Don Shula: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|American football coach and former player}}
==List of credited publications==
{{Use American English|date=April 2020}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left"
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Don Shula
| image = Don-Shula USO-Tour-USS-Reagan-Address July-13-2009 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Shula in 2009
| number = 96, 44, 25, 26
| position = [[Defensive back]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|1|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Grand River, Ohio]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|05|04|1930|1|4|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Indian Creek, Florida]]
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 190
| high_school = [[Thomas W. Harvey High School|Harvey]] ([[Painesville, Ohio]])
| college = [[John Carroll Blue Streaks football|John Carroll]]
| draftyear = 1951
| draftround = 9
| draftpick = 110
| pastteams =
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1951}}–{{NFL Year|1952}})
* [[Baltimore Colts]] ({{NFL Year|1953}}–{{NFL Year|1956}})
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1957}})
| pastcoaching =  
* [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia]] (1958) <br > Defensive backs coach
* [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] (1959) <br > Defensive backs coach
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1960}}) <br> Defensive backs coach
* Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1961}}–{{NFL Year|1962}}) <br> Defensive coordinator
* [[Baltimore Colts]] ({{NFL Year|1963}}–{{NFL Year|1969}}) <br> Head coach
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|1970}}–{{NFL Year|1995}}) <br> Head coach
| highlights =
* 2× [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]], [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]])
* [[NFL champion]] ([[1968 NFL Championship Game|1968]])
* 4× [[AP NFL Coach of the Year]] (1964, 1967, 1968, 1972)
* [[Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year|''Sports Illustrated'' Sportsman of the Year]] (1993)
* [[National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team|NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Miami Dolphins Honor Roll]]
;NFL records
* Most regular season wins as a head coach (328)
* Most total wins as a head coach (347)
* Only undefeated season through regular season and playoffs
| statleague = NFL
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 73
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 21
| nflnew=Don-Shula
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|328|156|6|record=y}}
| playoff_record = {{Winning percentage|19|17|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|347|173|6|record=y}}
| pfr =
| pfrcoach  = ShulDo0
| HOF = don-shula
}}
 
'''Donald Francis Shula''' (January 4, 1930 – May 4, 2020) was an American professional [[American football|football]] coach and player. The winningest coach in [[National Football League]] (NFL) history, Shula was best known for his time being the longtime head coach of the [[Miami Dolphins]], leading them to two [[Super Bowl]] victories, including the only [[perfect season]] in NFL history in [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972]]. He was previously the head coach of the [[Baltimore Colts]], with whom he won the [[1968 NFL Championship Game|1968 NFL Championship]]. Shula was drafted out of [[John Carroll Blue Streaks football|John Carroll University]] in the [[1951 NFL Draft]], and he played professionally as a [[defensive back]] for the [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Baltimore Colts]], and [[Washington Redskins]].
 
Shula was named 1993 [[Sportsman of the Year]] by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. He had only two losing seasons in his 33-year career as a head coach in the NFL, and led his teams to six Super Bowl appearances. In [[Super Bowl III]], his first, the [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|Colts]] set the record for the longest period to be [[shut out]], not scoring until 3:19 remained in the game, which was later broken in [[Super Bowl VII]]. At [[Super Bowl VI|his next Super Bowl]], the [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|Dolphins]] set the Super Bowl record for the lowest points scored by any team, with one field goal. The [[Super Bowl VII|following year]], he coached a [[perfect season]] and broke the record of longest shutout, this time with his team on the winning side, not giving up any points until 2:07 remained. The Dolphins [[Super Bowl VIII|repeated]] as Super Bowl champions the following season, as they defeated the [[Minnesota Vikings]] 24–7. He holds the NFL record for most career wins as a head coach with 347 (328 in the regular season). Shula was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1997.
 
==Early life and college==
Don Shula was born on January 4, 1930 in [[Grand River, Ohio]], a small town along the [[Lake Erie]] shore in the northeastern part of the state.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/01/04/UPI-Almanac-for-Friday-Jan-4-2019/5471546221584/|title=UPI Almanac for Friday, Jan. 4, 2019|agency=[[United Press International]]|date=January 4, 2019|accessdate=September 4, 2019|archivedate=January 5, 2019 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20190105012355/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/01/04/UPI-Almanac-for-Friday-Jan-4-2019/5471546221584/|url-status=live|quote=Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and player Don Shula in 1930 (age 89)}}</ref><ref name="News-Herald article">{{cite news |last=Schudel |first=Jeff |title=Don Shula at 80: From Harvey to Hall |url=http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20100718/don-shula-at-80-from-harvey-to-hall-with-slideshow-video |accessdate=November 2, 2013 |newspaper=The News-Herald |date=August 9, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103234608/http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20100718/don-shula-at-80-from-harvey-to-hall-with-slideshow-video |archivedate=November 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His parents, Dan and Mary (Dániel Schula and Mária Miller),<ref name="Hungarian Roots">{{cite news |title=Hungarian Roots: Don Shula, Legendary American Football Coach |url=https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarian-roots-don-shula-legendary-american-football-coach-85641/ | newspaper=Hungary Today |date=March 30, 2016}}</ref> were of Hungarian origin, having immigrated when they were children.<ref name="Shula's Roots story">{{cite news |title=Shula's Roots – A Rock Foundation |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-11-15/sports/9311150043_1_shula-s-roots-shula-s-foundation-hometown |accessdate=November 2, 2013 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |date=November 15, 1993 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103200841/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-11-15/sports/9311150043_1_shula-s-roots-shula-s-foundation-hometown |archivedate=November 3, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Shula's father Dan worked for $9 a week at a rose nursery and saved up to buy the small house where Shula spent his early childhood.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> The house was next door to a grocery store in Grand River owned by Mary's parents.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> Shula played football in his neighborhood as a child, but his parents forbade it after he got a gash on his face when he was 11.<ref name="News-Herald article" />
 
