Dave McGinnis, longtime NFL coach and Titans color analyst, dies at 74

Dave McGinnis, a former NFL coach and color analyst for the Tennessee Titans, died on Monday, the team announced. He was 74 years old. The Titans revealed that McGinnis died after an illness that first hospitalized him in early March.

“My heart aches with the loss of Coach Mac, who was so much more than a coach and broadcaster – he was family,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said. “Coach Mac gave so much of himself to this organization over the years, and his passion, loyalty, and love for the Titans never wavered. He cared deeply about the people around him, and that kindness and authenticity left a lasting impact on everyone 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. We will miss him dearly, and we will always be grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.”

Dave McGinnis began his NFL coaching career in 1986 when he was a linebacker coach with the Chicago Bears. He was then for 10 seasons before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 1996 to be their defensive coordinator.

McGinnis was promoted to head coach in 2000 as a mid-season replacement and tallied a 17-40 record in three and a half seasons. He joined the Titans in 2004 to be their linebackers coach and was with the team for eight seasons.

In 2012, the St. Louis Rams hired McGinnis to be their assistant head coach. He joined then-head coach Jeff Fisher, who was McGinnis when he was the head coach at Tennessee. McGinnis’ coaching career ended after the 2016 season when Fisher was let go.

“The lives he touched, and the number of people that cared about him, it’s amazing really,” Fisher said. “Mac treated people so well, and made everyone feel like they were important. Even in the hospital, people would stop by to see him, and he would ask about their families, their grandkids, even when he could barely speak. He made a big impact on so many people. Everyone loved Mac.”

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