Martz was told by a specialist Monday that his condition, which kept him out of two practices last week, had worsened. The 54-year-old has been ill for more than a month and was tested for endocarditis, a bacterial infection of the lining of the heart or a heart valve.
Rams President John Shaw said Monday that Martz will be hospitalized four to 12 days but would not speculate on the length of his absence. Shaw said he wasn't told the specific name of the illness but was led to believe that Martz's heart valve had weakened since last week.
The antibiotics that Martz began taking Friday didn't seem to help, Shaw said, but he didn't know if any additional procedures would be necessary. Severe cases of endocarditis can require open-heart surgery.
Assistant head coach Joe Vitt will take over as coach. Martz told his players during a brief but emotional team meeting that he would step aside, Vitt said.
Martz spoke with a raspy voice after Sunday's game but sounded optimistic about his health. Still, he said that in retrospect, he should have allowed offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild to run the show.
"I wasn't myself this week; the game plan wasn't clear for me," Martz said. "It's over with now, but I just feel what happened to me has affected this team, and that breaks my heart."
Martz was first hospitalized Sept. 30 with what was thought to be a sinus infection. He coached two days later during a 44-24 loss to the New York Giants.
Endocarditis affects 10,000 to 20,000 Americans each year and in some cases can cause require open-heart surgery, according to Dr. Arthur Labovitz, director of cardiology at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Martz did the right thing by stepping down, Labovitz said.
Vitt, 51, was hired as assistant head coach and linebackers coach prior to the 2004 season after four years in Kansas City. Martz and Vitt worked together on the Los Angeles Rams' staff from 1992-94, when Vitt was defensive backs coach and assistant head coach under Chuck Knox.
Now in his sixth season with the Rams, Martz is 56-36 including the postseason. The Rams have missed the playoffs just once in his tenure (2002) and reached the Super Bowl after the 2001 season, losing 20-17 to New England.
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