As Shula's family expanded—he had six siblings, including a set of triplets born in 1936—his father got a job in the local fishing industry for $15 a week, and later worked at a [[rayon]] plant in nearby [[Painesville, Ohio]].<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> Shula attended elementary school at St. Mary's, a private [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] school in Painesville; his mother was a devout Catholic, and his father converted to that denomination when they married.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> He later attended [[Thomas W. Harvey High School|Harvey High School]] in Painesville and played on its football team starting in 1945.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> He did not try out for the team because of both his mother's prohibited him from playing and he was recovering from a bout of [[pneumonia]], but an assistant football coach noticed him in a gym class and convinced him to join.<ref name="News-Herald article" /><ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> Shula forged his parents' signatures to sign up.<ref name="News-Herald article" /><ref name="Shula's Roots story" />
 
Within weeks of joining Harvey's football team, Shula was a starting left [[halfback (American football)|halfback]] in the school's [[Single-wing formation|single-wing]] offense.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> He handled a large portion of the team's rushing and passing duties, and helped lead the team to a 7–3 [[Winning percentage|win–loss record]] in his [[senior (education)|senior]] year.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> It was the first time in 18 years that Harvey had a seven-win season.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> The team would have won a league title had it not lost an early game to [[South High School (Willoughby, Ohio)|Willoughby]].<ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> Shula also ran track at Harvey and was an 11-time [[letterman (sports)|letterman]] in his three years there.<ref name="Shula's Roots story" />
 
As Shula prepared to graduate from high school in 1947, many men whose football careers were delayed by service in [[World War II]] were returning and competing for athletic scholarships.<ref name="News-Herald article" /> As a result, Shula was unable to get a scholarship and contemplated working for a year before going to college.<ref name="News-Herald article" /> That summer, however, he had a chance meeting at a gas station with former Painesville football coach Howard Bauchman, who suggested he ask about a scholarship at [[John Carroll University]].<ref name="News-Herald article" /> Shula received a one-year scholarship at the private [[Jesuit]] school in [[University Heights, Ohio|University Heights]], a suburb of [[Cleveland]].<ref name="News-Herald article" /><ref name="Shula's Roots story" /> It was extended to a full scholarship after Shula performed well in his [[freshman]] year, including in a win over [[Youngstown State Penguins football|Youngstown State]] in October 1948.<ref name="News-Herald article" /><ref name="CNNSI timeline">{{cite web |title=A Don Shula Timeline |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/weekly/970728/shula/timeline.html |publisher=CNNSI.com |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104102404/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/weekly/970728/shula/timeline.html |archivedate=November 4, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He ran for 175 yards and scored two touchdowns substituting for the injured starting halfback.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> The same year, Shula considered joining the Catholic priesthood after a three-day retreat at John Carroll, but decided against it because of his commitment to football.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> During his [[senior (education)|senior]] year in 1950, he rushed for 125 yards in a win over a heavily favored [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse]] team.<ref name="Coffin Corner article">{{cite journal|last=Horrigan|first=Joe|title=Don Shula: All-Time Winner|journal=The Coffin Corner|year=1997|volume=19|issue=2|url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/19-02-693.pdf|accessdate=November 2, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104172621/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/19-02-693.pdf|archivedate=November 4, 2013}}</ref>
 
==Playing career==
 
Shula graduated in 1951 as a sociology major with a minor in mathematics, and was offered a job teaching and coaching at Canton Lincoln High School in [[Canton, Ohio]] for $3,750 a year (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|3750|1951}}}} in {{currentyear}}).<ref name="News-Herald article" /> The [[Cleveland Browns]] of the [[National Football League]], however, had selected him in the ninth round of the [[1951 NFL Draft|1951 draft]] that January.<ref name="1951 NFL draft stats">{{cite web |title=1951 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1951/draft.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 2, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025212248/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1951/draft.htm |archivedate=October 25, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cleveland had won the [[1950 NFL Championship Game|NFL championship]] the previous year behind a staunch defense and an offense led by [[quarterback]] [[Otto Graham]], [[fullback (American football)|fullback]] [[Marion Motley]] and [[end (American football)|end]] [[Dante Lavelli]].<ref name="pias">{{cite book|last=Piascik|first=Andy|year=2007|title=The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns|publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-1-58979-571-6}}</ref>{{rp|177–182}} Shula was joined in the Browns' training camp by John Carroll teammate [[Carl Taseff]], whom Cleveland coach [[Paul Brown]] selected in the 22nd round.<ref name="1951 NFL draft stats" /><ref name="pias" />{{rp|220}} Brown made the selections in part because John Carroll coach [[Herb Eisele]] attended his coaching clinics and used similar schemes and terminology as Brown did.<ref name="News-Herald article" /> Shula and Taseff both made the team and were its only two rookies in 1951.<ref name="Coffin Corner article" /><ref name="pias" />{{rp|220}} Shula signed a $5,000-a-year contract and played as a [[defensive back]] alongside [[Warren Lahr]] and [[Tommy James (American football)|Tommy James]].<ref name="Coffin Corner article" /><ref name="pias" />{{rp|220}}
 
Shula played in all 12 of Cleveland's games in 1951, making his first appearance as a starter in October, and recorded four [[interception]]s.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="Shula PFR stats">{{cite web |title=Don Shula NFL Football Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ShulDo20.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 2, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105114115/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ShulDo20.htm |archivedate=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Browns, meanwhile, finished with an 11–1 record and advanced to the [[1951 NFL Championship Game|championship game]] for a second straight year.<ref name="1951 Browns stats">{{cite web |title=1951 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1951.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023031740/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1951.htm |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The team lost the game 24–17 to the [[Los Angeles Rams]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="pias" />{{rp|233–234}}<ref name="1951 Browns stats" />
 
[[File:Don Shula 1952 National Guard Photograph.jpg|thumb|left|Shula served for 11 months in the [[Ohio National Guard]] in 1952 during the [[Korean War]].]]
 
