J.D. and Coy, the sons of NFL Hall of Famer and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, passed away in 2019 and 2022, respectively, at the ages of 49.
Jason Dean, the elder son of Joe, was also the co-founder of Joe Gibbs Racing and was one of the key figures behind recruiting drivers, including Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin. He was also known for building a strong team culture and achieving success.
Although he did not have a distinguished dual career like his father, he was a good college athlete at William & Mary. He began switching roles between defensive back and quarterback, starting at Oakton High School in Virginia.
He was married to Melissa Gibbs, and they had four children together: Joe Jackson, William Miller, Jason Dean, and Zachery Taylor.
Tha cause of Joe Gibbs’s death was degenerative neurological disease. The symptoms started to flow in 2015, and he had a four-year battle with it before passing on January 19, 2019.
Similar to Joe, Coy also had a fantastic career in both Football and the Racing industry. He gained football experience while attending Stanford University and later served as an assistant coach with the Washington Commanders from 2004 to 2007.
His father, Joe, was the Head Coach at that time. They both stepped down after the 2007 NFL season.
Coy also had a decent four-year career as a racer in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and Busch Series, although he never competed in the Cup series. Jason’s brother was also runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2003.
After retiring from racing and football coaching, he founded JGR Motocross in 2007 and later served as Vice Chairman and COO at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Coy, who was also just 49, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, it was reportedly due to a heart attack. Just hours before, his son Ty had won the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship.
Ty has had an incredible mentorship ever since his childhood days, from his father, Uncle, and Grandfather, and is building his legacy around the Gibbs family.
The 22-year-old has already won the 2021 Arca Championship, Cup Series Rookie of the Year (2023), and has multiple Playoff appearances in the Cup Series.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Joe Gibbs, the father of J.D. and Coy, had a coaching record of 154-94 in the NFL in two stints.
- He found his NASCAR team, Joe Gibbs Racing in 1992.
- His team won 5x NASCAR Cup Series, 4x NASCAR Xfinity, 4x Daynota 500 and he also got the NAsCAR Hall of Fame Recognition in 2020.
