A body discovered in a Wisconsin river has been confirmed as the son of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, officials said Tuesday.
Michael Philbin, 21, disappeared early Sunday while visiting friends in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, according to authorities. The cause of death could not be confirmed immediately, and an autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, according to Oshkosh Police Chief Scott Greuel.
“We love Michael and shall miss him dearly,” Joe Philbin said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. “He cherished his family, friendships, and life. His memory will live on in the hearts and thoughts of everyone who knew him.
Philbin thanked the agencies who assisted in his son’s search, as well as “the prayers and support of our family, friends, and the Packers family.”
Packers General Manager Ted Thompson expressed the team’s condolences and prayers for the family.
“This is a sensitive and terrible moment for them, so please respect their privacy,” he stated. “All of us in the Packers family share their pain.”
The corpse was discovered Monday in the Fox River after Oshkosh police issued an alert seeking for assistance in locating Philbin, who resided about 20 miles away in Ripon. Police claimed his last known communication was at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
“He talked with a friend. “He did not sound like he was under pressure or had any medical problem,” police spokesman Joe Nichols told CNN affiliate WTMJ on Monday. “The phone conversation ended, and that was the last time someone made a voice call.”
According to the Packers’ website, Michael Philbin was the second-eldest of six children born to Joe Philbin and his wife Diane. His funeral is scheduled for Friday.
His father spent 19 years coaching college football before joining Green Bay in 2003 as an assistant offensive line coach. He became the team’s offensive coordinator in 2007 and contributed significantly to the Packers’ league-best 15-1 regular season record this year.
