Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday that the team is supporting wide receiver Michael Gallup, whose brother died by suicide.
"We just found out after the ballgame that his brother had committed suicide and [we] just wanted to leave it at that," Garrett told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Monday. "Obviously a very personal matter. We're all behind Michael and supporting him and his family, and this is a very challenging time for him. We'll take it moment by moment, day by day and give him all of our love and all of our support."
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones issued a statement Monday that said the Cowboys "are deeply saddened by the news of Michael's loss."
"His family is our family," the statement read. "We share in the grief and pain that comes with something so personal and tragic. We offer our support, care and comfort for Michael, and we ask that all of those who have sons and daughters and brothers and sisters join us in keeping Michael and his wonderful family in their thoughts and prayers."
The mood was muted in the Cowboys' locker room following their 22-19 win against the Atlanta Falcons when word of Gallup's brother's death filtered to the team. Gallup was spotted in a side room being consoled by wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal. Gallup remained in Atlanta on Sunday.
Jones said after the game "we've had a tragedy" -- not to a player or member of the organization but to a family member. He did not disclose more information.
Gallup grew up in Monroe, Georgia, about an hour from Atlanta, and Sunday's game was a homecoming of sorts. He finished the game with one catch, a 10-yarder on third down on the Cowboys' winning drive.
Gallup is from a family of eight children with six adopted, including himself.