RICK BRYAN (Ok Sports HOF Inductees)
"You won't see one like him again. You won't see anyone who goes off and becomes somebody and has money and comes back to this town, without their head swelling up, and gives everything back their community. You just ain't gonna find people like that." --- Donnie Yocham, Coweta High School Football Coach
Bryan died in July, 2009, at the age of 47. But even at this early age, he had made a lasting impact on the lives around him. After a highly successful career in the NFL, Bryan returned to Coweta to become a farmer/rancher and part time coach at Coweta High School. He told the Tulsa World, “This is my hometown, and football has given me everything I wanted. I’m giving back as much as I can. I’m just a guy who grew up out on a farm and got lucky and got 10 years of pro football. The Lord has taken care of me and He has let me do what I want with my life.”
Bryan earned All-State honors at Coweta High School in 1980, and was a consensus All-American at the University of Oklahoma in 1982 and 1983. He was Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year in 1982 and Academic All-Conference from 1981-1983. He owns the school record for career tackles by a defensive lineman (365), ranking him ahead of Kevin Murphy and Lee Roy Selmon. He is OU’s eighth leading career tackler regardless of position. “No one outworked him,” said OU coach Barry Switzer.
The Atlanta Falcons took Bryan as the ninth pick overall in the 1984 NFL draft and he spent all nine years of his pro career with the team. Respected at OU and by the Falcons for his toughness, he eventually was forced into retirement by a number of injuries, including neck and back pains and a popped Achilles tendon. He was diagnosed with a spinal nerve injury in 1989, but kept playing and started 16 games in each of the next two seasons. “Rick was a warrior. That’s what made him such a good football player,” said Falcons All-Pro tackle Mike Kenn when Bryan retired.
Bryan was the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1984, and the NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1987. The Tulsa World named him to the All-Century High School Team in 1999. He is survived by his wife, Shelby, son Mike and daughters Jenni and Kristin.