Shula was a member of an [[Ohio National Guard]] unit that was activated the following January amid the [[Korean War]].<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="HOF Korean War page">{{cite web |title=Football and America: Korean War |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/war/korean/honor_roll.aspx |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602020053/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/war/korean/honor_roll.aspx |archivedate=June 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Military service in Ohio and at [[Fort Polk]] in Louisiana kept Shula away from football until the unit was deactivated that November.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> Returning to the Browns, Shula signed a $5,500-a-year contract and played in five games at the end of the season, having become a full-time starter because of injuries to other players.<ref name="pias" />{{rp|247}}<ref name="Shula PFR coach" /> The Browns again advanced to the [[1952 NFL Championship Game|championship game]] and again lost, this time to the [[Detroit Lions]].<ref name="pias" />{{rp|251–253}} In early 1953, Brown traded Shula along with Taseff and eight other players to the [[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]] in exchange for five Colts players including [[tackle (American and Canadian football)|tackle]]s [[Mike McCormack (football player)|Mike McCormack]] and [[Don Colo]].<ref name="pias" />{{rp|264}} Before joining Baltimore, Shula finished a [[master's degree]] in physical education at [[Case Western Reserve University]] in [[Cleveland]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Britannica Guide to Football|year=2011|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|location=New York|isbn=978-1-61530-524-7|editor=Adam Augustyn|page=174}}</ref>
 
Shula signed a $6,500-a-year contract with Baltimore, which was preparing for its first season after relocating from Dallas, where the franchise had been called the [[1952 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]].<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="Browns trade 10 players">{{cite news|title=Browns Trade 10 Gridders For Five Baltimore Colts|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2Z9aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L08DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4530,2985626&dq=baltimore+colts&hl=en|accessdate=November 3, 2013|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=March 26, 1953|agency=Associated Press|location=Cleveland|page=20}}</ref> The team replaced an earlier Colts franchise that folded after the 1950 season.<ref name="Colts back in NFL">{{cite news|title=Baltimore Colts Back In League|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IWg1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=xCMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2046,1400214&dq=baltimore+colts&hl=en|accessdate=November 3, 2013|newspaper=The Times-News|date=February 4, 1953|agency=United Press International|location=Baltimore|page=8}}</ref> The Colts finished with a 3–9 record in 1953 despite leading the NFL in defensive takeaways, including three interceptions by Shula.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" /><ref name="1953 NFL defensive stats">{{cite web |title=1953 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1953/opp.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923044513/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1953/opp.htm |archivedate=September 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Baltimore continued to struggle the following year under new head coach [[Weeb Ewbank]], a former Browns assistant.<ref name="Colts hire Ewbank">{{cite news|title=Baltimore Colts Select Ewbank|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FckUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v-IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5323,1656700&dq=baltimore+colts+weeb&hl=en|accessdate=November 3, 2013|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|date=January 15, 1954|agency=United Press International|location=Baltimore|page=2B}}</ref><ref name="1954 Colts stats">{{cite web |title=1954 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1954.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023172213/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1954.htm |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The team again finished 3–9 for last place in the NFL West, although Shula had a career-high five interceptions.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" /><ref name="1954 Colts stats" />
 
Shula had five interceptions again in 1955, but the Colts finished 5–6–1, well out of contention for the divisional championship.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" /><ref name="1955 Colts stats">{{cite web |title=1955 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1955.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023160406/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1955.htm |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shula missed the final three games of the season because of a broken jaw suffered in a 17–17 tie with the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> Ewbank brought in future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] quarterback [[Johnny Unitas]] as a backup in 1956, but the Colts posted a losing record even after he became the starter partway through the season.<ref name="Unitas HOF page">{{cite web |title=Hall of Famers: Johnny Unitas |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=219 |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129122824/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?player_id=219 |archivedate=November 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shula had just one interception that year.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" /> The Colts waived Shula at the end of training camp in 1957 season, and the [[Washington Redskins]] picked him up.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="Shula to Redskins">{{cite news|title=Pittsburgh Gets Wells of 'Skins|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gfkjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ryUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4162,208727&dq=baltimore+colts+shula&hl=en|accessdate=November 3, 2013|newspaper=The [[Milwaukee Journal]]|date=October 1, 1957|agency=Associated Press|publication-place=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|page=13}}</ref> Shula spent one season with the Redskins before retiring. In his seven NFL seasons, he played in 73 games, intercepted 21 passes and recovered four fumbles.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" />
 
==Coaching career==
 
===Early years (1958–1962)===
 
Shula got his first coaching job shortly after ending his playing career, signing as a defensive backs coach at the [[Virginia Cavaliers football|University of Virginia]] under [[Dick Voris]] in February 1958.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="Shula hired by Virginia">{{cite news|title=Voris Adds 2 More To Virginia Staff|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZolJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AQwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5006,2704282&dq=don+shula&hl=en|accessdate=November 2, 2013|newspaper=The News and Courier|date=February 9, 1958|agency=Associated Press|location=Charlottesville, Virginia|page=9–A}}</ref><ref name="Shula PFR stats"/> Virginia finished with a 1–9 record that year.<ref name="Virginia results">{{cite web |title=Virginia Yearly Results |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/acc/virginia/1955-1959_yearly_results.php |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110014308/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/acc/virginia/1955-1959_yearly_results.php |archivedate=November 10, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shula got married in the summer before the season to Dorothy Bartish, who grew up near Painesville. Shula and Bartish had begun dating after he graduated from John Carroll; she was working as a teacher in [[Hawaii]] when he proposed.<ref name="family">{{cite web |url=http://www.cleveland.com/homegrown/index.ssf?/homegrown/more/shula/family.html |title=Don Shula: Family man |work=[[The Plain Dealer#cleveland.com/cleveland.com]] |publisher=[[Advance Internet]] via Northeast Ohio Media Group |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20131104101409/http://www.cleveland.com/homegrown/index.ssf?/homegrown/more/shula/family.html |archivedate=November 4, 2013 }}</ref>
 
