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Marty Schottenheimer dead at 77; NFL world mourns all-time great head coach

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Legendary NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer has died at age 77 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Schottenheimer put together a dazzling career record of 200-126-1, spending 20 years as a head coach with the Browns, Chiefs, Washington and Chargers. He last coached an NFL game in 2006, being ousted as Chargers head coach after a playoff loss to the Patriots.

Schottenheimer is one of just seven NFL coaches who have won at least 200 games in their NFL head coaching career, but he is the only former coach in that group not enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The others: Don Shula, George Halas, Tom Landry and Curly Lambeau. Andy Reid and Bill Belichick also have over 200 wins apiece, but are active coaches.

Unfortunately for Schottenheimer, playoff success often eluded his teams, thanks in part to difficult roads his squads had to travel in postseason play. Of those six other coaches with 200 wins, Schottenheimer is the only one without a championship ring, with a 5-13 career postseason record. His teams reached the AFC championship game three times: twice with the Browns, losing to John Elway and the Broncos and once with the Chiefs, losing to Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly and the Bills in 1994.

As a player, Schottenheimer played for five seasons in the NFL with the Bills and then Boston Patriots, pre-merger, as a linebacker. Known for his rah-rah speeches and fiery demeanor, Schottenheimer was also the father of “Marty Ball,” a conservative-yet-effective approach to offense in the league that often earned him scorn and criticism for its run-first approach.

Schottenheimer’s son Brian also has spent time as an NFL coach, most recently as the offensive coordinator for the Seahawks. He is currently the passing game coordinator for the Jaguars.

Schottenheimer’s legacy as a legendary head coach in the NFL has endured, and has earned him praise, respect, admiration and remembrance from all corners of the NFL world.