Former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer died on Monday after dealing with Alzheimer’s for several years. He was 77 years old.
Schottenheimer was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. He was transferred to a hospice near his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 30 because of complications from irreversible and progressive brain disorder.
Schottenheimer was head coach for 21 seasons in the NFL, leading the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington and Chargers.
He posted a career record of 205-139-1, including the playoffs, taking his teams into the postseason 13 times. Although Schottenheimer trained in three AFC championship games, two with the Browns and one with the Chiefs, he never made it to the Super Bowl.
His coaching career in the NFL ended in 2006, after a 14-2 season with the Chargers and an exit from the divisional playoff round.
Hall of Fame, LaDainian Tomlinson, played under Schottenheimer for five seasons with the Chargers and called him “the best coach I’ve ever had”.
“I never entered a game with Marty as a coach feeling that I was not fully prepared to win,” said Tomlinson. “He really wanted you to understand every detail of the game plan. I considered him to be a true All-American man. He was a great father figure, and I was lucky that my wife and I met him and [his wife] Tap beyond the typical relationship between player and coach. He was a complete human being. He cared more about the man than the athlete. I will remember him more because of the life lessons he taught me. “
Schottenheimer also played six seasons as a linebacker for Buffalo Bills (1965 to 1968) and Patriots (1969 to 1970).
He leaves his wife, Pat, two children, Kristin and Brian, and four grandchildren.
Brian Schottenheimer recently reached an agreement to become the coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars pass game, an ESPN source told Adam Schefter, after previously serving as an offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.
“We know he is looking at us from the sky and smiling,” said his daughter. “We are incredibly proud of the man he was and how he lived his life.”