Former New York Giants assistant and current Dallas Cowboys head strength and conditioning coach, Markus Paul, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 54. He was surrounded by his loved ones.
“The loss of a family member is a tragedy, and Markus Paul was a loved and valued member of our family,” the Cowboys 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.”
Paul spent 12 years with the Giants from 2007-2018, winning two Super Bowl titles over that span, before being hired by Jason Garrett and the Dallas Cowboys in 2018.
“All of us with the Giants, the Mara and Tisch families and the entire organization, extend our deepest condolences on the passing of Markus Paul. Markus was a beloved member of our organization for several years,” the Giants said in a statement.
“Our prayers of comfort and peace are with his family, the Dallas Cowboys and his many friends across the NFL and beyond. He will be greatly missed.”
Prior to his time with the Cowboys, Paul also served in an assistant role with the New Orleans Saints (1998-1999), New England Patriots (2000-2004) and New York Jets (2005-2006).
A fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1989, Paul also had an NFL career that spanned five years and included a brief stop with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“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,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said. “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.”
The thoughts of Giants Nation are with Paul’s family, friends and loved ones.