This has been a year of change -- and sometimes terrible emotion -- for Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin. His son, Michael, passed away at the age of 21 in January just days before Philbin was given his first head-coaching job.
Now settled in Miami, Philbin will spend Tuesday together with his entire family for the first time since January. Philbin's oldest son, Matthew Philbin, is set to return from a one-year deployment in Kuwait with the U.S. Army.
"It just works out perfectly that he is scheduled to return from Kuwait to Ft. Hood, Texas on Tuesday," Philbin said last week via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "We're all going to be there, and I guess they do that 'move that bus' deal like they do on that show ("Extreme Home Makeover"), so that's obviously going to be a great time for our family, and an emotional time."
This is the best time of year for families across the NFL. There is a solid month left before training camp, and nothing left to do on the field. Joe Philbin and his wife Diane have five children, and they all planned to be in Texas on Tuesday to welcome Matthew home.
