RIP Frank Gansz
Late Monday afternoon in the same Dallas hospital where Lamar Hunt passed away two-plus years ago, one-time Chiefs head coach Frank Gansz died. He was 70 years old.
“Heaven became even a better place today … God Bless Frank Gansz,” posted SMU head coach June Jones to his Twitter page Monday evening.
Last Wednesday, Gansz had knee replacement surgery and at some point in the process or just afterwards, his heart stopped beating. He had been on a respirator in Presbyterian Hospital since then, with his family around him. Gansz had come out of retirement last year to work with Jones and the Mustangs program. It was his 38th year in coaching on the college and NFL levels.
Gansz was head coach of the Chiefs in 1987-88, replacing John Mackovic who was fired in January 1987. The Chiefs went 8-22-1 under Gansz. He was fired in January 1989 by Carl Peterson and replaced by Marty Schottenheimer.
He was special teams coach with the team in 1981-82 and then again in 1986 when he also carried the title assistant head coach. It was the special teams that got the Chiefs into the playoffs that year, beating Pittsburgh 24-19 in the final game of the ‘86 regular season with every Kansas City point scored from the kicking game. It was one of the greatest special teams performances in league history.
June Jones is right, heaven is a better place. It’s also a bit more organized with Crash Gansz in the house. More motivated as well.
We will have more on the Frank Gansz and his time in Kansas City on Tuesday.
He has left the land of the dying to join the land of the living. Are you prepared for the afterlife? Dont wait another moment if your not.
Thanks for the memories Mr. Ganz!
How do you suggest we prepare?
I loved Frank Ganz.
A good man and football coach. June Jones got it right. RIP coach.
Dave,
I would suggest start by asking questions such as:
1. Do you believe in God?
2. Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so are you doing what you need to get there?
3. What is your purpose in life?
Mr. Ganz lived his life with purpose. The same cant be said about many others.
I’m not trying to push religion, but I think it is worthwhile for people to ask questions and seek for themselves.
We dont show up for a chiefs game without a ticket and expect to get in. We prepare for it, show up on the right day, procure a ticket, etc.
Dont go another moment unprepared for the afterlife. Dont leave it up to chance. That is too great a gamble, and not worth taking. Your life is too precious.
he changed my life, he changed my fathers life, and he has one heck of a son who has also impacted my life…
This is a sad day, but its a time to remember him for who he was, a good man that anyone could hope to be. Also the best special teams coach the NFL has ever seen. He helped more coaches and players currently in the league than anyone will ever know.
If you played for him in 1970 at navy, the 90’s with the rams/falcons/lions/jaguars, or even his one year at SMU, you know just who Frank Gansz really was, and how he makes everyone around him better.
My biggest regret leaving today is having not spoken to Frank in a few weeks.
Well said “findthedr”, I am trying to get prepared but it is unlikely I will ever be totally prepared. Just a work in progress as my first wife would say. It is indeed a sad day to lose someone like Frank Gansz, God bless you Frank Gansz and you’re family as well!
Cioran - “Paradise was unendurable, otherwise the first man would have adapted to it; this world is no less so, since here we regret paradise or anticipate another one. What to do? Where to go? Do nothing and go nowhere, easy enough.”
Nietschze - “A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing.”
Bob, if you by chance find out any news on the service, if you could email me, and let me know, I will forever be grateful… I cannot get myself to call Frank Jr, so if you know of service details, please for myy father, let me know..asap, thank you.