While everybody celebrates the ’85 defense, they often forget Tobin’s 1986 unit gave up fewer points. Under his guidance, the Bears posted a top 10 defense in five of his seven seasons. He often gets blamed for the team failing to win another Super Bowl, which was entirely unfair.
Now the coaching legend has died at the age of 79.
The Chicago Bears should honor Tobin properly.
He was a big reason the team stayed afloat in those post-Super Bowl years. The offense gradually started falling apart around that same time as Jim McMahon kept getting injured and Walter Payton retired. Tobin landed on his feet after leaving, though. He spent two productive years in Indianapolis, helping them to the AFC championship in 1995. That got him a head coaching job with the fledgling Arizona Cardinals. Under his firm guidance, they claimed their first winning season in 14 years in 1998. Then he delivered his masterpiece by stunning the defending champion Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round.
Fittingly, it was the defense that led the way. Troy Aikman threw three interceptions, Emmitt Smith had only 74 yards on 16 carries, and Michael Irvin had only four catches for 32 yards. Dallas’ only score came with less than four minutes left in the game with Arizona ahead 20-0. It was an emphatic end to the Cardinals’ long drought without a playoff victory. They wouldn’t do so again for another ten years. Vince Tobin retired in 2005 after 40 years of coaching. It was a career to be proud of.
Yes, Vince Tobin was a solid and producive coach.
He was good DC. I thought he was a good successor to Buddy too, because OCs were starting to figure out the 46, and Tobin’s mixed packages sidestepped that problem. But, he was overshadowed by his brother and Ditka. I didn’t really follow him after he left town.
RIP Vince Tobin.
Good article Erik. I agree he does not get the credit he deserves. The Bears should do something to honor him.
A fitting tribute to a coaching legend that didn’t get his proper due. R.I.P., coach.