Dave “Coach Mac” McGinnis, the former NFL coach who turned into one of the most familiar voices on Tennessee Titans broadcasts, died Monday in Nashville at age 74. For fans across Middle Tennessee, his voice had become part of the weekly rhythm of football season, from in-depth game analysis to his regular “Mac Talk” segments.
The Titans organization said McGinnis “passed away Monday afternoon in Nashville with family at his side,” according to WSMV. The outlet noted that McGinnis joined Titans Radio in 2017 and went on to host the Coach Mac Talk radio show along with Titans Gameday on WSMV4.
From NFL Sidelines To The Broadcast Booth
Before he ever picked up a headset, McGinnis spent 44 seasons coaching football, including a stretch as an NFL head coach and many years working on Jeff Fisher’s staffs, according to the Titans Radio team page. After decades on the sideline, he shifted into the Titans radio booth in 2017, bringing with him the kind of firsthand experience most analysts only wish they had.
Team Leaders Remember ‘Coach Mac’
In the wake of his passing, Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said, “My heart aches with the loss of Coach Mac,” while team president and CEO Burke Nihill called him “a treasure,” language included in the organization’s statement cited by WSMV. The franchise also asked for privacy for McGinnis’s family as it grieves one of its longtime public faces.
A Broadcast Presence That Felt Like Game Day
On the air, McGinnis worked alongside the Titans play-by-play voices and became known for turning years of sideline experience into clear, accessible breakdowns for listeners, according to the team’s official coverage of his work. Those same team materials describe him as a bridge between the locker room and the community, someone whose mix of detailed football insight and easy-going personality helped turn routine broadcasts into an event for local fans.
No cause of death or information on funeral arrangements was included in the team’s initial announcement.
