Mike Heimerdinger, a former offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and New York Jets, died Friday night after a nearly year-long battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 58.

"It is with a heavy heart, but a trust in God, that we say goodbye to our beloved Dinger who lost his courageous battle with cancer," Heimerdinger's wife, Kathie, said in a statement Saturday. "Mike approached cancer with the same vigor and tenacity that he approached any football game -- to win. Even in the final minutes he never gave up -- that was our Dinger."

Mike Heimerdinger was part of three playoff teams in his first five seasons with the Titans. He died after a nearly year-long battle with a rare form of cancer. Brett Davi/US Presswire

Heimerdinger, who died while in Mexico to receive experimental treatments, had continued to coach before he was let go by the Titans in February, along with two other assistant coaches, after offensive line coach Mike Munchak was promoted to head coach.

"He was a great coach and a tough coach," Titans running back Chris Johnson said. "I know I wouldn't have become the player I am without his confidence and the trust that he showed in me. My thoughts go out to his family."

Former Titans coach Jeff Fisher had brought Heimerdinger back in 2008 after two seasons in Denver.

"It was a tough deal and Dinger was a tough guy to the end, which is no surprise to those who knew what type of competitor he was," Fisher said in a news release. "He was a man's man. No matter how weak he looked, how weak he sounded, he never had a complaint and fought this cancer as you would only expect him to fight it."

Heimerdinger helped the late Steve McNair earn NFL co-MVP honors in 2003 and was part of three playoff teams in his first five seasons at Tennessee before taking the same job for one season with the Jets in 2005.

"The coming days will be challenging for our family and we graciously and respectfully ask that you allow us to grieve privately," Kathie Heimerdinger said.

Heimerdinger was diagnosed with cancer in November 2010 and began chemotherapy treatment five days after the diagnosis. At the time, Fisher said Heimerdinger had been very sick for three weeks.