The NFL mourns the loss of long-time head coach Marty Schottenheimer. The inventor of the “Martyball”, a tactic based on running game and tough defense, died on Monday at the age of 77 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The league announced on Tuesday.
Schottenheimer headed four different clubs from 1984 to 2006: the Cleveland Browns, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Washington Redskins (now Washington Football Team) and the San Diego Chargers (now LA Chargers).
With over 200 main round wins, the former professional Schottenheimer is in the top 10 of the NFL coaching list. He made it into the Super Bowl neither as a player nor as a coach.
Schottenheimer was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. On January 30th, his family took him to a hospice in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“As a coach he won the division three times and reached the playoffs four times. However, it was his tough, uncompromising, always combative attitude that the fans loved him for and that led to many electrifying victories,” the Browns said in a statement.
