Cowboys strength coach Markus Paul has a medical emergency that has resulted in training being canceled; team release statement

What started out as a routine Tuesday morning has turned into anything but the Dallas Cowboys. Boasting a well-deserved victory after their 31-28 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, the team were all smiles, including a radio update from owner Jerry Jones on Tuesday morning. Moments after Jones finished his interview, however, the team announced that there would be no media practice or availability from anyone in the organization. This was due to what was initially described as an unrelated COVID medical emergency with one of the team’s staff.

Markus Paul, the team’s strength and conditioning coach, was in need of an ambulance and immediate medical attention was sent to him in what has become a very emotional scene for the Cowboys and their players. The team released the following statement:

“Shortly before 7:30 am this morning Markus Paul, Dallas Cowboys strength and conditioning coordinator, experienced a medical emergency. Paul was immediately treated by Cowboys medics and transported to a local hospital by ambulance.

According to the Paul family, Markus is undergoing further medical tests and more information will be available in due course. Dallas Cowboys players and staff attended a pre-scheduled meeting at 8:05 am this morning and were informed by Head Coach Mike McCarthy that today’s practice, scheduled for 11:30 am [CST], would be canceled.

“The organization extends its prayers and support to the Paul family, and asks friends and followers of Markus, his family and the team to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.”

Paul joined the Cowboys as a strength and conditioning coach in 2018 under Jason Garrett, and has been retained by Mike McCarthy this season, despite a list of sweeping changes in other areas of training. A former Syracuse goalie, he was selected in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, spending several seasons with them before ending his playing career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He would go on to have huge success as the New England Patriots’ assistant strength and conditioning coach after a short stint with the New Orleans Saints, joining the Cowboys in 2018 with five Super Bowl rings on his resume – after sharing time with the New York Jets and the New York Giants.

Highly respected in the league and most certainly in the Cowboys locker room, it is with a heavy heart that the team must now figure out how to mentally carry what is happening to Paul while trying to prepare for their second battle with the team. Washington football at Thanksgiving. .