Frank Gansz Jr. cause of death: What we know about the longtime NFL coach’s death at the age of 64

Frank Gansz Jr., a longtime special teams coach who worked in the NFL and several professional football leagues, has died at 64.

His death was confirmed by the United Football League and the St. Louis Battlehawks, his most recent team. However, his cause of death hasn’t been publicly disclosed.

Gansz Jr. is believed to have died over the weekend, with tributes quickly emerging from across the football community.

“The United Football League and St. Louis Battlehawks extend their deepest condolences to the Gansz family, his friends, former players and coaches, and the countless people throughout the football community whose lives he touched during his remarkable coaching career,” read a statement by the United Football League.

His death also marks the loss of a prominent member of one of football’s most respected special teams families. His father, Frank Gansz Sr. , was an influential special teams coach who spent decades in professional football and played a major role in establishing the special teams coordinator position as a specialized coaching role.

Frank Gansz Sr. also served as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1987 and 1988 and later earned a Super Bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams. He was part of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” team that defeated the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV following the 1999 season.

Frank Gansz Jr.’s coaching career

Gansz Jr. carved out an impressive coaching career of his own, spending nine seasons in the NFL. His professional journey included stops with the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.

His longest NFL tenure came with Kansas City, where he worked as special teams coach from 2001 through 2005. During that period, he helped oversee one of the league’s standout special teams units, with explosive return specialist Dante Hall emerging as one of its biggest stars.

Hall became known as “The Human Joystick” because of his ability to change games with his speed and elusiveness on returns. His performances helped make Kansas City’s special teams a major weapon during the early 2000s.

Gansz Jr. began his coaching career in the college ranks before reaching the NFL. He spent five seasons at the University of Houston from 1993 to 1997, working with tight ends and special teams. He later coached at programs including UCLA, SMU, West Point, Kansas and Pittsburgh.

At UCLA, Gansz Jr. was involved in the development of kicker Kai Forbath, who went on to become an accomplished NFL kicker. He later returned to SMU, where his father had previously coached.

After leaving the college ranks, Gansz Jr. continued working in professional football, taking coaching roles in leagues including the CFL, XFL and USFL before joining the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.

While the circumstances surrounding his death remain private and no cause has been announced, the response from the football world has underscored Gansz Jr.’s influence.