Mike Heimerdinger Michael " Mike " Heimerdinger ( October 13 , 1952 – September 30 , 2011 ) was a football coach in the National Football League . Career . Heimerdinger was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans , a position he had served in from 2000 - 2004 and again from 2008 - 2010 . Prior to serving in this position , Heimerdinger was an assistant head coach for the Denver Broncos succeeding Gary Kubiak who took the head coaching position with the Houston Texans . He played wide receiver at Eastern Illinois University from 1970 to 1974 and was roommates with Mike Shanahan , he was then the wide receivers ' coach at the University of Florida , when they won two consecutive SEC titles in 1984 and 1985 , and after that , was receivers coach for Shanahan with the Denver Broncos , from 1995 until 1999 . He was also offensive coordinator for the New York Jets for the 2005 season . Prior to that , he held positions in college football as Duke University ' s offensive coordinator , Rice University ' s offensive coordinator , Cal State Fullerton ' s offensive coordinator , the University of Florida wide receivers ' coach , North Texas State ' s quarterbacks coach , and the U . S . Air Force Academy ' wide receivers ' coach . At Tennessee , Heimerdinger coached players such as Steve McNair , Eddie George , Derrick Mason , and Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews . He helped Head Coach Jeff Fisher lead the Titans to the playoffs in 2000 , 2002 , and 2003 . He was hired by the Jets in 2005 , as offensive coordinator , in what would be a disastrous season for the franchise . After the Jets ' Head Coach Herman Edwards was released from his contract , Heimerdinger was interviewed and passed over for the head coaching position . Although it was obvious he would have preferred to void his contract with the Jets , he was initially informed by new coach Eric Mangini that he would be retained as offensive coordinator as per his original contract . He was later released from his contract by the Jets as part of an undisclosed agreement . He then took a position as the Denver Broncos ' assistant head coach under Mike Shanahan , where he worked with quarterback Jay Cutler , transforming him into the Broncos ' starting quarterback . He returned to the Tennessee Titans as their new offensive coordinator , after the Titans fired Norm Chow . He was hired to help develop quarterback Vince Young , who was drafted ahead of Cutler in the 2006 NFL Draft . Under Heimerdinger , veteran quarterback Kerry Collins , and a dominating defense led by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth , the Titans had a 13 - 3 record ( best in the league ) and won the AFC South title . On November 24 , 2010 , he began to undergo chemotherapy for treating cancer that had been recently diagnosed . His role as offensive coordinator was expected to be assumed by Titans quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains and offensive line coach Mike Munchak during his absence however , Heimerdinger continued coaching every game throughout the remainder of the season . On February 8 , 2011 , Heimerdinger was fired by newly - hired head coach Munchak . Personal life . Mike had two children with his wife , Kathie . His children are Brian and Alicia . Death . Heimerdinger died of cancer on September 30 , 2011 in Mexico .