Former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer has Alzheimer's disease

Former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer has been battling Alzheimer's disease for the past five years, reports Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.

Schottenheimer, 73, received the diagnosis about five years ago, but his wife, Pat, said he remains in good health. 

“He’s in the best of health, [but] sometimes he just doesn’t remember everything,” Pat said. “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 was a head coach in the NFL for 21 years, from 1984 to 2006, after spending 11 years as an assistant. He began his head coaching career with the Cleveland Browns before spending 10 years with the Chiefs, one with the Redskins and five with the Chargers. 

He earned a 200–126 career record as a head coach, and nearly led the Browns to the Super Bowl in 1986.