CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Former Browns head coach Marty Schottenheimer has been moved to hospice care near his home in Charlotte, North Carolina by his family due to complications with Alzheimer’s disease.
The family issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, first published by Chris Mortenson of ESPN.
“As a family we are surrounding him with love,” his wife, Pat Schottenheimer speaking on behalf of their two children, Kristin and Brian, said in the statement, “and are soaking up the prayers and support from all those he impacted in his incredible life. In the way he taught us all, we are putting one foot in front of the other....one play at a time."
Schottenheimer was diagnosed with the disease in 2014.
The Browns hired Schottenheimer as their defensive coordinator in 1980.
Schottenheimer replaced Sam Rutigliano midway through the 1984 season with the Browns floundering at 1-7. He led the team to a 4-4 mark over the final eight games and retained the head coaching job through the 1988 season.
In four seasons as Cleveland’s full-time head coach, the Browns went 44-27 in the regular season and made the playoffs each year, including three AFC Central divisional titles and a pair of AFC championship game appearances.
His inspirational pre-game speech before the 1987 AFC championship game, a 23-20 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, remains one of the most famous speeches captured by NFL Films in history.
“There’s a gleam, men,” Schottenheimer said. “There’s a gleam. Let’s get the gleam, alright? Let’s go.”
Schottenheimer and former owner Art Modell agreed to mutually part ways following a 24-23 loss to the Houston Oilers in an AFC Wild Card game in 1988 after Modell desired an offensive coach to continue to compete with up-and-coming teams.
Brian Schottenheimer followed in his father’s footsteps and is currently is the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The 77-year old Schottenheimer spent 21 seasons as an NFL head coach with the Browns, Chiefs, Washington and Chargers franchises.