Longtime Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning reacted to the passing of former Colts coach Howard Mudd after the assistant passed away Wednesday.
Manning called Mudd the “best offensive line coach in NFL history” and also stated Mudd “will be missed by many” (via ESPN's Adam Schefter).
Peyton Manning pays respects to the late Howard Mudd (via @Colts). pic.twitter.com/qqidTDqzKr
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 12, 2020
Mudd had been hospitalized in Seattle following a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago.
The legendary coach began his NFL career as a player with the San Francisco 49ers, and he would play seven seasons in the league before transitioning to coaching.
Mudd bounced around as an offensive line coach before landing in Indianapolis prior to the 1998 season—Manning's rookie year.
The Colts would gradually establish one of the best offenses in the league, with Mudd's coaching giving way to unheralded O-line stars such as former Colts center Jeff Saturday and Tarik Glenn.
While Manning and the Colts were mostly defined by an “air raid” offense that helped revolutionize the NFL, Indianapolis also had its fair share of talented rushers.
The Colts had multiple 1,000-yard rushers in Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai, all of whom made at least one Pro Bowl during their time in Indianapolis.
Mudd went 32 years as a coach without capturing a Super Bowl ring, but that all changed in 2006. The Colts went 12-4 that year, finally vanquishing Tom Brady and the arch rival New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game before defeating the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history, but he understands he owes a good portion of his success to Mudd, who should indeed go down as one of the best coaches in NFL history.
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