After one season at Virginia, Shula moved to another defensive backs coaching job at the [[Kentucky Wildcats football|University of Kentucky]] in 1959 under head coach [[Blanton Collier]].<ref name="Shula PFR coach"/><ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> Collier had been an assistant to Paul Brown when Shula played in Cleveland.<ref name="pias" />{{rp|17–18}} After one season in Kentucky, Shula got his first NFL coaching job as the defensive backfield coach for the Detroit Lions in 1960.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> The Lions posted winning records in each of Shula's three seasons there under head coach [[George Wilson (American football coach)|George Wilson]] and finished in second place in the NFL West in 1961 and 1962.<ref name="1960 Lions stats">{{cite web |title=1960 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1960.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930013225/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1960.htm |archivedate=September 30, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="1961 Lions stats">{{cite web |title=1961 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1961.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209190315/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1961.htm |archivedate=December 9, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="1962 Lions stats">{{cite web |title=1962 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1962.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015020857/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1962.htm |archivedate=October 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Detroit's defense was near the top of the league in fewest points allowed when Shula coached there, including a second-place finish in 1962.<ref name="1962 Lions stats" /> The defense also led the league that year in fewest yards allowed, with 3,217.<ref name="Sam Williams obit">{{cite web |last=Altman |first=Tara |title=Former Lions' defensive end, Sam Williams, dies at 82 |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Former-Lions-defensive-end-Sam-Williams-dies-at-82/a8720963-773c-4f1d-aad4-bf9b785d7b4d |accessdate=November 3, 2013 |newspaper=Detroit Lions News |publisher=Detroit Lions |date=May 1, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104113258/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Former-Lions-defensive-end-Sam-Williams-dies-at-82/a8720963-773c-4f1d-aad4-bf9b785d7b4d |archivedate=November 4, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Detroit's defense featured a group of linemen dubbed the "[[Fearsome Foursome (American football)|Fearsome Foursome]]" in 1962, consisting of [[defensive tackle]]s [[Roger Brown (football player)|Roger Brown]] and [[Alex Karras]] and [[defensive end]]s [[Darris McCord]] and [[Sam Williams (defensive lineman)|Sam Williams]].<ref name="Sam Williams obit" />
 
===Baltimore Colts (1963–1969)===
 
Weeb Ewbank, under whom Shula had played in Cleveland and Baltimore, was fired as the Colts' head coach in 1963 following three disappointing seasons and disagreements over team strategy and organization with owner [[Carroll Rosenbloom]].<ref name="Ewbank fired by Colts">{{cite news|title=Baltimore Colt Coach Ewbank Fired, Replaced By Shula|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19630109&id=TsAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4958,597295|accessdate=August 7, 2013|newspaper=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]|date=January 9, 1963|agency=[[United Press International]]|place=Lodi, California|page=10}}</ref><ref name="Shula joins Colts">{{cite news|title=Shula Emphasizes Spirit|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vUtQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=41YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7258,2098361&dq=shula&hl=en|accessdate=November 4, 2013|newspaper=The [[Evening Independent]]|publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]]|place=St. Petersburg, Florida|date=August 14, 1963|agency=Associated Press|page=13-A}}</ref> Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom immediately named Shula as the team's next head coach, having recruited him for the job earlier.<ref name="Ewbank fired by Colts" /> Shula was only 33 years old, making him the youngest coach in league history at the time, but Rosenbloom was familiar with his personality and approach from his playing days in Baltimore.<ref name="Shula joins Colts" /> While Rosenbloom said he realized he was "out on a limb" in hiring Shula, he felt it would bring a sense of team spirit back to the Colts.<ref name="Shula joins Colts" /> While Shula had only been an average player, he was "always... taking pictures, talking football", said Rosenbloom. "He had always wanted to coach".<ref name="Shula joins Colts" />
 
Shula lost his first regular-season game, a September 15 matchup against the Giants.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> The [[1963 Baltimore Colts season|1963 Colts]] won their next game, however, and went on to finish the season with an 8–6 record for third place in the NFL West.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="1963 Colts stats">{{cite web |title=1963 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1963.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 7, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023042732/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1963.htm |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The team was still led by Johnny Unitas, who was Shula's teammate during his final year as a player in Baltimore and had helped the Colts win championships in 1958 and 1959.<ref name="Unitas HOF page" /> The team's primary receivers were end [[Raymond Berry]] and [[tight end]] [[John Mackey (American football)|John Mackey]], while [[defensive end]] [[Gino Marchetti]] anchored the defense.<ref name="1963 Colts stats" />
 
Shula guided the team to a 12–2 record in his second year as coach.<ref name="pluto">{{cite book|last=Pluto|first=Terry|authorlink=Terry Pluto|year=1997|title=Browns Town 1964: Cleveland Browns and the 1964 Championship|publisher=Gray & Company|location=Cleveland|isbn=978-1-886228-72-6}}</ref>{{rp|123}} That put the Colts on top of the NFL West and earned them a spot in the [[1964 NFL Championship Game|NFL championship]] against the Browns, which by then were coached by Collier.<ref name="pluto" />{{rp|121–123}} The Colts were heavily favored to win even by sportswriters in Cleveland, due in large part to their strong receiving corps and Unitas, who had 2,824 passing yards and won the league's [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player award]].<ref name="pluto" />{{rp|122}}<ref name="Unitas PFR stats">{{cite web |title=Johnny Unitas NFL Football Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UnitJo00.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115031638/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UnitJo00.htm |archivedate=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Halfback [[Lenny Moore]] also had 19 touchdowns, setting an NFL record.<ref name="pluto" />{{rp|123}} In addition to having the NFL's top-scoring offense, the Colts defense allowed the fewest points in the NFL.<ref name="pluto" />{{rp|124}} Before the championship, Collier said Shula had always thought about coaching even during his playing career, giving him "the experience of a man in the profession for ten years."<ref name="pluto" />{{rp|123}} The Colts, however, lost to the Browns 27–0 in the title game.<ref name="pluto" />{{rp|151}} Despite the loss, Shula won the NFL's [[National Football League Coach of the Year Award|Coach of the Year Award]].<ref name="pluto" />{{rp|123}}
 
