Professional football lost one of its more innovative, legendary coaches last week when former San Diego Chargers coach Don Coryell passed away at the age of 85.

For anyone who grew up in San Diego in the late 1970s-early 1980s, such as myself, the Coryell era is replete with memories — most sweet, but some bittersweet.

Coryell instituted one of the most exciting passing offenses the NFL had ever seen. Nicknamed “Air Coryell” and quarterbacked by Hall of Famer Dan Fouts and featuring Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, among others, the high-powered passing offense was really something special to watch.

Coach Coryell should have followed his star players into the Hall of Fame. He hasn’t been voted in yet, coming close this time.

Unfortunately, a legendary coach’s passing sometimes provides that last boost they need to get to Canton. I can only hope it works that way here.

That was a special time to be a football fan in San Diego. Coryell came in and brought excitement to a franchise that had stumbled its way through season after season of often mediocre and usually just plain bad football.

Unfortunately, all that offense was usually needed to overcome a complete lack of defense.

The Chargers routinely won games by scores of 41-38, 34-31, 31-28. This was truly a “live by the sword, die by the sword” kind of team.

It was that defensive ineptitude that prevented the Chargers from getting to the Super Bowl.

They made several AFC Championship games during that era, but could never seem to win the big one.

The most memorable game was the famous (or infamous, if you’re a Dolphin fan) AFC Divisional Playoff game in 1981. Playing in Miami, the Chargers got out to a 24-0 first-half lead before Miami battled back and made it one for the ages.

Eventually, the Chargers prevailed in overtime.

But the next week, after 90 sweltering degrees in the Orange Bowl, the Chargers went to the subzero ice box of Cincinnati and lost to the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.

Despite those playoff failures, most Charger fans will have fond memories of the Coryell era.

Late Chargers owner Gene Klein related a story about Coryell in his hilarious book, “First Down and a Billion.”

It’s one of those stories you wonder is true or not.

But it certainly would fit right in with Coryell’s legendary intensity and tunnel-vision focus on football.

In 1979, during the dark days of the Iran hostage crisis, a sportswriter supposedly asked Coryell what he thought about “This guy Khomeini.”

Coryell, according to Klein, peered up from the lectern and said, “Where’s he play?”

That was just one of a number of similar stories about Coryell and his devotion to the sport he loved.

Rest in peace, Coach Coryell. And thanks for the memories — it was quite a ride.

n Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14 or via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.