View source for Sam Wyche

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1945–2020)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Sam Wyche
| image          = Sam Wyche 1969.jpg
| caption        = Wyche with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969
| number         = 14, 18, 17, 15
| position       = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1945|1|5}}
| birth_place    = [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2020|1|2|1945|1|5}}
| death_place    = [[Pickens, South Carolina]], U.S.
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 4
| weight_lbs     = 218
| high_school    = [[North Fulton High School (Georgia)|North Fulton]] (Atlanta, Georgia)
| college        = [[Furman Paladins football|Furman]]
| undraftedyear  = 1968
| pastteams      =
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]] (1966–1967)
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|1968}}–{{NFL Year|1970}})
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1971}}–{{NFL Year|1973}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1974}})
* [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1976}})
* [[Buffalo Bills]] ({{NFL Year|1976}})
| pastcoaching   =
* [[South Carolina Gamecocks football|South Carolina]] (1967)<br>Assistant coach
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1979}}–{{NFL Year|1982}})<br>Quarterbacks coach 
* [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana]] (1983)<br>Head coach
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|1984}}–{{NFL Year|1991}})<br>Head coach
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|1992}}–{{NFL Year|1995}})<br>Head coach
* [[Pickens High School (South Carolina)|Pickens HS]] (2002–2003)<br>Quarterbacks coach
* [[Buffalo Bills]] ({{nfly|2004}}–{{nfly|2005}})<br>Quarterbacks coach
* Pickens HS (2006–2008)<br>Quarterbacks coach
* Pickens HS (2011–2019)<br>Offensive coordinator
| highlights     = 
; As a coach
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XVI|XVI]])
* [[Cincinnati Bengals#50th Anniversary Team|Cincinnati Bengals 50th Anniversary Team]]
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|84|107|record=y}} (NFL)<br>{{Winning percentage|3|8|record=y}} (college)
| playoff_record = {{Winning percentage|3|2|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|87|109|record=y}} (NFL)<br>{{Winning percentage|3|8|record=y}} (college)
| statlabel1     = Passing attempts
| statvalue1     = 222
| statlabel2     = Passing completions
| statvalue2     = 116
| statlabel3     = Percentage
| statvalue3     = 52.3
| statlabel4     = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4     = 12–9
| statlabel5     = Passing yards
| statvalue5     = 1,748
| statlabel6     = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6     = 79.6
| pfr            = WychSa00 
}}

'''Samuel David Wyche''' ({{IPAc-en|w|aɪ|tʃ}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16WQIzRzlCQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/16WQIzRzlCQ| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Sam Wyche :60|website=[[YouTube]] |date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> January 5, 1945 – January 2, 2020) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] and coach.  He was a quarterback and head coach for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and a quarterbacks coach for the [[San Francisco 49ers]]. As head coach, he led the Bengals to [[Super Bowl XXIII]], which they lost to the 49ers 20–16, relinquishing the lead on a last-minute [[touchdown]]. He was also 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 coached Cincinnati from 1984 to 1991, and his 64 wins with the Bengals were the most by a coach in franchise history until he was surpassed by [[Marvin Lewis]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Morrison|first=Jay|title=The historic Marvin Lewis era with the Bengals: Most playoff games, 0 playoff wins|date=August 7, 2017|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/the-historic-marvin-lewis-era-with-the-bengals-most-playoff-games-playoff-wins/cdNuMGHF5b4i4yqrT4zL3N/|access-date=January 5, 2020|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201023642/https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/the-historic-marvin-lewis-era-with-the-bengals-most-playoff-games-playoff-wins/cdNuMGHF5b4i4yqrT4zL3N/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Wyche also played for the [[Washington Redskins]], [[Detroit Lions]], [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]], and [[Buffalo Bills]]. He also coached at the [[University of South Carolina]] and [[Indiana University]], and for the [[San Francisco 49ers]], [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], and [[Buffalo Bills]].

