MartY SCHOTTENHEIMER

09/23/1943 — 02/08/2021

 
 

Legendary NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, 77, peacefully passed away with family at his side on Monday, February 8, 2021 in Charlotte, NC. Schottenheimer had been battling Alzheimer’s for several years and was recently moved to hospice.

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A private family service has been scheduled and a public memorial celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.

Schottenheimer is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pat,; his children Kristen and Brian and his daughter-in-law, Gemmi; and grandchildren Brandon, Sutton, Savannah and Catherine.

“We know he is looking down on us from heaven and smiling,” said Kristen, his daughter. “We are so incredibly proud of the man he was and how he lived his life.”

“Now more than ever, he would want us to do what he did best: put one foot in front of the other and keep grinding forward, to take care of each other and take care of business, to simply be good to people and love with every single fiber of your being to truly make the world a better place.”

“To honor his legacy we ask you all to do the same. Smile to someone you don’t know today and Marty Schottenheimer will surely smile down on you.”

Schottenheimer had a 21-year career as an NFL head coach and ranks in the top ten in most wins in league history with 205. He began his NFL coaching career in 1975 as a linebacker coach for the New York Giants, and then was linebacker coach and defensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. He was also defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns

Midway through the 1984 season Schottenheimer was named Head Coach for the Browns midway until 1988. He was then Head Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989 to 1998, the then Washington Redskins in 2001, and the San Diego Chargers from 2002 to 2006.

He was a beloved coach in the NFL community and there has been an outpouring of support following the announcement of this death. Schottenheimer has been lauded by countless players as a leader both in football and in life.

 As Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said, “He was a passionate leader who cared deeply for his players and coaches, and his influence on the game can still be seen today on a number of coaching staffs around the league.”