“RIP, The world lost a great man today: Patrick Mahomes’ Grieving Teammate Loses His Coach

“The world lost a great man today.” That’s how Tyler DeBord broke the news. “He taught me so much in life. I am so grateful the good Lord blessed me with the best dad! He was a man of faith, an unbelievable dad, husband, grandpa, and man! For all his successes in life, he always stuck to his small-town roots and never forgot where he came from. He had a great sense of faith, work ethic, love for family, football, and life. His loss will be felt by many because of the impact he had on everyone he touched. He loved fiercely, and we loved him!”

On Facebook, a distraught son shared the devastating news that his father, Mike DeBord, had died at the age of 69. A wave of sadness swept across the football community after that post.

Reuben Riley Jr., a former lineman for Michigan, posted an old picture of his coach on Instagram with the straightforward message, “Damn, Rest Up Coach! 😇〽️🏈.” A few minutes later, Chad Henne, who played in the NFL for more than ten years and was Patrick Mahomes’ right hand during Super Bowl runs, shared it to his Instagram account with the simple caption, “RIP Debo! 💛💙.” But everything was expressed in just a few sentences. Because DeBord was more than simply a coach to players like Riley and Henne, he was the mold. The mentor who didn’t just hand out playbooks but handed out wisdom, character, and second chances.

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“He was somebody that was always there no matter the situation,” said Jon Jansen, one of DeBord’s most loyal former players and a captain on Michigan’s national title team. “He was such a good man and cared about you as an individual… and was one of the best men I have ever known.” And he didn’t just coach players—he coached people. He watched over them, made sure they showed up to class, and taught them how to be fathers, husbands, and professionals. He cared about who you were on Monday morning, not just Saturday night.

“I love Michigan. I love Michigan football,” DeBord once told The Detroit News when he returned for his final stint as an analyst in 2020. “Football, to me… coaching football’s an addiction. You’ve got to be addicted to it. I always loved the meetings and the coaching on the field — that’s why you coach. I would say this is taking care of a part of me.”

DeBord kept returning to the field because of that addiction, which was fed by love, loyalty, and legacy. Even in 2021, when he was slowed by a stroke. Even after Deb, his wife, died in 2023. He never stopped giving. He never stopped believing in his players. And they never stopped loving him for it.

Mike DeBord, the heart of Michigan football for 11 seasons and beyond

Here’s the explanation for why so many former players took this defeat so personally: Mike DeBord was Michigan football royalty. Not the kind with a crown, but the kind with grit on his hands and a heart full of maize and blue.

DeBord was born on February 7, 1956, in Muncie, Indiana. Started for Manchester College for four years and led the team as captain in 1977. It was full steam ahead after that. He started coaching in 1982 after graduating from Ball State with a master’s degree in 1981. Small schools. Smaller towns. Big dreams. He paid his dues—Franklin College, Fort Hays State, Eastern Illinois, then onto Ball State, Colorado State, and eventually the Big Ten with Northwestern in 1992.

However, when he joined Gary Moeller’s staff at Michigan in 1993, everything changed. He stayed on as offensive line coach when Lloyd Carr took over in 1995, and by 1997, DeBord had earned the keys to the offense. What happened that year? A minor event known as Michigan’s first national championship in 50 years.

He was one of the best men that I know in the coaching profession,” said Tom Allen, former Indiana head coach, now at Clemson. “I was blessed to be mentored by and coach with Mike DeBord.” Matt Drinkall, the current Central Michigan head coach, added: “You still hear stories from his former players about the impact he made on their lives and our community. His legacy as a coach, person, and mentor will forever be remembered.”

So, his legacy was solidified throughout the 1997 season. DeBord wasn’t finished, though. After serving as offensive coordinator until 1999, he was hired as Central Michigan’s head coach from 2000 to 2003. In 2004, he returned to Michigan to teach special teams and tight ends. Then again, as OC in 2006 and 2007. Then again, in 2013, as a sports administrator for Michigan’s Olympic sports. And—because this man just couldn’t quit Ann Arbor—one final time in 2020 as an offensive analyst under Jim Harbaugh.

“I told Jim when I came to talk to him, ‘I love Michigan. I love Michigan football,” DeBord said at the time. But his football journey didn’t stop at the Big House. After coaching the Seahawks and Bears in the NFL, DeBord returned to collegiate football with Tennessee and Indiana, and he even played for the San Diego Fleet in the short-lived Alliance of American Football. His last coaching position was as offensive coordinator at Kansas in 2021, just before he suffered the stroke that would ultimately compel him to resign.

Football may have been his addiction, but people were his purpose. And whether it was a national title, a Tuesday film session, or a quiet word in a struggling player’s ear, Mike DeBord always showed up. That’s why his former players aren’t just mourning a coach—they’re mourning a father figure, a mentor, a man who gave them something they’ll carry forever. Rest up, Coach!