Coach Knapp Stair Climb Enters Year Five of Raising Awareness With Distracted Driving

The Coach Knapp Memorial Fund 2026 Stadium Stair Climb at Lambeau Field by Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals Coaches

New Expanded goal of the distracted drivers awareness program is to raise over $500,000 with over seven collegiate and NFL teams participating

The Coach Knapp Memorial Fund enters its fifth year educating about the dangers of distracted drivers. Greg Knapp was known throughout the NFL as a true quarterback whisperer. The deceased former NFL assistant coach died in July 2021 after being hit by a distracted driver while he was bicycling. Before the preseason game on August 28, 2026 at Lambeau Field between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals, both former employers of Knapp, coaches on each team did the “Coach Knapp Stair Climb” inside the iconic stadium to honor their colleague. The aim of the rare two team climb was to continue getting the word out about distracted driving dangers, accelerate the reduction of the number of distracted driving related deaths, and promote distracted driving awareness reform. Coach Knapp’s legacy runs deep through both coaching staffs, having worked with Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, and several others on both staffs, including Cardinals quarterbacks coach Matt Schaub. The Sports Techie community blog curator first interacted with Knapp when he coached with the San Francisco 49ers back in 1997, learn more below. The new expanded goal of the distracted drivers awareness program is to raise over $500,000 with over seven collegiate and NFL teams participating.

To honor coach Greg Knapp and raise awareness for distracted driving, our coaching staff teamed up with the @AZCardinals for the annual Knapp stair climb. pic.twitter.com/RcBDCR0SSD
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 30, 2026

Coach Knapp 2026 Stair Climb Campaign

This year’s initiative will have over 600 coaches, players and staff participating in various forms on game days. The fund was created by Greg’s wife, Charlotte, and close friend and agent, the late Jeff Sperbeck, to honor the legacy of the dedicated cyclist. Coach Knapp was known for climbing the stadium stairs before every single NFL game he coached over his 25 season career. Look for social media posts tagged with hashtag #Knappstairclimb on various social platforms. During the offseason, the Fund also continued its driver safety education programming during rookie transition sessions for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders and New York Jets.

Honoring Coach Knapp this morning ❤️#Knappstairclimb pic.twitter.com/fmDBRUpvSC
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 28, 2026

In honor of Coach Knapp, NFL coaches, players, executives and alumni will participate in raising funds and awareness at each NFL stadium prior to team warm ups. Teams confirmed to participate in the Stair Climb this year include the Packers, Cardinals, world champion Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Commanders and 49ers, along with collegiate programs including the University of Rhode Island and Sacramento State. Additional teams and programs are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

At the time of his passing, Knapp was recently named Passing Game Coordinator of the New York Jets under former head coach Robert Saleh (now Tennessee Titans H.C.) after serving as an assistant coach for over a quarter of a century with the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders, Houston Texans, Seahawks and Niners. Greg developed his skill sets after coaching some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, helping chart the careers of many young athletes with kindness, humor and trust, while earning the prestigious title of “quarterback whisperer.”

Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals To Run Lambeau Field Steps Together On August 28 As The Coach Knapp Stair Climb Campaign Kicks Off Its Fifth Season

Fans, athletes, and coaches at all levels are encouraged to participate wherever is most convenient for them across the country, such as apartment building stairs or a high school sports stadium. Images will be shared on various social channels.

To learn more on how you can get involved, details can be found at https://www.knappmemorial.org/stairclimb

Hand written card by Coach Knapp in 1997 on S.F. 49ers letterhead to Sports 2000 and me

Sports Techie, Greg was kind to me during the 1997 NFL season as a quality control coach for the S.F. 49ers nearly 30-years ago. The 49ers were interested in the GridIron 2000 expert game planning system, co-developed by the Seahawks and the first of its kind in the NFL. He mailed me a personally signed Niners letterhead after my boss, Colonel James Thomes, Founder of Sports 2000, provided Bill Walsh and his coaching staff a demo. I set it up the meeting as Director of Sales and Marketing after talking with the legendary Walsh on the phone and convincing him to take a look. For the record, they passed on the cutting edge sports tech to my disappointment but such is life.

Read these blogs I wrote in 2024, 2023 and 2022 about #Knappstairclimb.

Raising $500,000 for the distracted drivers awareness program is an awesome tribute to Greg and the cause.

The “Coach Knapp Stair Climb” continues to make a difference through The Coach Knapp Memorial Fund.

Well done to the Packers and Cardinals coaches that participated.

Respect bicycle riders when driving, their precious life can depend upon it.

See you later sportstechie in Seattle, Atlanta and around the world!

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