Dallas Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul dies at age of 54
Less than 24 hours after the Dallas Cowboys announced the death of Markus Paul, the team’s head strength and conditioning coach, the players who relied on the coach’s experise and passion had to take the field for their annual Thanksgiving Day game.
The team had a pre-game tribute at AT&T Stadium and wore “MP” decals on the back of their silver helmets to honor Paul, who died at a Plano hospital Wednesday. Paul had been on life support since suddenly falling ill Tuesday early morning at The Star, the Cowboys’ practice facility in Frisco
The team released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that the cause of death is pending, however, Tuesday the team said that the reason behind Paul’s medical emergency was not COVID-related.
“The organization extends its prayers and support to the Paul family, and the team will recognize and remember Markus, a valued and loved member of the Cowboys Family, prior to the Thanksgiving Day game [Thursday] afternoon,” read part of the statement released by the Cowboys organization.
“The loss of a family member is a tragedy, and Markus Paul was a loved and valued member of our family. He was a pleasant and calming influence in our strength room and throughout The Star,” said team owner Jerry Jones. “His passion for his work and his enthusiasm for life earned him great respect and admiration from all of our players and the entire organization.
“We offer our love and support to his family in this very difficult time. Our hearts are broken for his family and all of the individuals whose lives he touched and made better.”
The Cowboys canceled practice on Tuesday after Paul fell ill at the team’s practice facility around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Paul was rushed to the hospital, where he was on life support for much of the last 24 hours.
Family was called on Wednesday afternoon to say their final goodbyes.
It was a huge blow for the Cowboys organization as Paul, a former player himself, was devoted to working on improving the strength and conditioning of the players under his care.
When the Cowboys resumed practice on Wednesday in advance of Thursday’s game against Washington, assistant strength and conditioning coaches Harold Nash and Kendall Smith led the team in exercises before the workout.
Paul, who has been a strength coach for 22 years, has been with the Cowboys since 2018. This was his first year as the head of the team’s strength and conditioning unit. He replaced Mike Woicik after Mike McCarthy became head coach in January.
In March, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cowboys featured Paul in a video series on social media that provided tips on fitness workouts at home under the hashtag #StayHomeStayStrong.
“We extend our love, strength and support to Markus’ family during this most challenging of times and ask that their privacy be respected moving forward. Markus Paul was a leader in this building,” McCarthy said in a statement. “He earned the players’ respect and attention because he cared so much and was a naturally gifted communicator — both on the personal and professional levels. He handled every situation, sometimes with a smile and a pat on the back, and sometimes with tough love. He had innate toughness in a job that requires that quality, and he was admired throughout the NFL by his peers and the players he coached.
“It was a privilege to work with him as a coach and laugh with him as a friend. Markus did everything the right way.”
Paul was a standout defensive back for Syracuse from 1985-1988, set a school record with 19 interceptions, including and thee in a single game, and was named an All-American in his final season.
Paul was taken in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, where he spent most of his playing career. He played 70 games for Chicago from 1989 to 1993, and also played one game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1993. Over his career he started 15 games and made seven interceptions.
He rejoined the NFL as a strength and conditioning coach after being hired by Woicik to the New Orleans Saints staff in 1998. He his other previous coaching stops were with the New England Patriots (2000-04), the New York Jets (2005-06) and the New York Giants (2007-18), and he had been part of five Super Bowl champion squads.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram staff writer Stefan Stevenson contributed to this story.
This story was originally published November 25, 2020 at 5:25 PM.