==College career==
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. He earned his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from Furman University and his [[Master of Business Administration]] degree from the [[University of South Carolina]].<ref name="kappaalphaorder.org">{{cite web | url=http://www.kappaalphaorder.org/2011/11/alumnus-and-former-nfl-coach-sam-wyche-to-speak-at-nli | title=Alumnus and Former NFL Coach, Sam Wyche to speak at NLI | date=November 9, 2011 | publisher=Kappa Alpha Order | access-date=January 24, 2014 | archive-date=January 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103093915/https://www.kappaalphaorder.org/2011/11/alumnus-and-former-nfl-coach-sam-wyche-to-speak-at-nli/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional career==
===Wheeling Ironmen===
From 1966 through 1967, Wyche played for the [[Wheeling Ironmen]] of the [[semi-professional]] [[Continental Football League]].<ref name="NYT obit">{{cite news|last=Belson|first=Ken|title=Sam Wyche, Who Led Cincinnati to the Super Bowl, Dies at 74|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/sports/football/sam-wyche-dead.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 3, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-date=January 5, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200105142749/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/sports/football/sam-wyche-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cincinnati Bengals===
Wyche signed with the [[American Football League]] expansion [[Cincinnati Bengals]] for the 1968 season, when he started three games and also served as backup to [[John Stofa]] and [[Dewey Warren]]. In his rookie season, he completed 35 passes in 55 attempts (63.6 percent) for 494 yards and two [[touchdown]]s. He also rushed 12 times for 74 yards (a 6.2 average) and caught one pass for five yards.<ref name="pro-football-reference.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WychSa00.htm | title=Sam Wyche | publisher=ProFootballReference.com | access-date=March 31, 2018 | archive-date=January 21, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121191442/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WychSa00.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

In Wyche's second season, 1969, he played in seven games, again starting three, as Bengals rookie [[Greg Cook]] eventually assumed the starting role. For the season, Wyche completed 54 passes in 108 attempts (50.0 percent) for 838 yards and seven touchdowns. He rushed 12 times for 109 yards (an 8.9 average) and one touchdown.<ref name="pro-football-reference.com"/>

Wyche continued to play for the Bengals as they entered the [[National Football League]] in 1970 as part of the [[AFL–NFL merger|NFL–AFL merger]]. He played in all 14 games, once again starting three, with 26 completions in 57 attempts (45.6 percent) for 411 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed 19 times for 118 yards (a 6.2 average) with two touchdowns.<ref name="pro-football-reference.com"/>

===Washington Redskins===
From [[1971 NFL season|1971]] to [[1972 NFL season|1973]], Wyche played for the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]], who appeared in [[Super Bowl VII]]. Although playing in eight games during those two seasons, he did not attempt a pass.<ref name="pro-football-reference.com"/> He primarily played as the team's [[Holder (gridiron football)|holder]] on field goals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2020/12/29/22204115/the-first-long-snapper-the-untold-story-of-george-burman-george-allen-bears-rams-washington|title=The First Long Snapper: The untold story of George Burman|date=December 29, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020|archive-date=December 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229162019/https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2020/12/29/22204115/the-first-long-snapper-the-untold-story-of-george-burman-george-allen-bears-rams-washington|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Detroit Lions===
In [[1974 NFL season|1974]], Wyche played for the [[Detroit Lions]], with only one pass attempted. He was also selected in the inaugural [[1974 WFL Pro Draft|World Football League draft]] in 1974.

