Kurt Schottenheimer, entering his 18th NFL season, is the Green Bay Packers' new defensive backs coach, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Wednesday. Schottenheimer replaces Bob Slowik, hired Wednesday as the Packers' defensive coordinator.
Schottenheimer, 54, comes to Green Bay from the Detroit Lions, where he served the last two seasons as defensive coordinator. He's also worked with three other NFL teams: Washington (defensive coordinator, 2001); Kansas City (special teams, 1989-94; defensive backs, 1995-98; defensive coordinator, 1999-2000); and Cleveland (special teams, 1987-88).
"Kurt Schottenheimer has been in this league for a number of years and has been an excellent coach," Sherman said. "I have a lot of confidence in him. I think he's a good fit for our staff and our football team. He has a passion for football that excites me that when I talked to him down at the Senior Bowl was very evident."
In 2003, Schottenheimer's unit held the Packers' rushing offense to just 52 yards in the Lions' 22-14 win, Nov. 27 at Detroit. That marked the lowest 2003 output by Green Bay, whose rushing offense led the NFC and ranked third in the league.
Schottenheimer's best season was 1999. That year, his players led the NFL with a franchise-record nine defensive touchdowns. The Chiefs also led the league in turnover ratio (plus-21) and finished second in takeaways (45), fumble recoveries (20) and points off turnovers (125).
During his time as Kansas City's defensive backs coach (1995-98), the team allowed only 16.4 points per game, equaling the NFL's lowest mark. He also helped mold James Hasty and Dale Carter into perennial Pro Bowl players.
Schottenheimer has spent eight years as an NFL special teams coach, 1989-94 with the Chiefs and 1987-88 with Cleveland.
Before entering the NFL, Schottenheimer worked 10 seasons as a college coach, including time at several prominent schools: William Patterson College (1974), Michigan State (1978-82), Tulane (1983), Louisiana State (1984-85) and Notre Dame (1986).
A JUCO All-America quarterback at Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College, he led the nation in passing as a sophomore. He shifted to defensive back, starting for two seasons, at the University of Miami, where he earned his degree in 1971.
His addition gives Mike Sherman three defensive coaches with NFL coordinator experience: Schottenheimer, Slowik (Chicago, 1993-98; Cleveland, 1999; Green Bay, 2004- ) and linebackers coach Mark Duffner (Cincinnati, 2001-02).
Schottenheimer and his wife, Collen Duffey, have two daughters, Steele and Sloane. He is the younger brother of Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer.
