New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh took a moment away from football Wednesday to honor Rachel Apa, the 24-year-old runner who tragically died after collapsing just two miles from the finish line of the New York City Marathon.

Before answering questions during his media session, Harbaugh offered a heartfelt message of sympathy and prayer to Apa’s grieving family on behalf of the entire Giants organization.

“First of all, I just want to express our thoughts and prayers to the family of Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old young athlete who passed away in the New York City Marathon this past weekend,” Harbaugh said.

“I cannot imagine the pain that they’re going through and yet also the pride they feel for a life well lived. When you read about her life, it’s just incredible to read the type of person she was, and she’ll be really dearly missed.”

Harbaugh ended his tribute with a message of faith and comfort.

“She’s in God’s hands now, and we just want to let the family know that the New York Giants are thinking about their daughter and their family,” he said.

Apa, a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University and a graduate student at Charleston Southern University, was competing in her first marathon Sunday.

But her goal went far beyond crossing the finish line.

The 24-year-old was running to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research in memory of her late grandfather, turning a personal challenge into an opportunity to help others.

Tragically, Apa collapsed near Mile 24 in Central Park, just two miles from completing the 26.2-mile race.

Spectators and medical personnel rushed to her aid and performed CPR before she was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she died hours later.

According to her family, doctors cited rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue that can lead to life-threatening complications. The official cause of death remains under investigation.

In the days following her death, tributes poured in from former teammates, coaches and members of the running community.

Both Bucknell University and Charleston Southern University honored Apa, remembering her athletic accomplishments and the compassion she showed toward others.

Her family has also established The Rachel Apa Foundation to continue her commitment to helping others and to promote runners’ health and medical safety.

Although Apa never reached the marathon’s finish line, her determination to honor her grandfather and make a difference has left a lasting impression.

And as her loved ones mourn a life cut tragically short, Harbaugh’s words offer a reminder of the comfort many Christians find in faith during times of unimaginable loss.