Former NFL player Markus Paul died on Wednesday in a Texas hospital after falling ill while working as a strength and conditioning coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He was 54. No details about the cause of death were provided. Paul was rushed to Plano Presbyterian Hospital Tuesday morning after experiencing a medical emergency. He was surrounded by family, the team said. "Markus Paul was a loved and valued member of our family," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "He was a pleasant and calming influence in our strength room." Paul played five years as a defensive back in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, from 1989 to 1993. He also played four seasons with the Syracuse Orange at Syracuse University, where he was a two-time All-American. Paul joined the Cowboys in 2018 as an assistant to Mike Woicik and was named the head strength and conditioning coordinator upon Mike McCarthy's arrival as head coach earlier this year. The Cowboys will recognize and remember Paul prior to their game against Washington at AT&T Stadium on Thursday. gph/ch