Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid took a moment before his final press conference prior to the 2021 Super Bowl ended to share a message with the family of Marty Schottenheimer.
Schottenheimer, who coached in the NFL for more than three decades and was the Chiefs’ head coach from 1989-98, was recently moved to hospice care, according to a statement from his family, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
“My heart goes out to the Schottenheimer family. Marty and I were close, and what a great person. He was great to me as a young football coach. Nobody did it better than he did,” Reid said Thursday.
Scottenheimer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014, is listed in stable condition, per his family. His son Brian recently agreed to become the Jacksonville Jaguars’ passing game coordinator, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“I’m hoping we can mend him, but most of all, his family, they’re staying strong. I had a chance to talk to Brian last night, and I appreciated the conversation. My heart goes out to them,” Reid said.
After a decade as an NFL assistant, Schottenheimer was a head coach with Cleveland (1984-88), Kansas City, Washington (2001) and San Diego (2002-06). He led the Chiefs to the postseason seven of his 10 seasons in Kansas City and had a 101-58-1 record as the franchise’s head coach. He was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2010.
Reid and the Chiefs will be going for a second straight NFL title when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday.