Just days before the Green Bay Packers’ playoff opener, the team was faced with personal grief while still facing a tight game schedule.

Michael Philbin, the 21-year-old so of Joe Philbin, offensive coordinator of the Packers, was reported Sunday night.

On Monday, divers recovered his body, dead, from Fox River, an icy Wisconsin river, although the police waited a day before releasing the name in due respect to the privacy of the family.

The cause of death has yet to be determined.

“We will miss him dearly,” his father said in a statement that the team released. He went on to describe his son as loving his friends, family, and life. He said that his memory would continue to live on in the minds and hearts of all those who knew him, and added that they appreciated the support and prayers of their friends, family, as well as the Packers family.

The Packers are in the middle of preparations to host the New York Giants on Sunday’s NFC playoff game.

Ted Thompson, general manager of the Packers, released a statement saying that the team’s prayers and thoughts were with the Philbin family.

He also requested the general public to respect the family’s privacy, given how emotional and difficult this time was for them.

This is Philbin’s ninth year working with the Packers, and his fifth in his position of offensive coordinator. Other than Michael, he has five other children with his wife.

Michael had gone missing after spending the night out with some friends in the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh area, estimated to be about 50 miles to the south of Green Bay.

Scott Greuel, Oshkosh Police Chief, said that they did not suspect foul play, and conceded that investigators were looking into the possibility of alcohol having been a factor behind the death.

An autopsy was set for Tuesday in Madison, Wisconsin, although results of toxicology may likely be available only after a month, said the police.

It has yet to be confirmed if Philbin will be working with the team during this week.

This was not the first time that the Packers faced up to grief during the play season, nor for any other team on the league. In December 2003, Brett Favre, Packers quarterback, suddenly lost his father, and one day after the death, he three for four touchdowns, leading the team to a win. He was quoted as commenting that his father would have wanted him to play, saying, “I know he was watching tonight.”

Another team, the Indianapolis Colts, also faced up to the sudden death of their coach’s son back in December 2005. The 18-year-old boy committed suicide, and the dad, Tony Dungy, returned five days after the burial, leading the Colts to a 17-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He said he wanted to get back as soon as possible, while also making sure his wife and other kids were fine.

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