Bears’ Chairman George McCaskey issues statement on Dave McGinnis’ passing

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 9: Head coach Dave McGinnis of the Arizona Cardinals talks to the referee during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 9, 2003 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Cardinals 28-15. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday, long-time NFL coach Dave McGinnis passed away at the age of 74.

His first job in the NFL was as the Bears’ linebackers coach from 1986 through 1995, working under head coaches Mike Ditka and Dave Wannstedt. Earlier today, Bears’ Chairman George McCaskey issued a statement.

“Dave was a man of principle and unquestioned integrity, and a darn good football coach,” McCaskey said via the team’s site. “Those of us who were fortunate to be around him knew that any time spent with Coach Mac was going to be a good time. We will miss him. Our condolences to his family.”

McGinnis also worked as an assistant coach for the Cardinals, Titans, and Rams, and he was Arizona’s head coach from 2000 to 2003.

He had over 40 years of coaching at the collegiate and NFL level, but for many Bears fans, the first thing they think of about his career was the press conference that never was.

After the premature presser, McGinnis pulled himself from consideration as Chicago’s head coach, and the Bears pivoted to Dick Jauron.

One of the players McGinnis coached in Chicago was Hall of Famer Mike Singletary, who was named the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year.

Singletary issued a statement via the Titans’ site.

“I found him to be a friend over the years, and what a great time, the timing of him coming to the Bears and being my coach,” Singletary said of McGinnis. “I needed somebody like him. I knew where I wanted to go, knew what I wanted to do and I needed somebody to guide me, somebody to help me and have a perspective about what was next for me, and how to be a professional about getting there. For me, Coach Mac was a godsend at that time, when he came.

“I really leaned on him. He was honest with me, and he helped me so much go to the next level. He’d say: Mike, you may not want to hear this, but I have to tell you, partner: This is what you need to do, and you need to do a better job of doing this. He was a friend, a mentor, and he told you the truth. He loved helping players work through things. He was going to be a friend if you needed a friend, he knew when to get on your tail, and he knew when to back off. I was really very fortunate to have come across someone like him who could find that balance of being a coach, and a friend. I think he and I needed each other at the time we met.”