===St. Louis Cardinals===
In the [[1976 NFL season|1976]], Wyche signed with the [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]]. He completed his only pass completion for five yards.<ref name="pro-football-reference.com"/> He was waived on September 24, 1976.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wyche Placed on Waivers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86391534/longview-news-journal/ |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=Longview News Journal |date=September 24, 1976 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003013239/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86391534/longview-news-journal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Buffalo Bills===
Wyche was signed by the [[Buffalo Bills]] on October 27, 1976. He did not play any games during his time with the team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bills Sign Sam Wyche |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86391507/york-daily-record/ |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=York Daily Record |date=October 27, 1976 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003013234/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86391507/york-daily-record/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Coaching career==
=== University of South Carolina ===
In 1967, while at the [[University of South Carolina]] working on his MBA degree, Wyche was an assistant coach for the [[South Carolina Gamecocks football|Gamecocks]].<ref name="
Greenville News obit">{{cite news|last1=Keepfer|first1=Scott|last2=Osby|first2=Liv|title=Former Furman quarterback and NFL coach Sam Wyche dead at 74|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/2020/01/02/former-furman-quarterback-and-bengals-coach-sam-wyche-dead-74/2798373001/|newspaper=[[The Greenville News]]|location=[[Greenville, South Carolina]]|date=January 2, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2020}}</ref>

=== San Francisco 49ers ===
Wyche was an assistant coach and directed the passing game for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] from [[1979 San Francisco 49ers season|1979]] to [[1982 San Francisco 49ers season|1982]]. He was on the coaching staff of the [[1981 San Francisco 49ers season|1981 team]] that won [[Super Bowl XVI]].<ref name="NYT obit" />

=== Indiana University ===
In [[1983 Indiana Hoosiers football team|1983]], Wyche was the head coach of the [[Indiana University]] [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Hoosiers]],<ref name="NYT obit" /> who finished 3–8.<ref name="Journal-Gazette obit">{{cite news|last=Kay|first=Joe|title=Sam Wyche, boundary-pushing coach of Bengals, IU, dead at 74|url=https://www.journalgazette.net/sports/professional/nfl/20200102/sam-wyche-boundary-pushing-coach-of-bengals-dead-at-74|newspaper=[[The Journal Gazette]]|location=[[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]|date=January 2, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103201144/https://www.journalgazette.net/sports/professional/nfl/20200102/sam-wyche-boundary-pushing-coach-of-bengals-dead-at-74|url-status=dead}}</ref> Future NFL head coach [[Cam Cameron]] was a quarterback on that team.

=== Cincinnati Bengals ===
Wyche was hired as the head coach of the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in late December [[1983 Cincinnati Bengals season|1983]].<ref name=llapbc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FqlOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5789%2C4895876 |work=Lakeland Ledger |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Wyche becomes Bengal coach |date=December 29, 1983 |page=3D |access-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412090802/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FqlOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5789,4895876 |url-status=live }}</ref> In his first three seasons, Cincinnati finished second each time, then fell to 4–11 in [[1987 Cincinnati Bengals season|1987]]. [[1988 Cincinnati Bengals season|The next year]], he led the Bengals to their second [[Super Bowl XXIII|Super Bowl]] appearance, where they lost 20–16 to the [[1988 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]], who rallied to win with a touchdown pass from [[Joe Montana]] with 34 seconds remaining.<ref name="NYT obit" />

Wyche was known as the "Always Innovative Sam Wyche" by [[Norman Chad]], as well as the nickname, "Wicky Wacky Wyche"<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-18-sp-594-story.html | title=WYCHE: For All His Effort, He Is Still Known as Wicky Wacky | first=Mark | last=Heisler | date=January 18, 1989 | work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> 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. He called it the "sugar huddle"; it was meant to confuse the defense as to the personnel grouping. If defenses tried to adapt with their own substitutions, the Bengals [[Snap (gridiron football)|snapped]] the ball, often leading to the defense being penalized for having too many players on the field. The NFL responded by changing the rules so that defenses could match the offensive substitutions before a snap was allowed.<ref name="Journal-Gazette obit" /> His Bengals were also the first to use the [[Hurry-up offense|no-huddle/hurry-up offense]] as a base offense.<ref name="NYT obit" />

