On Tuesday, Dallas Cowboys strength and conditioning coordinator suffered what the team called “a non-COVID medical emergency” at the team facility, and was rushed to a hospital. On Wednesday evening, the team announced that Paul had passed away. He was 54.
From ESPN’s Todd Archer:
Surrounded by family, Paul died Wednesday evening at Plano Presbyterian Hospital.
The cause of death was not announced.
“The loss of a family member is a tragedy, and Markus Paul was a loved and valued member of our family,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in a statement. “He was a pleasant and calming influence in our strength room and throughout The Star.
“His passion for his work and his enthusiasm for life earned him great respect and admiration from all our players and the entire organization. We offer our love and support to his family in this very difficult time. Our hearts are broken for his family and all of the individuals whose lives he touched and made better.”
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy offered this statement:
“We extend our love, strength and support to Markus’ family during this most challenging of times and ask that their privacy be respected moving forward,” McCarthy said in a statement Wednesday. “Markus Paul was a leader in this building. He earned the players’ respect and attention because he cared so much and was a naturally gifted communicator — both on the personal and professional levels. He handled every situation, sometimes with a smile and a pat on the back and sometimes with tough love.
“He had innate toughness in a job that requires that quality, and he was admired throughout the NFL by his peers and the players he coached. It was a privilege to work with him as a coach and laugh with him as a friend. Markus did everything the right way.”
Paul, a safety, played for Tampa Bay and Chicago in the NFL before becoming a coach. In addition to his time in Dallas, he spent time working in strength and conditioning with the Saints, Patriots, Jets, and Giants.
[ESPN]
About Jay Rigdon
Jay is a columnist at Awful Announcing. He is not a strong swimmer. He is probably talking to a dog in a silly voice at this very moment.