from www.nbcnews.com
Jets assistant coach Greg Knapp dies after bicycle crash
Knapp, who never regained consciousness after a bicycle crash Saturday, died Thursday surrounded by his family, his agent confirmed.
New York Jets assistant coach Greg Knapp, who tutored some of football’s most noted quarterbacks, died Thursday after a bicycle crash last week, officials said.
Knapp, 58, was an avid cyclist who was riding Saturday in San Ramon in Northern California when a motorist swerved into the bike lane and hit him, said his agent, Jeff Sperbeck.
He never regained consciousness and died Thursday surrounded by his wife, his three daughters, his mother and his brother.
“Greg’s infectious personality is most people’s first and lasting memory of him,” Sperbeck said in a statement. “The phrase ‘he never met a stranger’ encapsulates Knapper’s zest for life. He had a unique gift to make everyone feel special, and to Knapper, they all were.”
San Ramon police said Thursday they’re still investigating the crash that involved a 22-year-old man behind the wheel. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be involved but police said they still want any witnesses to step forward.
The fatal collision happened a little before 2:49 p.m. Saturday on Dougherty Road just north of North Monarch Road, as the driver stopped and “cooperated with investigators,” police said.
“Sadly Mr. Knapp succumbed to the injuries he sustained in Saturday’s collision,” San Ramon police said in a statement. “Our sincere condolences are with Mr. Knapp’s family and loved ones.”
The coming season would have been Knapp’s first with the Jets. He and new head coach Robert Saleh were hired in January in a staff shake-up in hope of ending the franchise’s five straight years of losing records.
Saleh offered his condolences to Knapp’s family, saying Knapp was able to deeply connect with people even in his short time with the Jets.
“Greg had such an inner peace about him that people always seemed to gravitate towards,” Saleh said. “He lived life in a loving way that helped him connect with people from all walks of life in a unique way.”