Bill McCartney, Founder of Promise Keepers, Dies at 84, ‘His Life Impacted Millions’

Bill McCartney, a football coach who led Colorado to a national championship in college football but is best known in evangelical circles for founding the Promise Keepers men's ministry, died Jan. 10. He was 84. McCartney rose to prominence in the sports world during the 1980s and 1990 as head coach of Colorado, which he built into a powerhouse in leading the Buffaloes to two national title bowl games, winning one. The same year McCartney guided Colorado to a national title -- 1990 -- he launched Promise Keepers. He also wrote a series of Christian books, including Sold Out and Sold Out Two-Gether, which he co-authored with his wife, Lynne (Lyndi).

He retired after the 1994 season at the top of his coaching career, emphasizing a need to focus more on his family and his faith. The Buffaloes lost only one game that season and finished 11-1. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Bill McCartney, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who left this world peacefully at the age of 84 after a courageous journey with Dementia," his family said in a statement. 

"Our father surrendered his life to Jesus at 33 years old, setting a trajectory for our family and many others. We share his faith in Jesus and truly believe our Dad has been reunited in Heaven with his beloved bride and our Mother, Lynne Marie."

At its peak in 1997, a Promise Keepers rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., drew at least 750,000 men, with some estimates exceeding 1 million. Men at the rally wore T-shirts declaring, "Real Men Love Jesus." Later, they adorned their cars with bumper stickers proclaiming, "I Love My Wife."

McCartney founded the ministry to deepen men's faith and to strengthen marriages and families.

"We are Baptists, we are Pentecostals, we are Methodists, we are Lutherans, we are Roman Catholics, we are independent. Anyone who names the name of Jesus, who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, loves Him with all his heart, and has received Him in spirit -- that's who we are. Do we agree on that?" he asked to a chorus of cheers.

Similar rallies were held in packed or nearly packed arenas and stadiums nationwide. 

He said in 2003 about the ministry's purpose, "One man sharpens another." 

McCartney's family said he "touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor, and advocate for family, community, and faith."

"Coach Mac deeply believed that investing in the local church was the most impactful way to transform a community," the family's statement said. "In honor of his legacy, and in lieu of flowers, we invite you to consider making a donation -- beyond your regular tithes and offerings -- to a local church in Bill's name."

The Promise Keepers' official Facebook page said of its founder: "His life impacted millions."

Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/CJdNX0F6vr

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 11, 2025

Deion Sanders, the current Colorado head coach, said McCartney's impact was monumental. 

"He produced great football players but better men," Sanders said. 

A legend of the game. A legacy that will live forever.

Rest in Peace, Coach Mac 🪽https://t.co/sSXySmmlZb pic.twitter.com/RKZqHvIZdl

— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) January 11, 2025

Photo Credit: ©X/Coach Prime

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Originally published January 13, 2025.