Joe Philbin: Death of Coach's Son Will Cause Packers to Play with Heavy Hearts

The sports world has been dealt another reminder that there are more important things than a game with the death of Michael Philbin, the son of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

According to ESPN, the body of the younger Philbin was pulled from a Wisconsin river on Monday.

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Police have been searching for Michael Philbin since Sunday evening. He disappeared at about 2 a.m. Sunday after an outing with friends in the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus area, about 50 miles from Green Bay.

Joe Philbin spent Monday in Oshkosh, where divers recovered the body of a man between the ages of 20 and 25 from the Fox River in the late afternoon after a security guard reported hearing cries for help from someone on the ice.

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The 21-year-old Philbin was one of six children and had been enjoying a night out before the tragedy. Unfortunate incidents like this really put things in perspective when it comes to what really matters in the grand scheme of things.

Green Bay is preparing to face off with the New York Giants in the Divisional Round, but that's probably the last thing on most players' minds as they provide whatever support their beloved coach needs during this impossible time.

Philbin has helped build the Packers offense into a powerhouse unit that's been virtually unstoppable for the entire season. So when something a lot more serious than slants and button hooks happens, it's no surprise that a family-oriented organization like Green Bay has shifted its focus to the Philbins.

There is simply no way to explain what Philbin must be going through right now. Lineman T.J. Lang probably said it best in the report by saying, “As children, we all have to someday say goodbye to our parents, but a parent should never have to say goodbye to their child.”

Even though their minds will likely be elsewhere on Sunday, the Packers will take the field on Sunday with heavy hearts. Head coach Mike McCarthy, who has worked closely with Philbin, said the staff will do the best it can to ensure the team is ready to play.

It won't be an easy task during such trying moments for the entire organization. Regardless of the outcome, the team's main focus will remain on Philbin's family.

This is certainly one of those periods when football takes a back seat.