The Colts tied the [[1965 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] with a 10–3–1 record at the end of the 1965 season, forcing a playoff to determine which of them would play in the [[1965 NFL Championship Game|championship game]].<ref name="1965 NFL stats">{{cite web |title=1965 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965/ |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115053754/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965/ |archivedate=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Colts had lost twice to the Packers during the regular season, and Unitas and backup [[Gary Cuozzo]] were sidelined by injuries as the playoffs approached.<ref name="Packers-Colts 1965 game">{{cite news|title=Packers Vs. Colts Is 'Sudden Death'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hWZJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pAoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3035,6177074&dq=unitas+matte+colts&hl=en|accessdate=November 8, 2013|newspaper=The News and Courier|date=December 26, 1965|agency=Associated Press|location=Charlottesville, Virginia|page=17–C}}</ref> Baltimore got out to a 10–0 lead at halftime while using halfback [[Tom Matte]] at quarterback, but the Packers, coached by [[Vince Lombardi]], made a comeback in the second half and tied the score at the end of regulation.<ref name="Colts lose to Packers in 1965">{{cite news|title=Chandler's boot silences Colts in overtime battle|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FTVgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i28NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6149,4159540&dq=colts+field+goal+sudden+death&hl=en|accessdate=November 8, 2013|newspaper=[[Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]]|date=December 27, 1965|agency=Associated Press|location=Saskatoon, Canada|page=23}}</ref> The Colts stopped the Packers on their opening drive in the sudden-death overtime, but the ensuing drive ended with a missed field goal by placekicker [[Lou Michaels]].<ref name="Colts lose to Packers in 1965" /> The Packers then drove for a field goal of their own, winning 13–10.<ref name="1965 NFL stats" /><ref name="Colts lose to Packers in 1965" /> Shula said after the game that while his team could not expect to execute its usual strategy without Unitas and Cuozzo, the Colts "don't belong in this league" if they could not beat Green Bay once in three tries.<ref name="Colts lose to Packers in 1965" />
 
The Colts fell to second place in the NFL West [[1966 Baltimore Colts season|the following season]], the first year a [[Super Bowl]] was played between the NFL champion and the winner of the rival [[American Football League]].<ref name="1966 NFL stats">{{cite web |title=1966 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966/ |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027112037/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966/ |archivedate=October 27, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1967, the Colts again failed to make the playoffs despite a regular-season record of 11–1–2, losing the newly created Coastal Division on a tiebreaker with the [[Los Angeles Rams]] because the Rams scored more points in the games between the two clubs.<ref name="Rams beat Colts, 1967">{{cite news|title=Rams Swamp Colts, Gain Play-Off, 34–10|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GGwjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KCgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6986,4463626&dq=colts+tie+rams+coastal&hl=en|accessdate=November 8, 2013|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=December 18, 1967|page=17}}</ref><ref name="1967 NFL stats">{{cite web |title=1967 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/ |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027112212/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/ |archivedate=October 27, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="1967 divisional realignment">{{cite news|title=National Football Loop Completes 1967 Slate|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2KofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ANcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3413,2954046&dq=coastal+capital+central+century+divisions&hl=en|accessdate=November 8, 2013|newspaper=Gadsen Times|date=April 22, 1967|agency=Associated Press|location=New York|page=31}}</ref> The Colts' only loss was a 34–10 setback to the Rams at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] on the final Sunday of the season.<ref name="1967 Colts stats">{{cite web |title=1967 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1967.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019173737/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1967.htm |archivedate=October 19, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Though the season ended in disappointment, Shula won his second Coach of the Year award, and Unitas was again the league's MVP.<ref name="Unitas injured, returns in 1968">{{cite news|title=Unitas Must Prove HImself To Get Starting Job Back|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o8ktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=waAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4381,3917104&dq=unitas+injured&hl=en|accessdate=September 8, 2013|newspaper=Reading Eagle|date=October 22, 1968|agency=Associated Press|location=Baltimore|page=22}}</ref>
 
Before the 1968 season began, Unitas injured his elbow and was replaced by backup [[Earl Morrall]].<ref name="Unitas injured, returns in 1968" /> Expectations for Morrall were low, but the veteran quarterback led the Colts to a string of wins at the beginning of the season.<ref name="Unitas in 1968">{{cite news|title=Unitas Watches And Waits|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DD4sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4MwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7289,102457&dq=unitas+injured&hl=en|accessdate=November 15, 2013|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=December 1, 1968|agency=Associated Press|location=Baltimore|page=B–6}}</ref> Shula tried to ease Unitas back into the lineup, but the quarterback's injury flared up numerous times, culminating with a game against Cleveland in which he had just one completion and three interceptions.<ref name="Unitas in 1968" /> That turned out to be the only loss of the season for Baltimore, which finished with a league-leading 13–1 record.<ref name="1968 NFL stats">{{cite web |title=1968 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/ |publisher=Pro Football Reference |accessdate=November 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115045559/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/ |archivedate=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Colts beat the [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in the [[1968 NFL playoffs#Conference championships|Western Conference championship game]], and then beat the Browns 34–0 in the [[1968 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship Game]] the following week.<ref name="1968 NFL stats" /> That set up a matchup with the [[1968 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] in [[Super Bowl III]]. The Jets were led by quarterback [[Joe Namath]], who guaranteed a victory before the game despite being the underdog. New York won the game 16–7.<ref name="1968 NFL stats" />
 
Shula spent one more season as the head coach of the 8–5–1 Colts, and missed the playoffs. He compiled a 71–23–4 record in seven seasons with Baltimore, but was just 2–3 in the postseason, including upset losses in the [[1964 NFL Championship Game]] and Super Bowl III, where the Colts were heavy favorites.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
===Miami Dolphins (1970–1995)===
{{Section refimprove|date=May 2020}}
After the [[1969 NFL season|1969]] season, [[Joe Robbie]], owner of the Miami Dolphins, signed Shula to a contract to become Miami's second head coach. As a result of Shula's signing, the team was charged with [[Tampering (sport)|tampering]] by the NFL, which forced the Dolphins to give their first-round pick to the Colts.<ref>[http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084265/index.htm Olsen, Jack. "The Rosenbloom-Robbie Bowl", ''Sports Illustrated'', November 9, 1970.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725123948/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084265/index.htm |date=July 25, 2008 }}</ref> The decision was controversial because Shula and Robbie's negotiations and signing were conducted before and after the official [[AFL-NFL Merger|NFL/AFL merger]], respectively. Had the negotiations been concluded before the merger, while the NFL and AFL were rivals, the NFL's antitampering rules could not have been applied.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
Shula's Miami teams were known for great offensive lines (led by [[Larry Little]], [[Jim Langer]], and [[Bob Kuechenberg]]), strong running games (featuring [[Larry Csonka]], [[Jim Kiick]], and [[Mercury Morris]]), solid quarterbacking (by [[Bob Griese]] and [[Earl Morrall]]), excellent receivers (in [[Paul Warfield]], [[Howard Twilley]], and TE [[Jim Mandich]]) and a defense that worked well as a cohesive unit. The Dolphins were known as "The No-Name Defense", though they had a number of great players, including DT [[Manny Fernandez (American football)|Manny Fernandez]] and MLB [[Nick Buoniconti]].<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/edb/reader.html?magID=SI&issueDate=19720110&mode=reader_vault Underwood, John. "Two That Were Super", ''Sports Illustrated'', January 10, 1972.]</ref>
 
