Chuck Dickerson, a former assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills, has passed away at the age of 86 after a brief illness, according to an obituary from Smith-Corcoran Chicago Funeral Home. Originally from Hammond, Illinois, Dickerson spent five years on the staff of head coach Marv Levy from 1987 to 1991 and left a lasting impact on Buffalo’s first all-sports radio station, WGR. He had previously coached in the CFL and USFL before joining the Bills as a general assistant and later becoming the defensive line coach during the team’s successful 1990-91 seasons, which included two of four consecutive AFC championships. Notably, he mentored NFL sack leader Bruce Smith, as well as Phil Hansen, Mike Lodish, and Jeff Wright. However, Dickerson’s tenure with the Bills ended abruptly after he made controversial comments about the Washington Redskins’ offensive line before the Super Bowl XXVI, which some believed motivated the opposing team and led to his firing three days after Buffalo’s defeat. Despite this, he was remembered fondly by many, including Bills linebacker Darryl Talley, who praised Dickerson’s playful personality. After a brief stint as the defensive coordinator at Illinois State, Dickerson returned to Buffalo and became a beloved radio personality known as “The Coach” on WGR, where he shared unfiltered opinions about the Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. He often used the catchphrase “Who loves ya, baby?” borrowed from the CBS drama “Kojak.”
Dickerson spoke fondly of his listeners in Western New York, describing their relationship as something special. He couldn’t quite explain why Buffalo was his city, but it was. Even now, if he were to go back on the air, he knows he would have an audience once again. However, this time he would have some amazing things to talk about regarding the Bills, rather than the unpleasant experiences of the past. Dickerson was an All-American at the University of Illinois and an honorably discharged U.S. Marine. He is survived by his son Chris and four granddaughters.
