Jared Allen did not make the immediate impact he wanted to when he joined the Vikings in 2008.

The Pro Bowl defensive end decided to do something about this and hired his old defensive line coach, Bob Karmelowicz, to help him out on a free-lance basis.

Karmelowicz had been Allen's position coach with the Kansas City Chiefs but he was unemployed that season, so Allen started paying for Karmelowicz to travel to Minnesota each Tuesday.

The two would look at film and go over Allen's technique. There was no question that it worked. Allen, obtained by the Vikings from the Chiefs in April 2008, had two sacks in the Vikings' first five games but finished with 14.5 for the regular season, despite battling shoulder and knee injuries. "He helps me with my body mechanics," Allen said at the time. "He's a great coach, and it's always good sometimes to get an outside point of view." Sadly, Karmelowicz passed away on Saturday at the age of 60 after battling an illness, according to a release issued by the Detroit Lions. The 35-year coaching veteran had spent last season as the Lions' defensive line coach but resigned in February because of health issues. Karmelowicz was the Chiefs' defensive line coach from 1997 to 2005. Allen was a fourth-round pick in 2004 and had 20 sacks in his first two seasons with Karmelowicz offering plenty of pointers. "I've had the privilege of coaching with and against 'Karm' for a long time and he was one tough guy," said Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who spent six seasons (1997-00 and 2004-05) coaching with Karmelowicz in Kansas City. "Though his coaching success on the field speaks for itself, I will always remember him for how much he loved kids, his compassion for helping kids and how much he cared for his grandkids. That will always be his lasting impression on me."

Karmelowicz is survived by his wife, Olga, daughters, Liz and Marissa, and son, Dave.