On December 10, 1989, during a game versus the [[Seattle Seahawks]], Bengals fans began to throw snowballs onto the field in protest of what they believed to be a bad call by the officials. The Seahawks, who were at their own 4-yard line and an easy target from the bleachers, refused to continue until the snowball-throwing 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. Wyche chided the fans who were doing the throwing, and alluded to the [[Dawg Pound|reputation]] of their [[Bengals–Browns rivalry|in-state rivals]], the [[Cleveland Browns]]:<ref name="you don't live in Cleveland">{{YouTube|id=yJMa20xXykI|title=Sam Wyche 'You don't live in Cleveland' speech}}</ref>
{{cquote|Will the next person that sees ''anybody'' throw anything onto this field, point 'em out, and get 'em out of here. You ''don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!''<ref name="you don't live in Cleveland" />}}
After the Bengals lost that game he refused to allow the media into the locker room, a violation of NFL policy for which he was fined $3,000, an increase from a 1986 fine he was assessed for pushing a microphone out of a reporter's hand.<ref name="1990 NYT article">{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Robert Jr.|title=Wyche Fined by N.F.L. For Barring Female Writer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/06/sports/pro-football-wyche-fined-by-nfl-for-barring-female-writer.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 6, 1990|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103220202/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/06/sports/pro-football-wyche-fined-by-nfl-for-barring-female-writer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A year after the Seahawks game, he refused to allow a female reporter from ''[[USA Today]]'' in the locker room after a game, saying he did not want his players to be naked in front of her. The NFL fined him $27,000, the largest fine ever assessed against a coach. He complained that Commissioner [[Paul Tagliabue]] was more interested in fining him than finding a solution that worked.<ref name="NYT obit" />

During his Cincinnati tenure, Wyche also had an acrimonious relationship with [[Jerry Glanville]], the head coach of the division rival [[Houston Oilers]],  whom he called a "phony"; the teams played each other twice each season. In one contest, after the Bengals had scored to extend their lead over the Oilers to 45–0, Wyche ordered his team to make an [[onside kick]], potentially allowing them to retain possession, a move teams usually make only when the score is close late in the game. After defeating the Oilers 61–7 in [[1989 Cincinnati Bengals season|1989]], Wyche waved derisively at Glanville as the teams left the field.<ref name="Journal-Gazette obit" />

On December 24, 1991, just three years after the Bengals' Super Bowl appearance, Wyche was fired by owner [[Mike Brown (American football executive)|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.<ref name="Journal-Gazette obit" /> His 61–66 record was the best of any Bengals' coach until 2011.<ref name="Greenville News obit" />

=== Tampa Bay Buccaneers ===
Wyche was hired by the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] as head coach in [[1992 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|1992]]. He spent the next four years as head coach of the Buccaneers, where he drafted [[Derrick Brooks]], [[Warren Sapp]], and [[John Lynch (American football)|John Lynch]], players who would be key members of the successful Buccaneers teams under his successors, [[Tony Dungy]] and [[Jon Gruden]].<ref name="TBT obit">{{cite news|last=Stroud|first=Rick|title=Sam Wyche was the right coach at the wrong time for the Bucs|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2020/01/03/sam-wyche-was-the-right-coach-at-the-wrong-time-for-the-bucs/|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|date=January 2, 2020|access-date=January 5, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103114012/https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2020/01/03/sam-wyche-was-the-right-coach-at-the-wrong-time-for-the-bucs/|url-status=live}}</ref> Wyche was dismissed at the conclusion of the [[1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|1995 season]],<ref name="Greenville News obit" /> having accumulated a 23–41 record over four straight losing seasons.<ref name="TBT obit" />

Near the end of his tenure with the Buccaneers, Wyche participated in a lighthearted pregame promotional piece for [[NFL Films]]. At the time, [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|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 personnel assistant [[John Idzik Jr.|John Idzik]] 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/09/07/bucs-get-new-coach-not/ | title=Bucs Get New Coach – Not | first=Charean | last=Williams | date=September 7, 1995 | work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] | access-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>

