Former Bengals head coach Sam Wyche awaiting heart transplant

Former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Sam Wyche is awaiting a heart transplant in a Charlotte, N.C., hospital.

Wyche, who coached the Bengals from 1984 to 1991, is said to be "fighting for his life," and released a statement on his website saying he'll have an artificial heart pump installed if he doesn't receive a donation.

"I am in Carolinas Medical Center's Dickson Heart Unit in Charlotte, N.C., 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 which is 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 led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 1989.