San Francisco 49ers Game Release - NFL.com

Named the 49ers special teams coordinator on
January 18, 2010, Kurt Schottenheimer, 60, brings
with him over 30 years of coaching experience to San
Francisco, including 22 seasons in the NFL.
Schottenheimer’s special teams made an immediate
impact in only his fourth game at Atl. (10/3) as
the coordinator. After the defense pinned the Falcons
deep in their own territory at the 12-yard line, Atlanta
P Michael Koenen had his punt blocked by WR Dominique Zeigler,
who went right up the middle to knock the
ball straight up in the air. Rookie S Taylor
Mays, who started his first career game,
had the presence of mind to locate the ball
and catch it in the back of the end zone
while having both feet in bounds for the
TD. This marked the first time the 49ers
blocked a punt since LB Manny Lawson
blocked P Jon Ryan’s punt at Sea.
(9/14/08). It was also the first time the
49ers recovered a blocked punt for a TD
in almost 23 years (10/5/87) when TE
Mike Wells returned P Dana Moore’s punt
(blocked by S Matt Courtney) 1-yd. for a
TD at NYG.
Schottenheimer spent his first eight seasons in the league as a special
teams coach, holding that position first with the Cleveland Browns (1987-
88) and then with the Kansas City Chiefs (1989-94).
In 1987, as a first-year NFL coach, Cleveland ranked 6th in the NFL in
punt return average (11.1), while holding opponents to 5.5 yards per punt
return, to rank 5th in the league. The following year, Schottenheimer’s kickoff
coverage unit ranked 2nd in the NFL with a 16.2-yard average, while
the Browns kickoff return unit placed 6th in the league with a 21.1-yard
average. That season, the Browns also blocked two punts, both of which
were returned for touchdowns, and one field goal.
During his six seasons coaching special teams for the Chiefs, Schottenheimer’s
units accounted for a total of 22 blocked kicks and eight touchdowns.
The McDonald, Pennsylvania, native was named the co-winner of the
NFL’s 1990 Special Teams Coach of the Year Award after his unit recorded
an NFL record six blocked punts (two returned for touchdowns) during the
regular season, adding another during the playoffs. The club also blocked a
field goal and registered two special teams touchdowns.
In 1993, Schottenheimer’s special teams group blocked five kicks (two
TAKE YOUR BEST SCHOTT
blocked punts, two blocked FGs & one blocked PAT), returning one of its
blocked punts for a touchdown.
Following his productive run leading the Chiefs special teams unit and
tight ends, Schottenheimer went on to coach Kansas City’s defensive backs
(1995-98). During his four-year tenure, Kansas City’s secondary helped the
defense allow a meager 16.4 points per game, which tied for the stingiest
mark in the league during that time period. Over that same span, the Chiefs
ranked 3rd in the AFC in total defense (304.5 ypg) and finished 5th in the
AFC in pass defense (203.2 ypg). Kansas City also led the AFC in turnover
ratio two of those four seasons (+12 in ’95, +14 in ’97), and topped the
league with 21 interceptions in 1997.
The Chiefs promoted Schottenheimer to defensive coordinator in 1999,
a position he held for two seasons. In his first season steering the defense,
Kansas City registered a team record and NFL-high nine defensive touchdowns.
The Chiefs also led the NFL with a +21 turnover ratio and ranked
2nd with 45 takeaways, including 20 fumble recoveries, and 125 points
off turnovers. The Chiefs ended that season ranked 2nd in the AFC with 25
interceptions.
Schottenheimer would go on to spend three more seasons as a defensive
coordinator in the NFL, serving one year with the Washington Redskins
(2001) and two seasons with the Detroit Lions (2002-03).
In 2004, Schottenheimer served as the Packers defensive backs coach,
where he tutored S Darren Sharper, who led the team with four interceptions
(two of which he returned for touchdowns). A year later, Schottenheimer
took over the St. Louis Rams secondary. He successfully converted Mike
Furrey from wide receiver to free safety. Under his tutelage, Furrey led the
team in interceptions with four (one returned for touchdown).
Schottenheimer served his second stint with the Packers from 2006 to
2008, overseeing a secondary that effectively blended the talents of veteran
CBs Al Harris and Charles Woodson, with young, up-and-coming safeties
Nick Collins and Atari Bigby. In 2007, Harris made the Pro Bowl for the first
time in his decade-long career, while Bigby led the team with five interceptions
in his first season as starter. A year later, the entire Packers Pro Bowl
contingent came from the secondary, as Harris, Collins and Woodson each
made the trip across the water.
Before entering the NFL, Schottenheimer worked 10 seasons in the college
ranks. He served as linebackers coach at Notre Dame under Lou Holtz
in 1986 after working in the same capacity for two years at Louisiana State
(1984-85).
Prior to his tenure at LSU, he spent time at William Patterson College
(1974– defensive coordinator), Michigan State (1978-82 – linebackers/
defensive backs), and Tulane (1983 - defensive backs).