Longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer died on Monday at the age of 77 after battling Alzheimer’s disease for multiple years.
Schottenheimer was a professional football player briefly before getting into coaching, and served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs before a one-year stint at the helm in Washington and five seasons with the Chargers franchise.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen first reported the news of Schottenheimer passing away.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pat, his children Kristen and Brian, and grandchildren
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) February 9, 2021
Brandon, Sutton, Savannah and Catherine.
Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal posted a statement released by Schottenheimer’s family:
Statement from family of former #Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer, who died Monday after battle with Alzheimer’s disease pic.twitter.com/M1EbXCzfjP
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) February 9, 2021
Schottenheimer was known for building his teams around a run-first offensive identity and defense, which was ultimately a winning formula in the regular season. A few bad breaks in the playoffs kept Schottenheimer from furthering his epic football legacy.
Nevertheless, with the exception of his 8-8 lone season for Washington, there’s no denying Schottenheimer managed to win in every stop on his NFL head-coaching journey.
Beginning with the Browns in 1984, Schottenheimer guided Cleveland to consecutive AFC Championship Games after going 12-12 in his first season and a half. The Browns lost to the Denver Broncos each time, and after a 10-6 record and Wild Card loss the following year in 1988, Schottenheimer moved on to the Chiefs.
During Schottenheimer’s decade with Kansas City, he posted winning records in each of his first nine seasons, leading the team to six straight postseason berths and seven overall.
Despite a rocky couple of years to begin his time with the Chargers, Schottenheimer rebounded to guide his group to records of 12-4, 9-7 and 14-2 in his final three years as an NFL head coach.
Schottenheimer compiled an impressive 200-126-1 regular-season record in the NFL. His final coaching gig was in the United Football League, as his Virginia Destroyers went 4-1 and defeated the Las Vegas Locomotives in the league championship.
Many across pro football sent their condolences and honored Schottenheimer’s illustrious coaching career once news of his death surfaced on Tuesday.
My 1st job out of college was at the Fox TV station in KC & every Tuesday during season, Chiefs HC Marty Schottenheimer would have the media over for lunch. We’d talked so much more than football. Your advice & encouraging words over the years helped more than you’ll ever know pic.twitter.com/fbn7IqhMJp
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) February 9, 2021
I got into scouting/front office/personnel in 2001 when Coach Schottenheimer became HC in Washington. His leadership, poise, & vision were such that I have often wished that I could have played for him. May he Rest In Peace and my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. https://t.co/dwYrLoalWk
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) February 9, 2021
RIP Coach Schottenheimer. A lot of great times watching you and the Chiefs with my Dad as a young Chiefs fan #KansasCityChiefs #GreatCoach pic.twitter.com/eKauNqHadH
— Chad Enloe (@Coach_Enloe) February 9, 2021
Marty Schottenheimer won a lot with the Browns, Chiefs and Chargers. Also built quite a coaching tree. On the 1990 @Chiefs staff alone …
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 9, 2021
• DC Bill Cowher
• DBs coach @TonyDungy
• RBs coach @BruceArians
• Scout Herman Edwards
Also on that staff: Howard Mudd, Al Saunders.
Marty Schottenheimer w/ the Browns
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) February 9, 2021
44–27 regular-season
2–4 in the playoffs
4 playoff appearances
3 AFC Central Division titles
2 trips to the AFC Championship
"It was the gleam men, the gleam, see the gleam, that's what we're trying to get, that's what we're chasing” #RIPMarty pic.twitter.com/jPwOLgXW0i
sorry to hear news of Marty Schottenheimer passing. ( mort report)I came to the market the same year he was named Browns Def Coord, 1980. He was fiery, emotional ( we all saw him tear up at times)and he commanded respect . He led the Browns in a great era
— .@JohnTelich8 (@JohnTelich8) February 9, 2021
.@TheRealTRizzo on Marty Schottenheimer:
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) February 9, 2021
"Under Marty we were like the Chiefs. In the AFC Championship every year."
Rest in Peace, Coach pic.twitter.com/2DkkTRC2B9
I learned to love the @NFL while watching “Marty Ball” and the 1985 @Browns.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) February 9, 2021
Kevin Mack and @EByner both rushed for 1,000 yards and rookie @BernieKosarQB did the rest. They made the playoffs at 8-8 and almost beat @DanMarino in Miami. I was hooked.
RIP, Marty Schottenheimer.
Marty Schottenheimer had 11 double-digit winning seasons as an NFL head coach. He had a 12-win season with the Browns, two 13-win seasons with the Chiefs and a 14-win season with the Chargers. https://t.co/8pJmPLjahT
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) February 9, 2021
Looking back on Marty Schottenheimer's career, one thing that stands out: He was fired from his final NFL job, as head coach of the Chargers, for going 14-2 and losing to Tom Brady in the playoffs on a last-minute field goal. https://t.co/jWxAYiFvkE
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) February 9, 2021
RIP to my favorite coach in the NFL.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) February 9, 2021
Talked about what made him special last week: pic.twitter.com/4bUCdicaq3
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