=== Buffalo Bills ===
From [[2004 NFL season|2004]] to [[2005 NFL season|2005]], Wyche was the quarterbacks coach for the [[Buffalo Bills]].<ref name="Greenville News obit" />

=== High school ===
In 2002, 2003 and from 2006 to 2010, Wyche volunteered as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the [[Pickens High School (South Carolina)|Pickens High School]] Blue Flame in [[Pickens, South Carolina]].<ref name="Greenville News obit" /> 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.<ref name="2008 NYT article">{{cite news|title=Game Plan for Wyche Is a Shift to Politics|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/sports/football/08wyche.html|newspaper=[[The Associated Press]]|via=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 8, 2008|access-date=January 5, 2020|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505194917/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/sports/football/08wyche.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start  | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana Hoosiers]]
 | conf      = [[Big Ten Conference]]
 | startyear = 1983
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[1983 NCAA Division I-A football season|1983]]
 | name         = [[1983 Indiana Hoosiers football team|Indiana]]
 | overall      = 3–8
 | conference   = 2–7
 | confstanding = T–8th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Indiana
 | overall    = 3–8
 | confrecord = 2–7
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 3–8
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype =
 | legend   = no
}}

===NFL===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
![[1984 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1984 NFL season|1984]]
||8||8||0||.500||2nd in AFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1985 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1985 NFL season|1985]]
||7||9||0||.438||2nd in AFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1986 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1986 NFL season|1986]]
||10||6||0||.625||2nd in AFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1987 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1987 NFL season|1987]]
||4||11||0||.267||4th in AFC Central|| - || - ||- || -
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1988 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1988 NFL season|1988]]
||12||4||0||.750||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 2 || 1 || .667 || {{small|'''Lost to [[San Francisco 49ers]] in [[Super Bowl XXIII]]'''}}
|-
![[1989 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1989 NFL season|1989]]
||8||8||0||.500||4th in AFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1990 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1990 NFL season|1990]]
||9||7||0||.688||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || {{small|'''Lost to [[Los Angeles Raiders]] in AFC Divisional Round'''}}
|-
![[1991 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]||[[1991 NFL season|1991]]
||3||13||0||.188||4th in AFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
! colspan="2"|CIN Total||61||66||0||.480||||3||2||.600||
|-
![[1992 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]||[[1992 NFL season|1992]]
||5||11||0||.313||3rd in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1993 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]||[[1993 NFL season|1993]]
||5||11||0||.313||5th in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]||[[1994 NFL season|1994]]
||6||10||0||.375||5th in NFC Central|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]||[[1995 NFL season|1995]]
||7||9||0||.438||5th in NFC Central|| - || - ||- || -
|-
! colspan="2"|TB Total||23||41||0||.359||||||||||
|-
! colspan="2"|Total||84||107||0||.440||||3||2||.600||
|}
<ref>{{cite web|title=Sam Wyche Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks|work=Pro Football Reference|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/WychSa0.htm|access-date=January 5, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009013925/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/WychSa0.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Broadcasting career==
In [[1996 NFL season|1996]], Wyche worked as a sports analyst with [[Marv Albert]] on a weekly [[NFL on NBC|NFL game for NBC]]. In [[1997 NFL season|1997]], he was promoted to the studio on [[NFL on NBC|NBC's]] weekly pre-game and half-time shows. He worked as an analyst for [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] with [[Kevin Harlan]] on the weekly NFL games from [[1998 NFL season|1998]] until week 2 in [[2000 NFL season|2000]] when his voice gave part way through a game between [[2000 Miami Dolphins season|Miami]] and [[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]]. Beesley Reece came up from sideline reporting to do color commentary for the rest of that game. He returned to CBS in [[2001 NFL season|2001]], where he did the first two games of the NFL season with [[Gus Johnson (sportscaster)|Gus Johnson]], and [[Brent Jones]]. In [[2006 NFL season|2006]], he was a commentator on [[Westwood One (1976–2011)|Westwood One]]'s NFL Thursday night coverage, with [[Dick Enberg]]. Also in [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]], he began working with [[Tom Werme]] broadcasting Southern Conference Football for [[Fox Sports South]].<ref name="Greenville News obit" /><ref name="Post and Courier obit">{{cite news|last=Hartsell|first=Jeff|title=Sam Wyche, former Furman player and NFL coach, dies at 74|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/sam-wyche-former-furman-player-and-nfl-coach-dies-at/article_d2457d2e-2da0-11ea-b877-e3fb7f99c643.html|newspaper=[[The Post and Courier]]|location=[[Charleston, South Carolina]]|date=January 2, 2020|access-date=January 5, 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Wyche and his wife, Jane, had two children, Zak and Kerry, and six grandchildren. He was a private pilot for many years. He also enjoyed golf, tennis, jogging and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.<ref name="kappaalphaorder.org"/>

Wyche underwent a [[biopsy]] on [[lymph nodes]] in his chest in 2000. His left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve was severed during the procedure, leaving his voice consistently hoarse and scratchy. From 2004 to 2006, he was a volunteer at [[Pickens High School (South Carolina)|Pickens High School]] in South Carolina as a public speaker. He was an amateur magician.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/09/04/alacazam-can-sam-work-magic/ | title=Alacazam! Can Sam Work Magic? | first=Don | last=Pierson | date=September 4, 1992 | work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

Wyche's brother, [[Bubba Wyche|Bubba]], was a quarterback at [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]] and in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) and [[World Football League]] (WFL).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.georgiatrend.com/August-2005/Magic-Men/ | title=Magic Men | first=Gene | last=Asher | work=Georgia Trend | date=August 2005 | access-date=December 18, 2014 | archive-date=January 26, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126210713/http://www.georgiatrend.com/August-2005/Magic-Men/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 9, 2016, Wyche was admitted to the [[Carolinas Medical Center]]'s Dickson Heart Unit in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], awaiting a [[heart transplant]] due to [[congestive heart failure]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17501682/sam-wyche-former-cincinnati-bengals-coach-hospital-awaiting-heart-transplant | title=Sam Wyche awaiting heart transplant | first=Katherine | last=Terrell | date=September 9, 2016 | publisher=ESPN | access-date=September 12, 2016 | archive-date=September 12, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912143715/http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17501682/sam-wyche-former-cincinnati-bengals-coach-hospital-awaiting-heart-transplant | url-status=live }}</ref> Three days later, a [[heart]] was found, and on September 13, Wyche underwent a 4.5-hour transplant operation.<ref>{{cite news | last=Keeler | first=Scott | title=Furman Hall of Famer Wyche in recovery after transplant | url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/furman/2016/09/12/reports-heart-found-furman-hall-famer-sam-wyche/90289822/ | work=The Greenville News | date=September 13, 2016}}</ref>

Wyche was diagnosed with [[melanoma]]  in 2019 and died at his home in [[Pickens, South Carolina]], on January 2, 2020, at the age of 74.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wcpo.com/sports/bengals/former-cincinnati-bengals-coach-sam-wyche-dies-at-74 |title=Former Cincinnati Bengals coach Sam Wyche dies at 74 |access-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202213546/https://www.wcpo.com/sports/bengals/former-cincinnati-bengals-coach-sam-wyche-dies-at-74 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Political career==
On November 4, 2008, Wyche secured a seat on the County Council for [[Pickens County, South Carolina]].<ref name=stone>{{cite news | url=http://www.pickenssentinel.com/articles/2008/11/05/news/000-electionresults%2011-5-8.txt | title=Stone, Saitta re-elected | work=The Pickens Sentinel | date=November 4, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Running as a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], Wyche defeated [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Wesley Burbage for the Pickens seat, by a margin of 6,478 votes to 1,639.<ref name=stone />

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]
* [[List of Furman University people]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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