Marty Schottenheimer Reveals He Has Alzheimer's Disease

Former NFL linebacker and head coach Marty Schottenheimer was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease approximately five years ago, it was revealed Friday. 

According to ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi, the 73-year-old will attend a 1986 Cleveland Browns reunion in Northeast Ohio on Friday despite his condition.

Per Grossi, Schottenheimer's wife, Pat, provided a positive report regarding how he is handling the situation:

He's in the best of health, [but] sometimes he just doesn't remember everything. He functions extremely well, plays golf several times a week. He's got that memory lag where he'll ask you the same question three or four times. He remembers people and faces, and he pulls out strange things that I've never heard, but he's doing well. It's going be a long road. We both know that.

Schottenheimer played six professional seasons with the Buffalo Bills and the Boston Patriots, but he is best known for his 21 seasons as an NFL head coach with the Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.

He accumulated a career record of 200-126-1, making 13 playoff appearances. Schottenheimer took the Browns to the AFC Championship Game in the 1986 and 1987 seasons, but they were ousted by the Denver Broncos on both occasions.

Schottenheimer's greatest success may have come during a 10-year stint with the Chiefs that saw him post a .634 winning percentage and reach another AFC Championship Game.

He won the AP NFL Coach of the Year award with the Chargers in 2004, and despite going 14-2 in 2006, he was fired by the Bolts at the conclusion of the season.

While Schottenheimer never reached a Super Bowl as a coach, he is seventh on the all-time NFL wins list and 30th in winning percentage at .613.

The Pennsylvania native is arguably among the most underrated coaches to ever man the sidelines, and he will receive some well-deserved praise for what he accomplished during his time with a Browns franchise that has struggled ever since.

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