Remembering Marty Schottenheimer, ” … a football genius” – By Michael Travis Rose
“I had the pleasure of being coached by some of the best coaches in the game: Tom Landry, Bill Walsh, Dan Reeves, John McKay, Sam Wyche, Don Shula and Marty Schottenheimer, to name a few. Many times people have asked me who was the best coach I ever had, and I always say Marty Schottenheimer. He taught me more about the ‘entire’ game than anyone else as he had the unique ability to coach any position on the team. The man was a football genius! My prayers and condolences to his incredible family.”
– Steve DeBerg (Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback – 1988-1991)
Like all NFL and Kansas City Chiefs fans, I was heartbroken when I learned of Marty Schottenheimer’s passing. My first thought, of course, was to pen an article on the coach that rejuvenated an NFL organization mired in mediocrity for over two decades. I resisted my initial impulse which was to hastily jot a warm, feel good tribute and submit to ArrowheadOne editor-in-chief Laddie Morse.
When someone passes, we are too quick to heap upon them praise, whether or not they are deserving of such. Often we do this to make ourselves feel better rather than honestly evaluate the totality of the life and accomplishments of the very one we are mourning. Despite my initial compulsion to do just that, I ignored that itch, hoping I might better encapsulate the life of Marty Schottenheimer, both good and bad.
Most of what’s been written about Coach Schottenheimer segments his life into five distinct segments:
- Schottenheimer – AFL/NFL player
- Schottenheimer – Cleveland Browns Head Coach
- Schottenheimer – Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach
- Schottenheimer – Washington Redskins Head Coach
- Schottenheimer – San Diego Chargers Head Coach
Note: On rare occasions, Coach Schottenheimer’s one-year stint as head coach of the United Football League’s (UFL) Virginia Destroyers is sometimes added, depending on the author, as an addendum or footnote to the “football genius,” despite his leading the team to its only UFL Championship.
No matter the author of the pieces penned since Schottenheimer’s passing February 8th earlier this year from Alzheimer’s disease, the focus is mainly on Coach Schottenheimer’s inability to make it to a Super Bowl or his lack of inclusion into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and that’s an absolute travesty, IMHO. While both are true, neither of these facts adequately capture nor reflect the true essence and character of a coach who was such a powerful force in professional football, that his football philosophy, Martyball, deserves its own moniker.
This is the Marty, the Coach Schottenheimer, that I remember as a Chiefs fan. On offense, he was three yards and a cloud of dust with the occasional pass thrown in for good measure. On defense, his philosophy was as simple as it was aggressive — punch ’em in the mouth and knock ’em on their butts. Also, take — or try to take — the dang ball from the opposing team each and every play.
Coach Schottenheimer spent the majority of his 77 years devoted to football, either playing or coaching. For a decade of those years, you were a familiar and welcome presence on the sidelines of the Red and Gold. Whether yelling at the officials or encouraging and inspiring your players, we loved to see you there.
Marty’s relationships with and true respect for his players was the stuff of legend. He was a player’s coach who genuinely cared for those he was tasked with leading, teaching, coaching, and mentoring. I can’t remember anytime during the coach’s tenure in Kansas City where there was a dispute with one of his player’s, nor do I believe that there was ever a player who did not love playing for them.
Marty brought winning football back to a midwestern town starved for victory on the gridiron. With Marty at the helm, the Chiefs clinched seven postseason berths and recorded a 101-58-1 record. Marty led the Chiefs to their most successful season in 22 years in 1993 (11-5). Under Schottenheimer, the Chiefs had the second highest winning percentage in the NFL during the 1990s.
Coach Schottenheimer’s decade as Chiefs head coach included some of the greatest players in Chiefs, and NFL history, including: Christian Okoye, Marcus Allen, Stephone Paige, Joe Montana, Nick Lowery, Derrick Thomas, Deron Cherry, Albert Lewis, and Neil Smith.
The greatest gift Marty Schottenheimer brought to the Kansas City Chiefs, besides their belief in themselves, was his utter hatred of the Raiders. Marty taught us it was not only okay to hate the Raiders, it was our solemn duty as Chiefs fans. It was the coach who coined the term “Raider Week” and made despising the Silver and Grey fashionable again. No Chief was better at hating the Raiders, either, as his 18-3 record against them as Chiefs head coach illustrates.
With 205 career wins, Schottenheimer is the eighth winningest coach in NFL history. He ranks seventh in regular season wins at 200. Marty holds the dubious distinction of the most wins of an NFL head coach not to have won a championship.
Marty, the coach, led a life well lived. Marty, the man, lived his life well. We, NFL fans, Chiefs Kingdom, and every player and coach lucky enough to have him a part of their lives, are better for it.
RIP, Coach. You live forever be in the hearts of Chiefs fans the world over.
Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
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