A day after being rushed to the hospital, Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul died on Wednesday, the team announced. He was 54.
Paul suffered a “medical emergency” at the team’s facility on Tuesday morning. He was treated by Cowboys medical personnel and then transported to Plano Presbyterian Hospital, per a team statement. The Cowboys proceeded to cancel practice.
“The loss of a family member is a tragedy, and Markus Paul was a loved and valued member of our family,” Cowboys owner 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 earn him great respect and admiration from all of 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.”
A star defensive back at Syracuse, Paul spent five years in the NFL with the Bears and Bucs before becoming a coach. Prior to his time in Dallas, Paul’s NFL journey included stops as an assistant with the Saints (1998-99), Patriots (2000-04), Jets (2005-06) and Giants (2007-18). He won five Super Bowls as a coach, three with the Patriots and two with the Giants.
The Jets were among many in the football world grieving Paul on Wednesday night.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Markus Paul, who spent two years with us in 2005-06,” the team wrote on Twitter. “He was a kind man who made a lasting impact on those fortunate to have crossed his path.”
Ex-Jet Damien Woody, who spent time with Paul in New England, called the coach “One of the kindest, most humble men I’ve ever come across.”