(CNN)  -- The Coast Guard ended its search Tuesday for two professional football players and a third man lost at sea, leaving the families to cope with unknown fates of the men and to organize a private search. Loved ones of one of the missing boaters react Tuesday to the news the Coast Guard's search would end. "There's a lot of things we have to come to grips with -- we've all agreed unanimously we won't give up hope," said Bruce Cooper, father of Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper. Cooper, NFL free agent Corey Smith and former college football player William Bleakley are missing, with authorities believing a fishing boat carrying them and a fourth man overturned Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard search was called off at sundown Tuesday, about 6:30 p.m.
@highlight
NEW: Friends, relatives of three missing men to organize private search
@highlight
Coast Guard suspends search off Florida coast at sundown Tuesday
@highlight
Missing boaters include NFL players Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith
@highlight
Fourth boater, Nick Schuyler, was rescued off Florida coast on Monday
@placeholder has played for six teams in his five-season career.