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Dave McGinnis, former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and assistant coach of the Tennessee Titans, died Monday. He was 74 years old.
The Titans announced the death of McGinnis, who died after being hospitalized with illness in early March. The Titans’ press release said he died at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with his family by his side.
“My heart aches for the loss of Coach Mac, who was much more than a coach and broadcaster – he was family,” Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.
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Head coach Dave McGinnis of the Arizona Cardinals watches from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 9, 2003. The Steelers defeated the Cardinals, 28-15. (George Gojkovitch/Getty Images)
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell also released a statement on McGinnis.
“As Dave often said, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through, and no one has ever filled that role with such passion, enthusiasm and charisma,” Bidwell said. “Coach Mac truly loved the game and everything associated with it, and everyone, especially his players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.”
McGinnis found himself in an interim head coaching role during the 2000 season with the Cardinals, the team for which he served as defensive coordinator in 1996. He was retained as head coach from 2001 to 2003.
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In 57 career games, McGinnis went 17-40 with the Cardinals, before finally being fired after a 4-12 season in 2003.
After being fired, McGinnis landed with the Titans as linebackers coach under head coach Jeff Fisher. He would become a mainstay in Nashville, serving in that role and eventually being promoted to assistant head coach until 2011.
Coach Dave McGinnis of the Arizona Cardinals walks the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, November 16, 2003. The Browns won the game, 40-6. (Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)
“Coach Mac has given so much of himself to this organization over the years, and his passion, loyalty and love for the Titans has never wavered,” Strunk added. “He cared deeply about the people around him, and that kindness and genuineness left a lasting impact on all who knew him. He held a very special place in our family, and his presence in our lives and within this franchise will never be forgotten. He will be greatly missed and forever grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.”
McGinnis’ coaching career began in 1973 while he was an assistant at TCU. He also held positions at Indiana, Missouri and Kansas State until the 1986 season when he broke into the NFL with the Chicago Bears.
McGinnis was Chicago’s linebackers coach from 1986 to 1995 before earning a promotion to the Cardinals. He also held positions with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams before leaving coaching following the 2016 campaign.
McGinnis returned to Nashville to join Titans Radio in 2017, where he served as a color announcer for games.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis stands on the sideline during a game against the Oakland Raiders at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California, December 2, 2001. (Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport)
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“I love Dave McGinnis and I don’t know if I’ve met anyone who was built for football and a football life more than Coach Mac,” said Burke Nihill, Titans president and CEO. “He loved this game. Obviously he played it for a long time and coached it for a long time, and with everything he did for us over the years as a color commentator and personality for the Titans. He lived such a special football life. He was such a special guy.
