Broncos coach John Fox didn’t have chest pains or a suspected heart attack on Saturday. He does, however, have a pre-existing heart valve defect that will require surgery.
Fox told Jay Glazer of FOX that the procedure will happen on Tuesday, and that Fox will miss four to six weeks.
The procedure had been planned for the 2014 offseason. Coincidentally, Fox was in Charlotte during the bye week to meet with his surgeon regarding the operation. He became light headed while golfing and was taken to a local hospital.
“It’s something I’ve known I needed to take care of for a while,” Fox told Glazer. “It’s ironic this happened when I came to meet with the surgeon. I was hoping to wait but it’s better to be smart about this.”
No decision has been made regarding the interim head coach during Fox’s absence. Former Jaguars coach and current Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is the most obvious candidate.
We extend our best wishes to Coach Fox for a quick and complete recovery.