Shula changed his coaching strategy as his personnel changed. His Super Bowl teams in [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|1971]], [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972]], [[1973 Miami Dolphins season|1973]], and [[1982 Miami Dolphins season|1982]] were keyed by a run-first offensive strategy and a dominating defense. In [[1983 NFL Draft|1983]], shortly after losing [[Super Bowl XVII]] to the [[1982 Washington Redskins season|Redskins]], the Dolphins drafted quarterback [[Dan Marino]] out of the [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|University of Pittsburgh]]. Marino won the starting job halfway through the [[1983 NFL season|1983 regular season]], and by [[1984 NFL season|1984]], the Dolphins were back in the [[Super Bowl XIX|Super Bowl]], due largely to Marino's record 5,084 yards through the air and 48 touchdown passes.
 
Shula was the head coach of the [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972 Miami Dolphins]], which finished a perfect 17–0 and won [[Super Bowl VII]] 14–7 over the [[1972 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]. Shula's 1973 team repeated as NFL champions, winning [[Super Bowl VIII]] over the Minnesota Vikings. The 1974 Dolphins had a chance to win a third title in three years, but they fell to the [[History of the Oakland Raiders|Oakland Raiders]] 28–26, in an AFC divisional playoff game. With 35 seconds remaining in the game, [[Ken Stabler]] was in the process of being sacked by [[Vern Den Herder]]; when, just before he was tackled, he threw a completed desperation forward pass to his running back Clarence Davis in the game's final moments (since dubbed [[The Sea of Hands]] play). Thus Oakland ended Miami's two-year dominance. The Dolphins team was decimated the following season by the creation of the now defunct [[World Football League]] and their inability to match contract offers to three of its star players - Larry Csonka, Jim Kick, and Paul Warfield - from
the rival league. All three left to join the Memphis Southmen for the 1975 season.
 
Over the years, Shula's relationship with Robbie chilled considerably, in part due to Robbie's unwillingness to spend money on higher-profile players. Despite this, one of the few times he came close to leaving Miami came in the middle of the 1983 season, when [[Donald Trump]], the new owner of the upstart [[United States Football League]]'s [[New Jersey Generals]], offered him a $5 million contract–a significant increase from the $400,000 he was earning at the time with the Dolphins. Negotiations hit a snag when Shula insisted on getting a rent-free apartment at [[Trump Tower]]. When Trump publicly announced the deal was all but done except for the apartment agreement, Shula broke off talks and stayed in Miami. Years later, Csonka, by then an executive with the [[Jacksonville Bulls]], said that he believed Shula would have taken the job, but was angered at being "thrown out to the press" by Trump.<ref name=Buck>{{cite book|title=Football For A Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL|last=Pearlman|first=Jeff|authorlink=Jeff Pearlman|publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]]|date=2018|isbn=978-0544454385}}</ref>
 
==Later life==
{{Section refimprove|date=May 2020}}[[File:Shula's Steakhouse Matchbook.JPG|thumb|Matchbook from Shula's Steakhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, ''circa'' 1990]]
In retirement, Shula lent his name to a chain of [[steakhouse]]s, Shula's Steakhouse,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shulas.com/|title=Home|website=Shula's Restaurant Group}}</ref> and a line of condiments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.donshula.com/store.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127215132/http://www.donshula.com/store.php|url-status=dead|title=Shula's Online Store|archivedate=January 27, 2007}}</ref> He appeared in [[NutriSystem]] commercials with [[Dan Marino]] and other former NFL players.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
Shula also had a hotel in [[Miami Lakes, Florida]], which is home to the Original Shula's Steak House, The Senator Course at Shula's Golf Club, The Spa at Shula's, and Shula's Athletic Club. The hotel has 205 guest rooms and specializes in college and professional sport travel.
 
In 1999, Shula was honored with the "Lombardi Award of Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. The award was created to honor coach [[Vince Lombardi]]'s legacy, and is awarded annually to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the coach.
 
In 2003, at [[Super Bowl XXXVII]] in San Diego, Shula performed the [[coin flipping|ceremonial coin toss]] to end the pregame ceremonies.
 
As part of a government public awareness campaign, he was the first American to sign up for [[Medicare Part D]] prescription drug plan benefits, enrolling just after midnight on November 15, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/305635/humana_signs_its_first_medicare_part_d_prescription_drug_plan/|title=Humana Signs Its First Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Beneficiary|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>
 
In 2007, at [[Super Bowl XLI]] in [[Miami Gardens]], Shula took part in the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy]] presentation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marino, Shula to be honored at Super Bowl XLI |date=December 14, 2006 |url=http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9870848 |publisher=NFL |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216064901/http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9870848 |archivedate=December 16, 2006 }} Retrieved February 6, 2007</ref> On March 25, 2007, Shula presented the Winners Cup to [[Tiger Woods]], winner of the 2007 WGC-CA Golf Tournament held at the [[Doral Golf Resort & Spa|Doral Resort]] in Miami. On February 3, 2008, he participated in the opening of [[Super Bowl XLII]] in [[Glendale, Arizona]].
 
