In Memoriam: Don Shula
Don Shula, the NFL’s coach with the most wins, died on Monday, May 4, 2020. He was 90 years old.
Throughout his career, Shula won an NFL record 347 games. He led the Miami Dolphins to the league’s only undefeated season in 1972, which ended with a Super Bowl VII 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins.
Under Shula, the Dolphins won the ’73 Super Bowl, defeating the Minnesota Vikings by 24-7, and followed that with a third consecutive Super Bowl win in ’74 against the Dallas Cowboys by 24-3. In total, Shula coached the Dolphins to five Super Bowls, losing to the Redskins in Super Bowl XVII and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX.
“Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years,” a statement from the Miami Dolphins said. “He brought the winning edge to our franchise and put the Dolphins and the city of Miami in the national sports scene. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Anne along with his children Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anne and Mike.”
As a player, Shula was drafted in 1951 as a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns. He played for seven seasons (in Cleveland, Baltimore, and Washington), putting up 21 interceptions.
Prior to his tenure in Miami, Shula coached the Baltimore Colts, making him the then-youngest NFL coach at 33 years old. He coached the team to the Super Bowl III, which they lost against the New York Jets.
Shula retired in ’95 after coaching 33 seasons, 26 of which were in Miami. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in ’97, making him one of the only two coaches in NFL history to win over 300 games (the other is George Halas).
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In Memoriam: Don Shula
Don Shula, the NFL’s coach with the most wins, died on Monday, May 4, 2020. He was 90 years old.
Throughout his career, Shula won an NFL record 347 games. He led the Miami Dolphins to the league’s only undefeated season in 1972, which ended with a Super Bowl VII 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins.
Under Shula, the Dolphins won the ’73 Super Bowl, defeating the Minnesota Vikings by 24-7, and followed that with a third consecutive Super Bowl win in ’74 against the Dallas Cowboys by 24-3. In total, Shula coached the Dolphins to five Super Bowls, losing to the Redskins in Super Bowl XVII and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX.
“Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years,” a statement from the Miami Dolphins said. “He brought the winning edge to our franchise and put the Dolphins and the city of Miami in the national sports scene. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Anne along with his children Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anne and Mike.”
As a player, Shula was drafted in 1951 as a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns. He played for seven seasons (in Cleveland, Baltimore, and Washington), putting up 21 interceptions.
Prior to his tenure in Miami, Shula coached the Baltimore Colts, making him the then-youngest NFL coach at 33 years old. He coached the team to the Super Bowl III, which they lost against the New York Jets.
Shula retired in ’95 after coaching 33 seasons, 26 of which were in Miami. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in ’97, making him one of the only two coaches in NFL history to win over 300 games (the other is George Halas).






