Former NFL coach Jim Fassel, who spent seven seasons as the head coach of the New York Giants in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has passed away at age 71. Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times announced the news early on Tuesday morning.
Fassel's son, John, told the Los Angeles Times that his father had been under sedation after being taken to a local hospital due to chest pains and later suffered a heart attack (via ESPN).
Over his seven seasons as the head coach of the Giants, Fassel compiled a 58-53-1 record, including three double-digit win seasons. In his first year as coach, in 1997, he was named NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Giants to a 10-5-1 record after a 6-10 campaign in the year prior. In 2000, his fourth year at the helm of the franchise's coaching staff, he made a bold proclamation in a well-remembered presser.
New York wound up going 12-4 and reached the Super Bowl, beating both the Eagles and Vikings before the Ravens proved too difficult an opponent.
Fassel also served as offensive coordinator for the Giants, Broncos and Cardinals prior to his head coaching stint, and then served as the offensive coordinator for the Ravens two seasons after he was fired by the Giants.
His influence was also felt outside of the NFL, with jobs including the head coach of the Utah Utes in the late 1980s and the head coach of the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives from 2009 to 2012.
His son, John, is currently the special teams coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.
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