Ed “Bud” Hughes
A professional football coach for 30 years, Ed “Bud” Hughes enters the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame posthumously having passed away in June of 2000 at the age of 72.
Ed was a three sport standout at Kensington High School in the 1940’s and was recognized by the Buffalo Courier Express as its All-High fullback in 1946. Bud also played baseball and was an accomplished middle distance runner on Kensington’s track and field champions.
Bud’s collegiate plans originally included North Carolina State, however financial issues dictated he attend Cameron Junior College (OK). Hughes would later attend the University of Tulsa where he played on both sides of the ball. In 1952 the Golden Hurricanes went 8-1-1 and were ranked 12th in the country before falling to Florida, 14-13, in the 1953 Gator Bowl. Ed was a 10th round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams in 1954.
As a professional football player, Bud played two seasons with the Rams and three years for the New York Giants as a defensive back. He was part of the 1955 Rams team that reached the NFL championship game and he played in two title tilts with the Giants in 1956 and 1958.
Hughes parlayed his playing career to a position on the sidelines. After assisting at his alma mater in 1959, he became the Dallas Texans’ defensive back coach in 1960. The Texans won the American Football League title in 1962 with Hughes’ defensive back corps picking off five George Blanda passes in the finale.
He moved from Dallas to Denver and then Washington before settling in as the 49ers offensive coordinator in 1968. Hughes was named head coach of the Houston Oilers in 1971, however his tenure at the top ended after only one year and a 4-9-1 record.
Following that season, the Buffalo native stopped at five different NFL locations from 1972-81 working as an assistant, primarily on the offensive side of the ball.
He received a big break when the Chicago Bears came calling and hired him as the team’s offensive coordinator in 1982. His seven-year stint in the Windy City included a Super Bowl ring with the 1985 Bears.
Hughes concluded his coaching career with the Eagles in 1989.
