ESPN Documentary ‘The Buddy Way’ Honors Legacy of Coach Buddy Teevens

PEMBROKE, Mass. — A new ESPN documentary, “The Buddy Way,” premiering Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2, will celebrate the life and legacy of Buddy Teevens, the innovative Dartmouth football coach who left an indelible mark on the sport. Teevens, who died in March 2023 at age 66, was known for his groundbreaking contributions to player safety, his advocacy for female coaches, and his enduring influence on the Manning family.

Teevens, a Pembroke native and Silver Lake Regional High School graduate, coached Dartmouth to five Ivy League titles and became the school’s all-time winningest coach. His career spanned 32 seasons, during which he revolutionized football practices by eliminating full-contact drills and introducing the Mobile Virtual Player, a robotic tackling dummy developed in collaboration with Dartmouth’s engineering school.

“Buddy was a true football innovator,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who executive produced the documentary. “He hired female coaches in the college ranks before anybody else, and he emphasized smarter and safer tackling long before the practice was adopted across the sport.”

Teevens’ impact extended beyond the field. He was a mentor to countless players and coaches, including Callie Brownson, whom he hired as the first full-time female coach in Division I football history. Brownson, now with the Cleveland Browns, credits Teevens for paving the way for women in the sport.

At Silver Lake Regional High School, where Teevens starred in football, hockey, and baseball, his legacy remains a source of pride. Athletic Director Rick Swanson has been promoting Teevens’ story to students and athletes. “He’s really a giant part of our school’s athletic history,” Swanson said. “We could not ask for a better role model.”

Teevens’ connection to the Manning family began in 1992 when he met Archie Manning, father of Peyton and Eli, at Tulane University. Over the years, Teevens became a fixture at the Manning Passing Academy, an annual quarterback camp founded by the Manning family. “Buddy was part of our family,” Peyton Manning said. “He took care of people. That was ‘The Buddy Way.'”

The documentary will also highlight Teevens’ advocacy for player safety. In 2016, he testified before Congress on the dangers of concussions in youth sports, famously stating, “I love football. But I love my players more.” His commitment to protecting players led to widespread adoption of his innovative practices, including the use of robotic tackling dummies by NFL teams.

“The Buddy Way” promises to be a fitting tribute to a coach who changed the game and touched countless lives. As Swanson put it, “He was like a real-life Hollywood version of what a great coach looks like.”