Titans color analyst, longtime coach Dave McGinnis passes away at 74

Monday was a day full of loss in the Tennessee Titans community. Hours after the unfortunate news that former Titans cornerback Chris Payton-Jones tragically passed away in a Florida car accident, the Titans family suffered a significant loss closer to home. Dave McGinnis, known affectionately by most as "Coach Mac", has passed away.

This is a huge loss that will be felt not only in Nashville and the surrounding communities but across the football world. McGinnis, whose infectious optimism was a staple of Titans radio through these dark times, was a man who loved both the game and the Titans, and clearly bled two-tone blue.

McGinnis passed away on Monday at age 74, after an illness that first hospitalized him in early March. The longtime coach became a friend to many in the Nashville area and a fan favorite after joining Jeff Fisher’s staff as a linebacker coach in 2004. After eight years on the sidelines, he departed, but couldn’t stay away, returning in 2017 on Titans Radio and endearing himself to many, including this sports writer, as the gameday color analyst.

McGinnis was also a presence across the NFL, building a lasting career that would span three decades of coaching from 1986 to 2016 with the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, rising from the ranks from linebackers coach, to defensive coordinator, and then assistant head coach, and even head coach.

In a statement, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said this about beloved “Coach Mac”.

"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."

There is no doubt the weight of his loss will be felt by the organization, players, and fans, but there is no doubt when Cam Ward connects with Chimere Dike on a classic transcontinental for a touchdown, somewhere he will be looking down and cheering for #TitanUp.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans color analyst, longtime coach Dave McGinnis passes away at 74