Brian Schottenheimer witnessed the world of NFL head coaching up close from a young age. The newly appointed Dallas Cowboys head coach was gifted with an NFL head coach in his family tree, the legendary Marty Schottenheimer.
Appointed as the Cowboys’ 10th head coach, Brian will have a lot to prove as Marty’s son.
Who Was Brian Schottenheimer’s Father, Marty Schottenheimer?
The Schottenheimer name is well known among NFL fans, especially those who followed the league from the 1980s through the 2000s. Marty and his wife, Pat, welcomed Brian on Oct. 16, 1973.
Marty played linebacker for four NFL teams from 1965 to 1970, including the 1965 AFL champion Buffalo Bills. After not appearing in the 1971 season, he shifted gears and began coaching in 1974.
After nearly a decade as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, the Cleveland Browns named him head coach in 1984, a path that now echoes in Brian’s own career arc.
Marty found quick success with the Browns, guiding them to four playoff appearances, three AFC Central titles, and two AFC Championship Games, both losses to the Denver Broncos. He compiled a 44–27 record in Cleveland.
He then spent 10 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where his coaching legacy grew even larger. Marty went 101–58–1 in the regular season, won three division titles, and reached the AFC Championship Game in 1993, falling to Buffalo, his former team.
After a brief stint with Washington, Marty coached six seasons with the San Diego Chargers. While the postseason success still eluded him, he led the team to a 47–33 record, the franchise’s best until 2020. He was fired in 2007 in a surprising move following a 14-2 season with San Diego.
Marty wrapped up his coaching career with a championship in the short-lived UFL, leading the Virginia Destroyers to a title in 2011. He resigned before the 2012 season and stepped away from coaching for good.
“My father was a legendary coach, a great man, but he was an incredible father,” Brian said during his introductory press conference.
“And he’s impacted me more than anyone in this profession. I know he’s looking down on me, I know he’s proud.”
He passed away on Feb. 8, 2021, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Despite 200 career wins, making him the only coach with that many regular-season victories and a losing playoff record, he has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2010.
Schottenheimer and the Cowboys kick off their preseason on Aug. 9 and their regular season on Sept. 4, a rivalry game with the Philadelphia Eagles.