Vince Tobin, Ex-Assistant Coach for the Bears, Passes Away at Age 79
In a somber moment for the NFL community, Vince Tobin, a former defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, has passed away at the age of 79. The sad news was announced by the Arizona Cardinals organization where Tobin once held the helm.
Beginning his stint with the Bears in 1986, Tobin joined Mike Ditka's staff straight from the USFL's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars. Stepping into the considerable shoes of revered defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, who had left for a head coaching position with the Eagles post the Bears' Super Bowl XX win, Tobin faced an uphill task. However, he proved his mettle by keeping the Bears' defense among the best in the NFL for the subsequent three seasons.
Under his stewardship in 1986, the Bears' defense led the league in both points and yardage allowed, outperforming their Super Bowl-winning season by conceding fewer points (187 against 198). Despite an upset by Washington in the divisional playoff, and a similar fate in 1987, Tobin's defense stood fourth in points allowed and second in yardage. By 1988, his defense was the best in the league again in terms of points allowed, while finishing second in yardage.
The success of Tobin's defense waned slightly after this period but remained among the top ten in the major defensive categories during the 1990 NFC Central Division title win and the 1991 Wild Card. However, a slump in 1992 resulted in Ditka and his entire coaching staff, including Tobin, being let go.
Interestingly, Tobin served the Bears between 1987 to 1992, while his brother Bill held the position of the team's general manager. After a brief hiatus from football, Tobin returned as Indianapolis' defensive coordinator in 1994 and 1995, under head coach Ted Marchibroda and his brother Bill, who was then the Colts' GM.
Tobin's efforts helped propel the Colts to the AFC Championship Game, which earned him a head coach role with the Cardinals. Once more, Tobin replaced Buddy Ryan, who was released after a disappointing 12-20 record over two seasons. Tobin led the Cardinals to a 9-7 record and a Wild Card berth in his third year, marking their first playoff win since relocating to Arizona in 1988. However, a failure to sustain this success led to Tobin's dismissal seven games into the 2000 season.
Tobin ended his coaching career with a brief stint with the Lions as a defensive coordinator in 2001 and as a special assistant for the Packers in 2004. His legacy as an NFL head coach is marked by a 28-43 record and a reputation for effective defense strategy.
