Sam Wyche Samuel David " Sam " Wyche ( born January 5 , 1945 ) is a former American football player and head coach , who is best known as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL . Perhaps best known for introducing the use of the No - huddle offense as a standard offense ( as opposed to use at the end of the half ) , Wyche ' s greatest achievement as a head coach was leading the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII , which they lost to the 49ers 20 – 16 , relinquishing the lead with only 34 seconds remaining . Wyche ' s 64 wins with the Bengals were the most ever by a coach in their franchise history , until October 30 , 2011 when he was overtaken by Marvin Lewis . Playing career . College . From 1963 to 1965 , Wyche played college football at Furman University as a quarterback He was also an initiated member of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity . Professional . From 1966 through 1967 , Wyche played for the Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League . From 1968 – 1970 , he played for the Cincinnati Bengals . From 1971 to 1973 , he played for the Washington Redskins who appeared in Super Bowl VII . In 1974 , he played for the Detroit Lions . In 1976 , Wyche played for the St . Louis Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills . In 1988 , Sam Wyche was inducted into the American Football Association ' s Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame . Coaching career . University of South Carolina . In 1967 , while at the University of South Carolina to receive his MBA , Wyche was an assistant coach for the Gamecocks . San Francisco 49ers . Wyche was an assistant coach and directed the passing game for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1982 . Indiana University . In 1983 , Wyche was the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers . Cincinnati Bengals . Wyche was hired as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1984 . Known as an emotional coach , he bonded well with his players and occasionally collided with superiors . His ongoing feud with former Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville was best exemplified in late 1989 , when the Bengals scored early and often in a 61 – 7 thrashing . He also helped stoke the flames of the Cleveland - Cincinnati intrastate rivalry with several other comments and play calling during his tenure . Wyche is known as the " Always Innovative Sam Wyche " by Norman Chad for his unconventional play - calling . Wyche introduced the concept of having 12 or more players huddle on the field , then having a few leave the field . This was meant to confuse the defense as to the personnel grouping and give the offense an advantage . This has since been outlawed in the NFL . His Bengals were also the first to use the No - huddle / hurry - up offense as a base offense . On December 10 , 1989 , during a game versus the Seattle Seahawks , Bengals fans in protest of what they perceived to be a bad call by the officials , began to throw snowballs onto the field at the referees and the Seahawks , who were at their own 4 - yard line and an easy target from the bleachers . Seattle refused to continue until they stopped , and play was halted by the officials . In order to stop the onslaught , Wyche was given a house microphone to try to calm the crowd , asking fans to please point out anyone throwing anything to stadium security and chided the fans who were doing the throwing , and alluded to the reputation of their in - state rivals : On December 24 , 1991 , just three years after the Bengals ' Super Bowl appearance , Wyche was fired by owner Mike Brown , who had taken over the team upon the death of his father , club founder Paul Brown , four months earlier . Controversy erupted when the Bengals claimed Wyche had resigned , relieving the team of any future payments , but Wyche stated he was fired . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Wyche was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as head coach in 1992 . He spent the next four years as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he drafted Derrick Brooks , Warren Sapp , and John Lynch . He was dismissed at the conclusion of the 1995 season . People credit Jon Gruden ' s Super Bowl victory to Tony Dungy , but it was Wyche who had drafted these talented players . Near the end of his tenure with the Bucs , Wyche participated in a lighthearted pregame promotional piece for NFL Films . At the time , Jimmy Johnson , then the recently dismissed coach of the Dallas Cowboys , was rumored to be heading to Tampa Bay to displace Wyche . During the promo , Wyche was about to address his team when general manager Rich McKay ducked his head into the room . He beckoned Wyche out of the room , and instructed him to " bring your playbook . " Wyche disappeared , and in walked Johnson wearing a Buccaneers jacket , who then addressed " his " new team , to everyone ' s surprise . Buffalo Bills . From 2004 to 2005 , Wyche was the quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills . High school . In 2002 , 2003 , 2006 , 2007 , and 2008 , Wyche volunteered as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Pickens High School Blue Flame in Pickens , South Carolina . He helped the Blue Flame get to the second round of the playoffs in 2006 . Wyche was a registered substitute teacher in Pickens County schools . Broadcasting career . In 1996 , Wyche worked as a sports analyst with Marv Albert on a weekly NFL game for NBC . In 1997 , he was promoted to the studio on NBC ' s weekly pre - game and half - time shows . He worked as an analyst for CBS with Kevin Harlan on the weekly NFL games from 1998 until week 2 in 2000 when his voice gave part way through a game between Miami and Minnesota . Beesley Reece came up from sideline reporting to do color commentary for the rest of that game . In 2006 , he was named commentator on Westwood One ' s NFL Thursday night coverage , partnered with Dick Enberg . From 2006 – present , he worked with Tom Werme broadcasting Southern Conference Football for Fox Sports South . Personal . Wyche underwent a biopsy on lymph nodes in his chest in 2000 . His left vocal cord was severed during the procedure , leaving his voice consistently hoarse and scratchy . From 2004 to 2006 , he was a volunteer at Pickens High School in South Carolina as a public speaker . Political career . On November 4 , 2008 , Wyche secured a seat on the County Council for Pickens County , South Carolina . Running as a member of the Republican Party , Wyche defeated Democrat Wesley Burbage for the Pickens seat , by a margin of 6 , 478 votes to 1 , 639 . In July 2009 , Wyche let it be known that he is considering running for the GOP nomination for South Carolina ' s 3rd congressional district , which is being vacated by incumbent J . Gresham Barrett , who is running for Governor of South Carolina .