A Driver Hit and Killed a Jets Assistant Coach, and No Charges Will Be Pressed
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This story has been updated.
Greg Knapp, 58, an assistant coach for the New York Jets, died on July 22 after being hit by a driver while riding a bike in San Ramon, California, on July 17.
Knapp was in a bike lane when the driver struck him, as reported by NBC News.
The San Ramon police confirmed to the Pleasanton Weekly on September 23 that the 22-year-old driver will not face criminal charges for Knapp’s death.
Greg Knapp, an assistant coach for the New York Jets, died on July 22 from injuries after being hit by a driver while riding his bike on July 17 in San Ramon, California, as reported by 9 News.
In recent news, the San Ramon police confirmed to the Pleasanton Weekly on September 23 that the 22-year-old driver will not face criminal charges for Knapp’s death.
Knapp, 58, who lived in Danville, was riding in a bike lane near the intersection of Dougherty Road and Bollinger Canyon Road when the driver hit him from behind around 2:50 p.m. The driver did stop to help. Knapp was sent to the John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where he was hospitalized in critical condition.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney blamed the collision on the driver’s inattention, but that it was not enough to press criminal charges. In fact, the driver has not received any negligence charge or other citation, and the police have stated that the investigation is closed. The D.A.’s office released a follow up statement on September 24 to clarify its decision, according to the Pleasanton Weekly:
“Bicycle fatalities are devastating events. Following thorough review of the investigation, the Office of the District Attorney has determined that there is insufficient evidence to satisfy the requisite standard of criminal negligence on the part of the suspect driver. The dangers of distracted driving are well known; to truly promote road safety, motorists need to be attentive drivers as well,” the D.A.’s office said.
Knapp’s agent, Jeff Sperbeck, released a statement on July 21 on behalf of his family:
Today at 11:32 am PST, Greg Knapp (aka Knapper) was called back home to Heaven, where he will be reunited with his Dad.
On Saturday, July 17th, 2021, Greg was struck by a car while riding his bicycle, and was rendered unconscious immediately. Greg never regained consciousness. He was surrounded by his mom, his wife, his 3 daughters, and his brother.
Greg spent 33 years coaching football, the first 9 at Sacramento State (where he also played QB) and the next 24 years in the NFL as an Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach. He coached hundreds of players, including: Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Rick Mirer, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick, Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, and most recently Zach Wilson.
Those of us who were so blessed to have known him, know that he would have wanted even this moment to be a teachable one. So this is it...“Live every day as if it’s your last, and love those around you like it won’t last!”
Greg’s infectious personality is most people’s first and lasting memory of him. The phrase “He never met a stranger” encapsulates Knapper’s zest for life. He had a unique gift to make everyone feel special, and to Knapper, they all were.
While his family, friends, and players still had so much to learn from him and desperately wished they had more time with him, God called an audible and wanted to go over the game plan directly with him. It will certainly be a masterpiece, just like Greg!
Knapp was hired by Jets head coach Robert Saleh at the beginning of the year as a passing-game specialist. He previously coached for the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and other NFL teams.
The Jets released statements from Saleh and Knapp’s family on its website on July 20, after Knapp was hospitalized:
“Greg is an amazing father and husband whose passion for life can be felt in all his interactions with people. He is our rock and biggest supporter, pushing us to all strive to better ourselves each day with constant love and inspiration. While many know him for his achievements as a coach, his impact as a father and husband are far greater. We are so fortunate to have him in our lives. We are sincerely thankful to all those who have continued to reach out and provide support—it has meant the world to us. We ask that you continue to pray for Greg and our family during this time,” Knapp’s family said.
“Greg is such an amazing individual it is hard to imagine the challenge facing him and his family. Greg’s fun nature, kind disposition, and wealth of knowledge has allowed him to make genuine connections with all of our coaches, players and staff since he has been here. I ask that you keep him in your prayers as we all pull for him to recover from this horrific accident,” said Saleh.
While it’s indeed horrific, framing this incident as a mere bicycle “accident” or “crash”—as most media outlets have done, including New York Post, Denver 9News, and NBC News—irresponsibly renders the driver’s role passive and places undue responsibility on the cyclist.
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