Q & A with Dan Fouts: What I'd Say to Don Coryell if I Had the Chance

Shortly after former NFL coach Don Coryell passed away in 2010, a “Celebration of Life” was held in his honor at San Diego State University where Coryell once coached. John Madden was there. Joe Gibbs was there. Dan Fouts was there.

All are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and all worked for Coryell.

“The three of us are in the Hall of Fame,” said Madden, his voice choked with emotion, “because of Don Coryell. There’s something missing.”

Not anymore there’s not.

Coryell joined the Hall’s Class of 2023 Thursday night, with his name announced on national TV as this year’s coach/contributor candidate. For Fouts, now a member of the Hall’s board of 49 selectors, the news evoked as much joy as it did relief.

“He changed my life,” he said.

Fouts was Coryell’s quarterback for nine years with the San Diego Chargers, producing such prodigious passing numbers that, despite not reaching a Super Bowl, he was a first-ballot Hall-of Famer in 1993. But Coryell? He wasn’t as fortunate. He was passed over six times as a finalist before crossing the finish line Thursday in his 36th year of eligibility.

Fouts’ reaction? We asked in a 14-question Q & A, with the number of questions corresponding to the number on his Chargers’ jersey.

1. I know when Don was chosen as the coach/contributor candidate you were overcome with emotion. How do you feel now that he’s been elected?

FOUTS: Obviously, I feel great because it’s going to make so many people happy. Fans of the Cardinals … of the Aztecs …, of the Chargers. They’ve wanted this for 30 years, and now it’s happening … and that makes me feel great.

2. Beginning last year, a Hall of Famer delivers The Knock at the front door for its next class of inductees. But that can't happen for those elected posthumously. Were you involved in notifying Don’s children and, if so, can you tell us about it?

FOUTS: You’re right. We didn’t do a knock. We did a phone call. It’s funny because Jim (Porter, Hall-of-Fame president) tried to call Mindy (Coryell’s daughter), and she didn’t recognize the number. So she didn’t answer. Then we went to Mike (his son) and got him recorded. That’s when I said to Jim, “Let me see if I can get Mindy.” So I called her daughter and told her I was trying to get in touch with her Mom. She texted her and said, “Mom, answer your phone. Dan is calling.” So we got them both recorded. How was it? I What I said to them was, “I’ve waited a long time to tell you this: Your Dad is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.” I wanted to do that because there have been so many years where I had to sit there with them and tell them he didn’t make it. They’re so gracious, sweet and understanding … yet they were frustrated and a little angry. All those emotions are now wiped away.

3. Don was a finalist seven times, far more than any other coach. Yet he wasn’t elected until this year. What were voters missing?

FOUTS: Well, the focus on the contribution side is what tipped it in his favor. The voters that were against him no longer had an argument. The numbers on the contribution side were so much greater than his lack of Super Bowls and lack of postseason success. Once they moved coaches out of the players (category) and in with the contributors … that was a turning point in my eyes.

4. Wes Chandler has said “my heart bleeds for the fact that this man deserves that recognition.” Did your heart bleed?

FOUTS: That and a couple of other organs and body parts. That’s a strong emotion, and I think that’s shared by many, many people. I appreciate Wes putting it into words like that.

5. When Don Coryell’s name was mentioned Thursday, what was the visual that came to mind?

FOUTS: The joy he had on the sidelines after a touchdown. Then coming to the sidelines and watching him shift gears from being happy to exhorting our defense (he laughs).

6. What was his greatest achievement?

FOUTS: I’d like to quote Kellen (Winslow) on that (he said it was today’s TV contract). His greatest achievement was paving the way for the way the game is played … and allowing coaches to be OK with throwing the ball, designing plays that work in all situations and instilling fearlessness in the passing game.

7. How important were he and his staff in developing you into a Hall-of-Fame quarterback?

FOUTS: He changed my life. Without Don, we wouldn’t be talking right now. I was not exactly a Hall of Fame quarterback until he got there. His system -- with a combination of what I learned from Bill Walsh -- was a perfect storm, if you will. Then you mix in the talent. My God, the offensive line when Ed (White) came? All the pieces fit. Donnie (Macek) moved to center. ‘Roo’ (Russ Washington) and ‘Moosie’ (Doug Wilkerson) were in their prime. And Billy (Shields) was developing.

8. How different was your off-the-field relationship from the one on it?

FOUTS: I really didn’t have one until after we were out of football. We became pretty damn close. He came to our wedding on crutches (1994) after he’d just had his knee replaced. We visited him and Aliisa (Coryell’s wife) up in Roche Harbor (Washington) a couple of times where he’d pick us up at the dock in his beat-up Jeep. It was about a 20-minute drive to his place on the other side of the island, and he’s pointing out stuff as we’re driving. But we couldn't see anything because the windows were all yellowed and cracked (he laughs). I also remember the first time we went up there when he didn’t have much furniture. He literally went out on the deck and brought in a couple of lawn chairs to sit in. (laughs again)

9. What was the best advice you got from him?

FOUTS: Keep throwing. Part of that is: Never turn down an open receiver, regardless of where he is, regardless of down and distance. And don’t worry about incompletions.

10. What’s your favorite story?

FOUTS: It happened early in our relationship, and it was really the only time he came to me with criticism. I’m sure I earned it. But he had a piece of paper with some numbers on it. It was something like analytics, and he said, “We’re not hitting the Four Route as much as we should.” The Four Route is a deep crossing route, most of the time by the ‘Z’ (receiver) or the flanker – (Wes) Chandler or ‘J.J’ (John Jefferson). He said, “I want you to wait on it a little bit and give it a chance.” I think that was his term: Give it a chance. From that point on, it was like a light bulb went off in me, and I understood what he meant. I learned how to anticipate the throw and get it to the receiver. When you look back at the Miami ‘Epic’ game (a 1981 playoff contest), the two balls that Wes Chandler caught on the last two drives were that route. He paid for it, but we won the game. To me, that advice was enlightening. He wasn’t mad or anything. He was just clinical about it, saying, “We’ve got to hit this more.”

11. What makes Don Hall-of-Fame worthy? I guess what I’m asking is: What is your definition of a Hall-of-Fame coach and/or contributor?

FOUTS: In my Hall of Fame speech (to voters), I talked about contributions to and impact on the game. When you think of both those things, the history of the game will always reflect his contribution … and his impact … because the numbers have changed. The numbers from 1978 to today have changed. Call it an era, or call it whatever you want. But something started that. If they hadn’t fired Don Coryell in St. Louis (in 1978), you’d be talking to Jim Hart now.

12. As Hall-of-Fame selectors, we’re reminded of the importance of our votes … with the Hall telling us that “we’re about to change lives.” Did this process change your life … and, if so, how?

FOUTS: It’s obviously the greatest individual honor you can ever imagine on the football field. I don’t know that anybody growing up imagines they’re going to be in the Hall of Fame. For me, I just wanted to make the team each year and improve. Being a voter is awesome because it reconnects me with the past. I’m just so damned lucky to be in the Hall and be a selector.

13. John Madden says he believes that when the lights are turned out in the Hall, the busts talk to each other. What do you think he’s going to say to Don Coryell in August?

FOUTS: He’s going to say, ‘Excuse me, coach. What did you say?’(erupts into laughter)

14. If you had something to say to Don today, what would it be?

FOUTS: Thank you. The only two words I can think of that are the most meaningful.