Former Cincinnati Bengals coach Sam Wyche is in a North Carolina hospital as he seeks a heart transplant, the 71-year-old wrote on his website.

"I am in Carolinas Medical Center's Dickson Heart Unit in Charlotte, NC awaiting donor heart transplant," Wyche wrote. "If there is no match for a donor heart in the next few days, I will need to have an LVAD [Left Ventricular Assist Device, an artificial heart pump] implanted below my heart until a donor heart can be obtained. I have outstanding Sanger Clinic physicians and hospital staff taking care of me."

Wyche coached the Bengals from 1984 to 1991 and was the last coach to take the team to the Super Bowl during the 1988 season. The Bengals lost to the San Francisco 49ers 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII.

He was 61-66 with the Bengals and 23-41 in four seasons as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wyche held the Bengals' franchise record for wins as a coach until he was surpassed by current coach Marvin Lewis in 2011.

Wyche played as a quarterback for the Bengals, Redskins, Lions and Rams. He has provided color commentary for Furman football games on WatchESPN.