| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | (1952-10-13)October 13, 1952 DeKalb, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died: | September 30, 2011(2011-09-30) (aged 58) Mexico |
| Career information | |
| College: | Eastern Illinois |
| Career history | |
As a coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Michael Heimerdinger (October 13, 1952 – September 30, 2011) was anAmerican football coach who held various coordinator and position coach roles during 18 seasons in theNational Football League (NFL). He began his career by coaching high school football in Illinois, and then held positions with six different college football teams. Heimerdinger died at the age of 58 in 2011, after suffering from cancer.
Heimerdinger was most recently theoffensive coordinator for theTennessee Titans, a position he had served in from 2000 to 2004 and again from 2008 to 2010. Prior to serving in this position, Heimerdinger was an assistanthead coach for theDenver Broncos succeedingGary Kubiak who took the head coaching position with theHouston Texans.
He playedwide receiver atEastern Illinois University from 1970 to 1974 and was roommates withMike Shanahan. He was then the wide receivers coach at the University of Florida, when they won two consecutive SEC titles in 1984 and 1985, and after that, was receivers coach for Shanahan with theDenver Broncos, from 1995 until 1999. He was also offensive coordinator for theNew York Jets for the 2005 season. Prior to that, he held positions in college football asDuke University's offensive coordinator,Rice University's offensive coordinator,Cal State Fullerton's offensive coordinator, theUniversity of Florida wide receivers' coach,North Texas State's quarterbacks coach, and theU.S. Air Force Academy' wide receivers' coach.
With the Titans, Heimerdinger coached players such asSteve McNair,Eddie George,Derrick Mason, andHall of Fame linemanBruce Matthews. He helped Head CoachJeff Fisher lead the Titans to the playoffs in2000,2002, and2003.
He was hired by the Jets in 2005, as offensive coordinator, in what would be a disastrous season for the franchise. After the Jets' Head CoachHerman Edwards was released from his contract, Heimerdinger was interviewed and passed over for the head coaching position. Although it was obvious he would have preferred to void his contract with the Jets, he was initially informed by new coachEric Mangini that he would be retained as offensive coordinator as per his original contract. He was later released from his contract by the Jets as part of an undisclosed agreement. He then took a position as the Denver Broncos' assistant head coach under Mike Shanahan, where he worked with quarterbackJay Cutler, transforming him into the Broncos' starting quarterback.
He returned to theTennessee Titans as their new offensive coordinator, after the Titans firedNorm Chow.[1] He was hired to help develop quarterbackVince Young, who was drafted ahead of Cutler in the2006 NFL draft. Under Heimerdinger, veteran quarterbackKerry Collins, and a dominating defense led bydefensive coordinatorJim Schwartz and defensive tackleAlbert Haynesworth, the Titans had a 13–3 record (best in the league) and won theAFC South title.
On November 24, 2010, he began to undergochemotherapy for treating cancer that had been recently diagnosed. His role as offensive coordinator was expected to be assumed by Titans quarterbacks coachDowell Loggains and offensive line coachMike Munchak during his absence however, Heimerdinger continued coaching every game throughout the remainder of the season.[2]
On February 8, 2011, Heimerdinger was fired by newly hired head coach Munchak.[3]
Heimerdinger had two children with his wife, Kathie. His children are Brian and Alicia. Heimerdinger died of cancer on September 30, 2011, in Mexico.[4]