NFL

NFL Coach Marty Schottenheimer Dies Aged 77

Schottenheimer’s regular season successes were not matched in the playoffs.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Marty Schottenheimer, the NFL coaching legend renowned for his own “Martyball” style of football, has died at the age of 77. He died on Monday, in a hospice in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was in care at the hospice for one month prior to his passing.

In the coaching history of the NFL, Schottenheimer holds the eighth position for the coach with the highest number of wins. He coached for a total of 21 seasons at various teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, and the then Washington Redskins (now known as ‘Washington Football Team.’)

Schottenheimer’s teams saw great success during regular-season games. His teams won 10 games, out of a 16 game regular season, 11 times. However, when it came to the playoffs, Schottenheimer had less success. In his final match in January 2007, Schottenheimer’s Chargers team, going into the playoffs with a 14-2 record and NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, lost 24-21 to the New England Patriots.

Soon after, Chargers owner, Dean Spanos, fired Schottenheimer. The reason was largely thought of due to friction between the coach and the team’s general manager, AJ Smith.

Schottenheimer’s success is largely attributed to his “one play at a time” style of play. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014.

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