Dave McGinnis, Former NFL Coach, Passes Away at 74
Dave McGinnis, who formerly coached the Arizona Cardinals and served as an assistant with the Tennessee Titans, passed away on Monday at the age of 74.
The Titans confirmed that McGinnis died after being hospitalized due to an illness in early March. He was surrounded by family at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital at the time of his passing.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Coach Mack. He was more than a coach and anchor; he was family,” said Amy Adams Strunk, the owner of the Titans.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell also shared his sentiments about McGinnis. “As Dave used to say, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through. No one played that role with more passion, enthusiasm, and charisma. Coach Mack truly loved the game and everything that came with it—especially the players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.”
McGinnis held the position of interim head coach for the Cardinals during the 2000 season and was the defensive coordinator in 1996. He was the head coach from 2001 to 2003.
His record with the Cardinals was 17-40 over 57 games, and he was let go after a 4-12 season in 2003.
Following his departure from the Cardinals, McGinnis joined the Titans as a linebackers coach under Jeff Fisher and became a key figure in Nashville, eventually being promoted to assistant head coach until 2011.
“Coach Mack gave so much to this organization over the years,” Strunk added. “His passion, loyalty, and love for the Titans never wavered. He deeply cared about those around him, and his kindness and integrity left a lasting impact on everyone. His place in our family and this franchise will never be forgotten. We will miss him greatly.”
McGinnis’s coaching career began in 1973 as an assistant at TCU. He also served at Indiana State University, Missouri State University, and Kansas State University until he joined the NFL with the Chicago Bears in 1986.
He was Chicago’s linebackers coach from 1986 to 1995 before becoming a part of the Cardinals’ coaching staff. McGinnis later worked with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams before retiring from coaching in 2016.
After retirement, he returned to Nashville in 2017, where he took on the role of color commentator for Titans Radio.
“I love Dave McGinnis,” said Titans President and CEO Burke Nihil. “I’ve never met anyone more suited for the life of football than Coach Mack. His passion for the game was unmistakable, and everything he did for us over the years contributed to a very special football life.”
