Brett Milam

bmilam@enquirer.com

Sam Wyche, the legendary Cincinnati Bengals head coach, is awaiting a heart transplant in a Charlotte hospital, according to his website and Facebook.

"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 which is an artificial heart pump) implanted below my heart until a donor heart can be obtained," Wyche said on Sept. 6. "I have outstanding Sanger Clinic physicians and hospital staff taking care of me.”

According to his Facebook page, the former coach has had congestive heart failure for the past 16 years.

"He is in good spirits," the post said. "We welcome your prayers."

Wyche took the Bengals to their second Super Bowl appearance in 1989, where they lost narrowly to the Joe Montana-lead 49ers.