Today is a sad day in the National Football League.
Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Vince Tobin died Monday at his home, according to an announcement from the team. He was 79.
“Vince Tobin, who coached the Cardinals to their first playoff win in 51 seasons during the 1998 season, died Monday morning at his Arizona home in Goodyear. He was 79,” the team announced.
“Tobin was hired by then-owner Bill Bidwill in 1996 to replace Buddy Ryan. With his ever-present clipboard, Tobin was the antithesis of the boisterous Ryan, eventually taking his team on a wild ride in 1998.”
Tobin, who coached the Cardinals from 1996-2000, helped the organization win its first playoff game in 51 years during the 1998 season. Behind second-year quarterback Jake Plummer, the Cardinals took down the Cowboys in the first round of the ‘98 playoffs.
Plummer took to Twitter on Monday to share his condolences over Tobin’s passing.
“Coach Tobin gave me my 1st opp 2 lead a group of men & I’ll b 4ever grateful 4 the confidence he instilled n me then & blessed daily by those lessons as I pursue life, purpose & happiness. RIP coach Tobin! I get knocked down, but I get up again, nothings ever going to keep me down,” wrote Plummer.
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Tobin was hired in 1996 to succeed Buddy Ryan as the team’s head coach and went 28-43 in parts of five seasons. He would be fired after a dreadful start in the 2000 season.
Prior to his time as head coach of the Cardinals, Tobin served as an assistant for the Philadelphia Stars of the original USFL.
Tobin was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
