Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Bicycle Infrastructure

New York Jets Asst. Coach Greg Knapp Killed by Driver, Media Calls It an ‘Accident’

Greg Knapp coaches JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders. Image: BrokenSphere, CC

The death of beloved New York Jets assistant coach Greg Knapp following a collision with a driver has sparked an outpouring among football fans, and outrage among street safety advocates who are sick of seeing cycling fatalities unilaterally referred to as "accidents."

A celebrated passing-game specialist and father of three, Knapp, 58, was cycling northbound in an unprotected bike lane near his off-season home in San Ramon, Calif., when a driver traveling in the same direction reportedly "swerved" into him, a representative told Fox Sports Radio. Local police confirmed to Streetsblog that the driver, an unnamed 22-year-old man, was behind the wheel of a Lexus RX330 SUV — the kind of vehicle that's long been acknowledged by experts as a major factor in America's escalating pedestrian death crisis — and that he struck Knapp from the rear.

Knapp died of his injuries five days later.

Described as an "avid" cyclist by NBC News — an adjective frequently applied to dead bike riders by journalists, but almost never to motorists, despite advocates' objections that the term implies that cycling is a hobby rather than a transportation mode deserving of protection — Knapp was remembered by national media as a "quarterback whisperer " to NFL greats such as Peyton Manning, as well as a beloved husband and friend.

But many reports also referred to the crash that claimed his life as a "bicycling accident," or simply a collision with an (presumably sentient) car rather than a driver operating a motor vehicle, effectively absolving both the person who struck him and the designers of the 50-mile-per-hour road that failed to provide even the most basic separation between cyclists and high-speed vehicle traffic.

The Associated Press has cautioned journalists not to refer to crashes as "accidents" when driver negligence is a possible factor since 2016 — and advocates urge journalists to avoid the term completely, especially when deadly road design played a role.

The street where Knapp was killed, Dougherty Road just north of Monarch Drive, is a six-lane arterial with a 50 mile-per-hour speed limit, no protected cycling infrastructure, and infrequent crosswalks for pedestrians. The nearest intersection is within a few meters of a bus stop and roughly 500 meters way from an elementary school and a public park, as well as several large residential areas. A pedestrian was killed along a similarly designed section of the same road in 2016.

Greg Knapp Crash SiteThe approximate site of Greg Knapp's fatal crash. Shoulder to the right is signed as a bike lane further up the road.Image: Google Maps

Sam Ramon Police have confirmed to local journalists that the driver who killed Knapp had consumed neither drugs nor alcohol prior to the crash. Law enforcement has so far refused to release the police report detailing the speed at which he was traveling, or any other relevant details about the deadly collision — a move that local advocates say is typical in cases in which a driver is unlikely to be charged.

That handling of the crash was eerily reminiscent of an infamous January collision involving another sports celebrity, NBA center Shawn Bradley. Bradley was also cycling on a road with no protected bike lane in broad daylight near his home when the driver of a mini-van misjudged the passing distance necessary to protect the 7-foot-6 athlete, clipping his handlebars and sending Bradley airborne. As in Knapp's case, local police have not announced any charges against the driver; the Space Jam star survived, but was left paralyzed from the waist down.

Advocates also noticed similarities between the way that national media reported on both collisions, which California-based advocate John Lloyd said "reflect[s] the normalization of car culture in sports media, despite its pretense of promoting physical activity."

This is a story and will be updated should further details become available.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

OPINION: What Do You Call a Cyclist Who’s Been Hit By an E-Biker?

Much as our contributor hates to admit it, she thinks twice every time she gets on her bike since being hit by an e-bike.

August 19, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Open Their Wallets

State and local governments shouldn't have to scrounge around for transit funding, according to Transportation for America.

August 19, 2025

Opinion: Too-Fast Riders Could Be The Downfall of E-Bike Culture

Out-of-class e-bikes are getting faster and more dangerous. How will it impact the image of slow-speed, pedal-assist vehicles — or even the faster riders who are responsibly sharing the road with cars?

August 19, 2025

Advocates: Here’s What to Tell The Feds You Want From the Next Big Transportation Bill

You only have two more days to comment on the next surface transportation bill (the biggie!). So here are some thoughts about what you should say.

August 18, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Are Lukewarm, Neither Hot Nor Cold

Do micromobility devices that can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, or even 60, belong on sidewalks, in bike lanes, on streets with cars or somewhere else?

August 18, 2025

Armchair Urbanist Reviews Basics of California HSR

In case you haven't heard, this is getting built with or without the feds -- and the Armchair Urbanist has some ideas on how to get it done faster that don't involve changing the alignment.

August 15, 2025
See all posts