NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mike Heimerdinger was praised by friends and NFL colleagues for being not only a good coach but a great person.
NFL coaches Mike Shanahan of the Redskins, Jim Schwartz of the Lions and Gary Kubiak of the Texans, and former coaches Jeff Fisher and Dave McGinnis were among those at the private funeral for the former Titans and Broncos offensive coordinator at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on Friday.
“If you knew him for a day or for your entire life, you knew him exactly the same way,” McGinnis said. “He was a very, very special guy.”
Many former players and assistant coaches who worked with and played for Heimerdinger during his 16-year NFL career also attended, including Broncos Hall of Fame quarterback and current team president John Elway.
Fisher and Shanahan served as two of the eight pallbearers, joining Heimerdinger’s father Robert, his brother Jeff and son Brian. Other pallbearers included long-time Broncos offensive line coach Alex Gibbs, Oklahoma State assistant coach Joe DeForest and Michael LeMay.
Heimerdinger, who also coached at Air Force, died Sept. 30 of a rare form of cancer that had been diagnosed in November 2010. He was 58.
Footnotes.
Raiders linebacker Aaron Curry, the No. 4 overall pick two years ago acquired in a trade this week with the Seahawks, will replace starter Quentin Groves in Sunday’s game against the Browns.
• Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga is expected to return for Sunday’s game against the Rams after missing two games with a knee injury, and second-year safety Morgan Burnett expects to play despite breaking his right hand in practice.
• Bears safety Brandon Meriweather was fined $25,000 by the NFL for a hit that resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty during Monday night’s 24-13 loss at Detroit.
• Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall has a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
