Dave McGinnis Once Was Bears Head Coach -- And Didn't Know It
The current Titans radio color analyst's pursuit of a 'dream job' turned into a nightmare due to numerous missteps by the venerable franchise.
www.si.comShort answer: Dave McGinnis, longtime Bears assistant coach, recently made headlines due to his death in April 2026, highlighting a notable coaching career and a botched 1999 Bears hire controversy.[4][5][7]
Details:
- Recent news confirms Dave McGinnis passed away at age 74 in April 2026, after a 44-year coaching career that included a decade with the Chicago Bears as a linebackers coach (1986–1995). This event rekindled reflections on his impact in Chicago and the broader NFL community.[5][8]
- The lasting intrigue around McGinnis centers on the 1999 Bears hiring fiasco, when Chicago publicly announced him as head coach before contract talks were finalized, leading to a highly public misstep and his departure from the team shortly after.[1][6][9]
- In addition to archival reporting, contemporary Chicago outlets highlighted the emotional and historical significance of his career and the mistaken hiring episode as a cautionary tale in franchise decision-making.[7][10]
Key sources you can read for full context:
- Former Bears assistant coach Dave McGinnis passes away (Chicago Bears official): https://www.chicagobears.com/news/former-bears-assistant-coach-dave-mcginnis-passes-away[5]
- Jan. 22, 1999: Bears wrongly announce Dave McGinnis as head coach (Chicago Tribune legacy piece): https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/01/22/jan-22-1999-bears-wrongly-announce-dave-mcginnis-as-the-teams-head-coach-2/[6]
- Flashback: Dave McGinnis "Hiring" (CBS Chicago): https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/flashback-43-dave-mcginnis-hiring-1999/[9]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of McGinnis’s Bears tenure and the 1999 hiring episode, or compile a short obituary-style summary with key career highlights.