Longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer has died, it was reported on Tuesday.
The former Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers coach was 77, and passed away with his family at his side, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.
Schottenheimer was born in Canonsburg, PA and attended Fort Cherry High School in McDonald before going to college at the University of Pittsburgh.
Schottenheimer, who also had a one-year stint with Washington and last coached in 2006 with the Chargers, was recently moved to hospice care near his home in Charlotte, N.C., his family revealed.
The Pittsburgh native, who had a brief playing career before embarking on his long journey in the coaching ranks, was in declining health amid a years-long battle with Alzheimer's, which he first revealed in 2016.
Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi, who grew up in Ohio, says that Schottenheimer made watching Browns football fun again.
“Coach Schottenheimer made it fun to be a Browns fan again in the 1980s,” Narduzzi said. “He really revitalized that team and made them an annual Super Bowl contender. He was a tremendous coach, but an even better leader. I think that’s why he raised the level of every organization he ever joined. We are proud to call him a Pitt Man and our entire program extends its deepest sympathies to the Schottenheimer family.”
“On behalf of the University of Pittsburgh, we send our heartfelt condolences to Coach Schottenheimer’s wife, Pat, his children, Brian and Kristen, and many loved ones,” Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. “As a Canton native, I saw firsthand the excitement he brought to Cleveland. With more than 200 victories coaching in the NFL, it is evident that he brought excellence to each of his coaching stops. Pitt takes great pride in his wonderful legacy as coach, leader and man.”
Former Steelers coach and longtime friend of Schottenheimer also released a statement.
Schottenheimer compiled an impressive career record of 200-126-1 in parts of 21 seasons at the helm with four teams.
He first took over as head coach with the Cleveland Browns in 1984, turning them into a perennial winner in his five seasons there.
Playoff heartbreak followed, but Schottenheimer left his mark as a premier program builder, and a motivator of players in Cleveland.
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 Browns owner Art Modell agreed to mutually part ways following a 24-23 Wild Card game loss to the Houston Oilers in 1988 because Modell desired an offensive coach to continue to compete with up-and-coming teams.
Schottenheimer quickly landed with the Chiefs, a team he helped shape into a contender for 10 seasons throughout most of the 1990s. Still, seven playoff appearances -- including three division titles -- resulted in only one conference championship appearance, and no Super Bowl berths.
The disappointments in Cleveland and Kansas City prompted critics to wonder whether Schottenheimer could win the big one. But his impressive track record meant he would get additional opportunities.
After a brief stint as a football analyst with ESPN, Schottenheimer joined Washington in 2001 -- but was bizarrely jettisoned after only one year in favor of Steve Spurrier.
He then joined the Chargers in what would be the final run of his NFL career. San Diego claimed two division titles in that time, but was sent home from the postseason in bitter fashion, again without so much as a conference title game appearance. Schottenheimer was dismissed after guiding the Chargers to a 14-2 record in 2006, a dream season that ended in bitter disappointment with a home loss to the New England Patriots in the playoffs.
His son, Brian Schottenheimer, has served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for several top college programs and NFL teams.
Some of the many prominent coaches who worked on Schottenheimer's staffs include Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Herm Edwards, Bruce Arians and Mike McCarthy.
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