In 2011, he received the [[Ellis Island Medal of Honor]] in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
 
At John Carroll University, he endowed the Don Shula Chair in Philosophy, which supports the Philosophy Department by presenting programs of interest to philosophers and the general public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sites.jcu.edu/philosophy/pages/the-don-shula-chair-in-philosophy/ |title=The Don Shula Chair in Philosophy |publisher=[[John Carroll University]] College of Arts and Sciences |accessdate=June 5, 2014 }}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
[[File:Don Shula & Mary Anne Shula at 2014 MIFF.jpg|thumb|Don and Mary Anne Shula at the 2014 [[Miami International Film Festival]]]]
Shula married Painesville native Dorothy Bartish on July 19, 1958. They had five children: [[Dave Shula|Dave]] (b. May 28, 1959), Donna (b. April 28, 1961), Sharon (b. June 30, 1962), Anne (b. May 7, 1964), and [[Mike Shula|Mike]] (b. June 3, 1965). Dorothy died of [[breast cancer]] on February 25, 1991.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> That same year, the Don Shula Foundation for Breast Cancer Research was founded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miamidolphins.com/newsite/history/dolphinshonors/dolphinshonors_shula_d.asp |title=HISTORY: Dolphins Honors – Don Shula |publisher=[[Miami Dolphins]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410051135/http://miamidolphins.com/newsite/history/dolphinshonors/dolphinshonors_shula_d.asp |archivedate=April 10, 2009}}</ref>
 
He married Mary Anne Stephens on October 16, 1993. On November 25, 1996, he was added to the [[Miami Dolphin Honor Roll]]. In 2007, ads for NutriSystem geared for people age 60 and older featuring the Shulas aired.<ref>{{cite news|title=NFL's Shula named NutriSystem spokesman|date=January 22, 2007|url=http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-13776547.htm|publisher=CNN Money}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Retrieved February 6, 2007</ref> They resided in [[Indian Creek, Florida]], in the home Mary Anne had received in her divorce settlement from her third husband, investment banker [[Jackson T. Stephens]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Friedman |first=Mark |url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/36994/shula-stephens-battle-over-1-million-in-annual-alimony |title=Shula, Stephens Battle Over $1 Million in Annual Alimony |work=Arkansas Business News |location=Little Rock, Arkansas |publisher=[[Arkansas Business Publishing Group]] |date=May 10, 2010 |accessdate=October 3, 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013135503/http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/36994/shula-stephens-battle-over-1-million-in-annual-alimony |archivedate=October 13, 2013}}</ref>
 
Shula was deeply religious throughout his life. He said in 1974, at the peak of his coaching career, that he attended [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] every morning.<ref name="People magazine article">{{cite journal|last=Scott|first=Ronald B.|title=Coach Don Shula, the Would-Be Priest Who Makes Miami Mean|journal=People|date=December 2, 1974|volume=2|issue=23|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20064721,00.html|accessdate=November 2, 2013}}</ref> Shula once considered becoming a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] priest, but decided he could not commit to being both priest and coach.<ref name="People magazine article" />
 
==Death==
Shula died on May 4, 2020, at the age of 90 at his home in Indian Creek, Florida.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dolphins Hall of Fame coach Don Shula dies at 90 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29132028/dolphins-hall-fame-coach-don-shula-dies-90 |website=ESPN.com |date=May 4, 2020 |accessdate=May 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Belson |first1=Ken |title=Don Shula, N.F.L. Coach Who Won, and Won, and Won, Dies at 90 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/sports/football/don-shula-dead.html?fbclid=IwAR34UBXF9KyVn10QT_3evVyXNs8g4tPXrPG6VZLlwvq55i8BQgXSmYjbADM |website=The New York Times |accessdate=9 May 2020}}</ref>
 
==Legacy==
 
[[File:Don Shula Statue.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|A statue of Shula outside of [[Hard Rock Stadium]]]]{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2020}}
Shula set numerous records in his 33 seasons as a head coach. He is the all-time leader in victories with 347. He is first in most games coached (526), most consecutive seasons coached (33), and Super Bowl losses (four, tied with [[Bud Grant]], [[Dan Reeves]], and [[Marv Levy]]). His teams won seven NFL conference titles: 1964, 1968, 1971–73, 1982, and 1984. Shula's teams were consistently among the least penalized in the NFL, and Shula served on the Rules Committee, to help change the game to a more pass-oriented league. He had a winning record against almost every coach he faced, with several exceptions: Levy, against whom he was 5–14 during the regular season and 0–3 in the playoffs; [[John Madden]], against whom he was 2–2 in the regular season and 1–2 in the playoffs for a total of 3–4; and [[Bill Cowher]], against whom Shula was 1–2 late in his career. Shula also had losing records against [[Tom Flores]] (1–6) [[Raymond Berry]] (3–8), [[Walt Michaels]] (5–7–1), and Vince Lombardi (5–8).
 
Shula has the distinction of having coached five different quarterbacks to Super Bowl appearances ([[Johnny Unitas]] and [[Earl Morrall]] in 1968, [[Bob Griese]] in 1971, 1972, and 1973, [[David Woodley]] in 1982, and [[Dan Marino]] in 1984), three of them (Unitas, Griese, and Marino) future Hall of Famers. He also coached Johnny Unitas to another World Championship appearance (in the pre-Super Bowl era) in 1964. The only other NFL coach to approach this distinction is [[Joe Gibbs]], who coached four Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks ([[Joe Theismann]], [[Doug Williams (American football)|Doug Williams]], and [[Mark Rypien]]), winning three times.
 
Shula is honored at the [[Don Shula Stadium]] at John Carroll University, and the [[Don Shula Expressway]] in Miami. An annual college football game between [[South Florida]] schools [[Florida Atlantic Owls football|Florida Atlantic]] and [[FIU Golden Panthers football|FIU]] is named the [[Shula Bowl]] in his honor. The game's winner receives a traveling trophy named the [[Don Shula Award]]. On January 31, 2010, a statue of him was unveiled at [[Hard Rock Stadium]]. The stadium's street address is 347 Don Shula Drive (347 being his total career wins.)
 
==Literary works==
 
Shula co-authored three books: ''The Winning Edge'' (1973) with Lou Sahadi {{ISBN|0-525-23500-0}}, ''Everyone's a Coach'' (1995) {{ISBN|0-310-20815-7}}, and ''The Little Black Book of Coaching: Motivating People to be Winners'' (2001); {{ISBN|0-06-662103-8}}, both with Ken Blanchard (author of The One Minute Manager).
 
