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What Kind Of Cancer Does Mike Heimerdinger Have

October 1, 2011 by · Comments Off on What Kind Of Cancer Does Mike Heimerdinger Have 

What Kind Of Cancer Does Mike Heimerdinger HaveWhat Kind Of Cancer Does Mike Heimerdinger Have, Mike Heimerdinger, a former offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and New York Jets, died on Friday night after nearly a year battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 58.

“It is with great sadness, but trust in God that we say goodbye to our beloved Dinger who lost his courageous battle against cancer,” said Heimerdinger’s wife, Kathie, in a statement Saturday. “Mike approached cancer with the same vigor and tenacity that he approached every football game to win -. Although in the final minutes never lost hope – that was our Dinger”.

Heimerdinger, who died in Mexico to receive experimental treatments, has continued the coach before he was released by the Titans in February, along with two assistant coaches, followed by offensive line coach Mike Munchak was promoted to head coach .

Former Titans coach Jeff Fisher, Heimerdinger had brought in 2008 after two seasons in Denver.

“It was a harsh treatment and Dinger was a tough guy to the end, it comes as no surprise to those who know what kind of competitor he was,” Fisher said in a news release. “He was a man. No matter how weak he looked, how weak it sounded, never had a complaint and fought this cancer, since only expected to fight it.”

Heimerdinger helped the late Steve McNair NFL co-MVP honors win in 2003 and was part of three playoff teams in his first five seasons at Tennessee before taking the same job for one season with the Jets in 2005.

“The coming days will be difficult for our family and we kindly and respectfully ask that you allow us to grieve in private,” said Kathie Heimerdinger.

Heimerdinger was diagnosed with cancer in November 2010 and began chemotherapy treatment five days after diagnosis.

At that time, Fisher said Heimerdinger had been very sick for three weeks.

Heimerdinger made a trip to Houston with the team for the match on Sunday and was greeted on the field before the game by his son, an intern with the Houston Texans at that time. Heimerdinger also had a daughter.

Heimerdinger was college roommates with former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, coach and helped co-MVP McNair to the NFL with Peyton Manning in 2003.

“We lost a very special person and my best friend Mike Heimerdinger,” Shanahan, now head coach of the Redskins said in a statement. “I know the man upstairs needed a superstar so I took it before we all wanted. His love for his family was unprecedented and will miss him always.”

In Denver, Heimerdinger coached wide dynamic receiving tandem Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith in the first stage with the team between 1995 and ’99, helping the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in ’97 and ’98 .

In a statement, the Broncos, said several members of his organization visited Heimerdinger last week before Sunday’s game against the Titans in Nashville.

“The Broncos extend their deepest sympathy and prayers to Mike’s wife, Kathie and the rest of his family and friends during this difficult time,” the team said.

Heimerdinger was born in Dekalb, Illinois, and was a catcher and center fielder at Eastern Illinois where he majored in history.

He spent four years coaching high school in McHenry, Illinois, and then coached the University of Florida, the Air Force Academy, North Texas State, Cal State-Fullerton, Rice and Duke.

“He loved his family, he loved this game and all who come to him,” Fisher said. “We lost a great.”

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