Farewell to a Football Legend: Former Packers Coach Buddy Geis Passes After Leukemia Battle
Wayne “Buddy” Geis, a coaching legend who left his mark across college football and the NFL, passed away at 79 after a tough fight with leukemia.
Hailing from Altoona, Pennsylvania, Buddy wasn’t just a coach—he was a hometown hero. Before hitting the sidelines as a coach, he was a star athlete himself, rocking both football and baseball back in high school.
His coaching journey took him from college teams like Tulane and Kansas to the USFL’s Jacksonville Bulls. By 1986, he was shaping quarterbacks at Memphis State. Then came the big leap to the NFL: starting in 1988, Buddy coached wide receivers for the Green Bay Packers, rubbing shoulders with Hall of Famer Sterling Sharpe.
But that was just the beginning. Buddy’s coaching resume reads like an all-star lineup—he helped develop legends like Jim Harbaugh (Colts), Troy Aikman (Cowboys), and Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech). If you’re an NFL fan, his name probably rings a bell as one of the game’s great minds behind the scenes.
When news of his passing spread, fans and fellow coaches took to social media to share their respect and condolences. People remembered him not just as a brilliant coach, but as a good man who loved the game deeply.
“RIP Coach Buddy Geis — you’ll be missed on and off the field,” wrote one fan. Another called for wider recognition of his impact on the sport, saying, “This guy deserves his own documentary.”
Buddy’s legacy is bigger than wins and losses — it’s about the players he mentored, the teams he shaped, and the football community that respected him. To his family, friends, and everyone who loved the game, we send our heartfelt condolences.
Tough Loss for the Packers Family — Coach Dies After Leukemia Fight
