The Philadelphia Eagles express their sadness at the passing of former assistant coach Bill McGovern. McGovern, who coached the outside linebackers from 2013 to 2015, passed away at the age of 60 on Tuesday after battling cancer. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, and three daughters: Amanda, Delainey, and Mackenzie.
During McGovern’s tenure, the Eagles’ outside linebackers played a pivotal role, contributing to a strong defensive performance in 2014 with 49 sacks, tying for the second-highest in the NFL. Connor Barwin particularly thrived under McGovern’s guidance, earning his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections with a career-high 14.5 sacks that season. Beyond his coaching achievements, McGovern was widely respected for his positive demeanor and amiable personality, leaving a lasting impact on everyone within the organization.
Before joining the Eagles, McGovern accumulated 27 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, including a notable stint as the defensive coordinator at Boston College. Following his time in Philadelphia, he spent four seasons coaching with the Giants and a year with the Chicago Bears before returning to college football as UCLA’s defensive coordinator in 2022.
McGovern’s coaching journey began in Philadelphia in 1985, where he worked with freshmen at UPenn before moving on to various coaching positions at Holy Cross, Massachusetts, and Boston College. A standout player in his own right, McGovern set interception records during his time at Holy Cross and was later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
Hailing from Oradell, New Jersey, McGovern attended Bergen Catholic High School and was recognized for his football prowess, earning a place on the Bergen County All-Century Football Team.
