New York Jets Assistant Coach Greg Knapp Dies Of Injuries

SAN RAMON, CA — New York Jets passing game specialist Greg Knapp died Thursday of injuries he received when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle Saturday in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Knapp, 58, was hospitalized in critical condition after the crash, according to a statement from San Ramon Police Lt. Tami Williams. Knapp was riding northbound on Dougherty Road about a quarter-mile north of North Monarch Road when a 22-year-old driver headed northbound struck him with his car. Knapp immediately became unconscious, his family wrote in a statement posted Thursday by the Jets.

Police continued to investigate the crash and do not suspect drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash.

Knapp is survived by his wife, three daughters, mother and brother.

"Today at 11:32 am PST, Greg Knapp (aka Knapper) was called back home to Heaven, where he will be reunited with his Dad," his family said in the statement.

Loved ones recalled his "infectious personality" and "unique gift to make everyone feel special."

"And to Knapper, they all were," his family wrote. He was the type of man who never met a stranger, they said.

Knapp was raised in Seal Beach and was a quarterback at California State University, Sacramento from 1982 to 1985. He coached at his alma mater for about nine years before heading to the San Francisco 49ers, where he was an offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and offensive quality control coach from 1995 to 2003, according to his Jets bio.

Knapp went on to coach quarterbacks and offensive linemen for the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons before joining the Jets this year. He worked with players such as Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Rick Mirer, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick, Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and Zach Wilson.

"Greg had such an inner peace about him that people always seemed to gravitate towards," Jets coach Robert Saleh said in a statement from the team. "He lived life in a loving way that helped him connect with people from all walks of life in a unique way. In his short time here, I believe the people in this organization had a chance to experience that connection."

Knapp said he enjoyed the exciting challenge of working with the young quarterbacks on the Jets.

"It is really cool," he told reporters last month. "Both my parents are teachers. It's, like, here's the canvas; start teaching them what you know without overteaching them too quickly."

Jets Chairman Woody Johnson recalled the "immediate influence" he had on those who spent "the smallest amount of time with him."

"His legacy is not only working with some of the brightest quarterbacks the league has ever seen, but the countless others across this world he has had an indelibly positive influence on," Johnson said.

Knapp's life was well-lived, even if it was cut short, friends and family said.

"While his family, friends, and players still had so much to learn from him and desperately wished they had more time with him, God called an audible and wanted to go over the game plan directly with him," his family said. "It will certainly be a masterpiece, just like Greg!"

People are encouraged to leave tributes and photos for his family online.