Dave McGinnis Was The Guy Everyone Remembered, And He Remembered You Right Back

Dave McGinnis passed away Monday at 74 years old, and the NFL lost one of its most connected coaches. The man spent more than three decades in the league, most notably as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2000 to 2003, before moving into the broadcast booth as the Titans' color commentator. But his real legacy wasn't measured in wins and losses. It was in people.

The Guy Who Never Forgot Your Name

McGinnis was what you'd call the mayor of everywhere he went. His orbit was galactic in size, and those West Texas roots never left his voice or his way of treating folks. He had this gift for remembering names, for making handshakes matter, for telling stories about how he'd probably met your uncle one time at some restaurant in Phoenix. People were his legacy.

Jeff Legwold, the ESPN reporter who covers the Denver Broncos and has been doing this beat for more than 20 years, was one of those people. Legwold met Mac decades ago through football, and it turned into quite the ride. He tells the story of how McGinnis would make him drive that massive truck whenever Coach Mac forgot his glasses or didn't want to admit he didn't know exactly where they were headed. Legwold would suggest they just put his own car in the back, that it would make more sense. Mac would laugh it off.

Tamales, Tortillas, and That VIP Card

The real McGinnis was the guy who always had a business card in his pocket, one that a Phoenix restaurant owner had written "VIP always" on the back of. He'd flash it when he walked in with whoever was with "Coach Mac," and suddenly tables got moved, the best food kept coming until there was no more time in the day.

Legwold remembers how Mac would make fun of where he parked that truck, always at some spot with tamales, hand-made tortillas, or wherever McGinnis had decided had "the best salsa on planet Earth." That was Coach Mac: detail-oriented about the things that mattered, generous with his time, impossible to forget.

Football introduced these two men decades ago. Sometimes, Legwold says, no matter how many words you type, there still aren't enough to really tell a story like that.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.