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Kansas City Chiefs: Five Best Head Coaches of All-Time

By Leigh Oleszczak

Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on from the sidelines against the New England Patriots during the first half in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on from the sidelines against the New England Patriots during the first half in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas City Chiefs: Five Best Head Coaches of All-Time
Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Third Best Head Coach in Chiefs History – Marty Schottenheimer (1989-1998)

Just how good was Marty Schottenheimer as a head coach with the Kansas City Chiefs? Well, in ten seasons on the job, he only posted a losing record once, and that was in his final season in 1998. The Chiefs were always legit playoff contenders with Schottenheimer in town, and if he’d gotten this team a Super Bowl win, he’d probably go down as THE best.

Schottenheimer finished his Chiefs coaching career with a record of 101-58-1 (the tie came during his first season in 1989). He always put the Chiefs in a position to win, and the only thing that is really held against him was his inability to lead the team to playoff victories.

Schottenheimer managed to post three playoff victories during his time in Kansas City, but that was in 10 appearances, and all three of those occurred before the 1993 season. He resigned after the 1998 season when the team went 7-9, and some thought that might have been a curse on the Kansas City Chiefs organization.

All in all, Schottenheimer’s resumé in Kansas City was impressive. He led the team to three division titles, seven playoff appearances, and also coached the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game in 1994. The Chiefs did not go to the AFC Championship game until the 2018 season, meaning it took them over two decades to get back there after Schottenheimer left.

The main thing that kept Marty Schottenheimer as the third-best head coach was that he couldn’t get this team to a Super Bowl. That proved to be the difference, and winning a Super Bowl is the one thing that makes two KC Chiefs head coaches stand out above the rest.

Schottenheimer passed away in Feb. 2021 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Career Overview (Chiefs only)

  • Overall record: 101-58
  • Division titles: 3
  • Playoff record: 3-7
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