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Steelers News: Pittsburgh’s Wide Receiver Coach Darryl Drake Dies

Steelers
The Steelers host the Bengals today on CBS

Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II released a statement Sunday, confirming that wide receivers coach Darryl Drake died unexpectedly Sunday Morning. He was 62 years old.

“We are at a loss for words following Darryl Drake’s passing this morning,” Rooney said in the statement. “Darryl had such an impact on the players he coached and everyone he worked with throughout his entire career. He was a passionate coach and had a tremendous spirit toward life, his family, his faith and the game of football.”

The Steelers cancelled a planned practice Sunday and will take the day off Monday due to the tragedy.

“Darryl was a close friend and had a tremendous impact on my coaching career,” head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “He was an amazing husband, father and grandfather, and it is difficult to put into words the grief our entire team is going through right now. Darryl loved the game of football and every player he ever coached. We will use our faith to guide us and help his family throughout the difficult time. My heart and our prayers are with his wife, Sheila, and Darryl’s entire family.”

This would have been Drake’s second year as the Steelers’ receivers coach. He coached receivers for the Chicago Bears from 2004-2012 and for the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-2019.

He played two seasons in the NFL, 1979 with the Washington Redskins and 1983 with the Cincinnati Bengals after going undrafted out of Western Kentucky. He made a stop in Canada, suiting up for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1981.

Drake entered coaching in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky. He remained with the team as a coach from 1985-1991 before moving on to coach receivers at Georgia from 1992-1996.

He is survived by his wife Sheila and three daughters. GetMoreSports joins the sports community in mourning his passing.

Written by Adam Greene

Adam Greene is a writer and photographer based out of East Tennessee. His work has appeared on Cracked.com, in USA Today, the Associated Press, the Chicago Cubs Vineline Magazine, AskMen.com and many other publications.

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