Wednesday, February 24, 1999
Vikings valued Myers as friend and coach
The Associated Press
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Fish stories, and a bright future. That's how the Minnesota Vikings remembered offensive coordinator Chip Myers Tuesday.
Myers, a former Bengals wide receiver and career assistant who was promoted to his first coordinator's job last month, died of a heart attack at his home. He was 53.
“In 28 years as a coach I've never had a more tragic thing happen,” coach Dennis Green said.
Myers' death came without warning and shocked the Vikings. Although Myers was a casual smoker, there had been no signs pointing to a potentially serious health problem.
The Vikings coaches returned from the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis late Monday afternoon, and Myers died several hours later at his home in Long Lake. Police found his body on his bed about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Linebackers coach Trent Walters was the last Vikings assistant to talk to Myers Monday. They made tentative plans to go ice fishing Tuesday.
Myers' blue truck was missing Tuesday as the rest of the coaches began arriving for a 7 a.m. meeting. When the assistants went inside, Green told them the excruciating news he had received about 5:15 a.m. from Myers' wife, Susie.
Myers came to Minnesota in 1995. He coached receivers in 1995-97, and shifted to quarterbacks last season.
When Brian Billick left to become head coach in Baltimore, Green wasted no time putting Myers in charge.
Whether it was game day at the Metrodome or the offseason in his bass boat on Lake Minnetonka, Myers' calm, laid-back demeanor never changed, something that made him popular among his peers.
Myers is survived by his wife and five children ranging in age from 21 to 31. Funeral services were scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Indian Hill Church in Cincinnati.
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