Former NFL assistant coach Stan Kwan passed away at 54 years old. Friend and former coworker Nick Ferguson shared with Twitter that Kwan “passed in his sleep due to a heart attack at age 54.” Ferguson worked with Kwan during his time coaching with the San Francisco 49ers.
After learning that Stan Kwan passed in his sleep due to a heart attack at age 54. I reflected on our time working together with 49ers. Condolences to the @49ers , Kwan family and all who knew him. Stan always treated me like a member of the family, and I will miss him. @NFL pic.twitter.com/3LkhcMIaev
— Nick Ferguson (@NickFerguson_25) November 30, 2021
According to NBC Sports Charean Williams, Kwan worked for six different teams in the National Football League during his 30 years of coaching.
Kwan spent six years as an assistant special teams coach for the San Diego Chargers from 1991 to 1996. From there, he became an assistant special teams coach for the Detroit Lions for three years (1997-2000). After two years with the Cardinals (2001-2003), Kwan returned to Detroit from 2004 to 2009 as the Lions special teams coach. He spent two years with the Buffalo Bills from 2010 to 2012, three years with the Saints from 2013 to 2016, and ended his career in San Francisco. Kwan worked with the 49ers from 2018 to 2020 before retiring.
Many organizations and members of the NFL community took to social media to express their condolences to Kwan's family and friends. The San Francisco 49ers released a statement on Twitter Tuesday afternoon:
The 49ers mourn the passing of former assistant special teams coach Stan Kwan. Our organization sends its condolences to the entire Kwan family.
The Lions responded to the tweet, recognizing his 10 years with the organization and sending their condolences.
We as an organization honor the life of Coach Stan Kwan, who spent 10 seasons (1997-2000, 2004-09) with the Detroit Lions as a respected special teams coach and was a friend to many across the NFL. We extend our condolences to the entire Kwan family. https://t.co/olRGDCb0zG
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 1, 2021
This devastating news came shortly after the tragic loss of former UCF player Otis Anderson Jr.