Legendary NFL Coach Marty Schottenheimer Passes Away After Battle With Alzheimer’s

Longtime NFL insider Chris Mortensen reported early on Tuesday the passing of longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer passed away Monday at the age of 77 after battling Alzheimer’s the last seven years.

Schottenheimer was a head coach in the NFL for 21 seasons, coaching with the Cleveland Browns for five seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs for 10, the San Diego Chargers for five and the Washington Redskins for one.

He is best known as a great regular season coach who motivated his players to be better than they were. In 21 seasons, he went 200-126-1.

Despite excellent regular season performances, Schottenheimer struggled in the postseason, going just 5-13, and he will always be linked to two memorable playoff losses.

In "the Drive" of 1986, John Elway rallied Denver to beat Cleveland in overtime of the AFC Championship Game. The following year, there was "the Fumble," a game in which running back Earnest Byner fumbled what looked to be a sure touchdown late in the AFC title loss in Denver.

Schottenheimer is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pat, his children Kristen and Brian, and grandchildren Brandon, Sutton, Savannah and Catherine.

Some of Schottenheimer's former players have already taken to social media to pay their respects to their former coach.