Dave McGinnis, former Cardinals head coach and longtime NFL assistant, dies at 74

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Arizona Cardinals head coach and longtime NFL assistant Dave McGinnis, longtime known simply as “Coach Mac,” died Monday. He was 74.

McGinnis, who had been in declining health, died Monday afternoon at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with his family at his side, according to the Tennessee Titans. He had been the Titans' color commentator on game broadcasts since 2017 and was a constant presence on radio shows and team podcasts.

Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said the Titans will miss McGinnis dearly and will always be grateful for the legacy he leaves. She said her heart aches with this loss of someone who was so much more than a coach and broadcaster.

“He was family,” 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.”

McGinnis went 17-40 for the Cardinals from 2000 to 2003, earning the job after nearly five seasons as defensive coordinator. He also helped the Cardinals' push for their current stadium before being fired following a 4-12 record in 2003. That was despite a breakout season from receiver Anquan Boldin as the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Arizona owner Michael Bidwell said in a statement the Cardinals were deeply saddened to hear of McGinnis' death.

“As Dave often said, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through, and no one ever filled that role with more passion, enthusiasm and charisma," Bidwell said. “Coach Mac truly loved the game and everything — and everyone — associated with it, especially his players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed."

A respected defensive mind, McGinnis began his NFL career with the Chicago Bears in 1986 as linebackers coach, a season after the franchise won the Super Bowl. He spent 10 years in Chicago working under head coaches Mike Ditka and Dave Wannstedt.

McGinnis briefly looked like he would become the Bears' head coach in 1999 when the team announced his hiring after an interview. However, McGinnis said he had never agreed to a contract, the Bears apologized and the coach pulled his name from consideration.

After he left the Cardinals in 2003, McGinnis was hired as the linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans under coach Jeff Fisher. He stayed in that role — eventually being promoted to assistant head coach — until 2011.

McGinnis followed Fisher to the St. Louis Rams in 2012, where he worked until 2016 as assistant head coach before turning to being a broadcaster with the Titans.

“His passion for the Titans and love for the game came through in every interaction and every broadcast, and he had a unique way of making everyone around him better,” said Burke Nihill, the Titans president and chief executive officer.

Before his NFL career, McGinnis was an assistant for 13 years at the college level, working at TCU, Missouri, Indiana State and Kansas State.

The Snyder, Texas, native was a three-year starter at defensive back for TCU and graduated in 1973.

AP Sports Writer David Brandt contributed to this report.

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FILE - Arizona Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis celebrates after his team intercepted a pass in the end zone during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers with two seconds remaining, Sept. 21, 2003, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors, File)

FILE - Arizona Cardinals interim head coach Dave McGinnis cheers on his team during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Dec. 17, 2000, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE - Arizona Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis reacts to his team's win over the Minnesota Vikings after an NFL football game, Dec. 28, 2003, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE - St. Louis Rams assistant head coach Dave McGinnis watches during NFL football minicamp, April 17, 2012, at the team's training facility in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

FILE - Arizona Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis shouts instructions during a preseason NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Aug. 10, 2002, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe will start an injury rehabilitation assignment Tuesday and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole could soon begin minor league outings.

Recovering from left shoulder surgery on Oct. 14, Volpe received medical clearance Monday night to report to Double-A Somerset. He had been working out at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Florida.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Volpe likely will play three to five innings in his first games.

“He'll probably play in four games this week with Somerset and then go from there and build them up kind of like spring training, although he’s had over 50 live at-bats down there and has had a lot of work at shortstop getting out on defense,” Boone said. “So he’s a little ahead of the game from when you would start spring training probably.”

Volpe, who turns 25 on April 28, hurt the shoulder last May 3 and returned to the lineup two days later but struggled for much of the season. He had a pair of cortisone shots and hit .212 with 19 homers and a career-high 72 RBIs.

Cole, a six-time All-Star and the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, is returning from reconstructive elbow surgery on March 11 last year. He made a pair of one-inning spring training starts on March 18 and 24, and has been facing hitters.

In his latest session, Cole threw 42 pitches over three simulated innings on Sunday against batters from High-A Hudson Valley. Boone said Cole will throw again Friday and the team had not yet decided whether it would be another batting practice session or his first minor league rehab outing.

“We’re really kind of taking it week to week, and I don't even know what the number is going to be on Friday,” Cole said of his pitch count.

Cole's arm feels far better than before the surgery.

“It’s definitely a different arm,” he said. “There’s still the same recovery patterns. I think the more and more I stay on like a rotation, the more I go through these cycles of adapting, getting sore, adapting, getting sore adapting, which is normal. ... The way the ball’s kind of coming out, the ability to get through the baseball a little bit better and then from the recovery standpoint is more normal prior to having some injuries.”

Cole's last official outing was in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.

While position players' minor league rehab assignments are limited to 20 days, pitchers have 30 days and those recovering from Tommy John surgery may receive three consecutive 10-day extensions.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón threw 50 pitches to batters over three simulated innings before Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Rodón is recovering from surgery on Oct. 15 to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur, and his rehab was slowed by right hamstring tightness.

Boone said Rodón will throw again on Saturday and the team also had not decided whether it would be more batting practice or a minor league game.

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FILE - New York Yankees Anthony Volpe heads for first base after hitting an RBI single against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning of Game 3 of an American League wild-card baseball playoff series, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II,File)