==Head coaching record==
 
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
![[1963 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||[[1963 NFL season|1963]]
||8||6||0||.571||3rd in Western Conference|| — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1964 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||[[1964 NFL season|1964]]
||12||2||0||.857||'''1st in Western Conference'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Cleveland Browns]] in [[1964 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship Game]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1965 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||[[1965 NFL season|1965]]
||10||3||1||.769||'''2nd in Western Conference'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Green Bay Packers]] in [[1965 NFL playoffs|Western Conference Playoff]].'''</Small>
|-
![[1966 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||[[1966 NFL season|1966]]
||9||5||0||.643||2nd in Western Conference|| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
![[1967 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||[[1967 NFL season|1967]]
!League!!Date/Season!!Team(s)!!Type
||11||1||2||.917||2nd in Coastal Division|| — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1968 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||[[1968 NFL season|1968]]
||13||1||0||.929||'''1st in Coastal Division'''|| 2 || 1 || .667 || <Small>'''[[1968 NFL Championship Game|Won 1968 NFL Championship]]. Lost to [[New York Jets]] in [[Super Bowl III]].'''</Small>
|-
|-
![[1969 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||[[1969 NFL season|1969]]
|National Football League||data-sort-value="January 1, 1971"|1971||Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1971/media-guide-1971_mia.html Media Guide]
||8||5||1||.615||2nd in Coastal Division|| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
! colspan="2"|BAL Total||71||23||4||.755||||2||3||.400||
|National Football League||September 16, 1979||Minnesota Vikings vs. Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1979/09-16_mia-min.html Program]
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1970 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1970 NFL season|1970]]
||10||4||0||.714||'''2nd in AFC East'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Oakland Raiders]] in [[1970–71 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1971 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1971 NFL season|1971]]
||10||3||1||.769||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 2 || 1 || .667 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Dallas Cowboys]] in [[Super Bowl VI]].'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[1972 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1972 NFL season|1972]]
||14||0||0||<span style="color:green">'''1.000'''</span>||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 3 || 0 || <span style="color:green">'''1.000'''</span> || <Small>'''[[Super Bowl VII]] Champions.'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[1973 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1973 NFL season|1973]]
||12||2||0||.857||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 3 || 0 || 1.000 || <Small>'''[[Super Bowl VIII]] Champions.'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1974 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1974 NFL season|1974]]
||11||3||0||.786||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Oakland Raiders]] in [[1974–75 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]].'''</Small>
|-
|-
![[1975 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1975 NFL season|1975]]
|National Football League||September 30, 1979||New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1979/09-30_mia-nyj.html Program]
||10||4||0||.714||2nd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
![[1976 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1976 NFL season|1976]]
|National Football League||August 6, 1983||Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1983/08-06_mia-dal.html Program]
||6||8||0||.429||3rd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
![[1977 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1977 NFL season|1977]]
|National Football League||data-sort-value="January 1, 1987"|1987||Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1987/media-guide-1987_mia.html Media Guide]
||10||4||0||.714||2nd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1978 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1978 NFL season|1978]]
||11||5||0||.688||'''2nd in AFC East'''||0||1||.000||<Small>'''Lost to [[Houston Oilers]] in [[1978–79 NFL playoffs|AFC Wild-Card Game]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1979 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1979 NFL season|1979]]
||10||6||0||.625||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in [[1979–80 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]].'''</Small>
|-
|-
![[1980 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1980 NFL season|1980]]
|National Football League||November 29, 1987||Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1987/11-29_mia-buf.html Program]
||8||8||0||.500||3rd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1981 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1981 NFL season|1981]]
||11||4||1||.719||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[San Diego Chargers]] in [[1981–82 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1982 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1982 NFL season|1982*]]
||7||2||0||.778||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 3 || 1 || .750 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Washington Redskins]] in [[Super Bowl XVII]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1983 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1983 NFL season|1983]]
||12||4||0||.750||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Seattle Seahawks]] in [[1983–84 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1984 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1984 NFL season|1984]]
||14||2||0||.875||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 2 || 1 || .667 || <Small>'''Lost to [[San Francisco 49ers]] in [[Super Bowl XIX]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1985 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1985 NFL season|1985]]
||12||4||0||.750||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[New England Patriots]] in [[1985–86 NFL playoffs|AFC Championship Game]].'''</Small>
|-
|-
![[1986 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1986 NFL season|1986]]
|National Football League||data-sort-value="January 1, 1990"|1990||Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1990/media-guide-1990_mia.html Media Guide]
||8||8||0||.500||3rd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
![[1987 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1987 NFL season|1987]]
|National Football League||September 30, 1990||Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1990/09-30_mia-pit.html Program]
||8||7||0||.533||3rd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
![[1988 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1988 NFL season|1988]]
|National Football League||November 14, 1993||Philadelphia Eagles vs. Miami Dolphins||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1993/11-14_mia-phi.html Program]
||6||10||0||.375||5th in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
![[1989 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1989 NFL season|1989]]
|National Football League||July 26, 1997||Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1997/07-26_min-sea.html Program]
||8||8||0||.500||2nd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1990 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1990 NFL season|1990]]
||12||4||0||.750||'''2nd in AFC East'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Buffalo Bills]] in [[1990–91 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]].'''</Small>
|-
|-
![[1991 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1991 NFL season|1991]]
|National Football League||August 2, 1997||Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1997/08-02_stl-min.html Program]
||8||8||0||.500||3rd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1992 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1992 NFL season|1992]]
||11||5||0||.688||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Buffalo Bills]] in [[1992–93 NFL playoffs|AFC Championship Game]].'''</Small>
|-
![[1993 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1993 NFL season|1993]]
||9||7||0||.563||2nd in AFC East|| — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1994 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1994 NFL season|1994]]
||10||6||0||.625||'''1st in AFC East'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[San Diego Chargers]] in [[1994–95 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]].'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1995 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]||[[1995 NFL season|1995]]
||9||7||0||.563||'''3rd in AFC East'''||0||1||.000||<Small>'''Lost to [[Buffalo Bills]] in [[1995–96 NFL playoffs|AFC Wild-Card Game]].'''</Small>
|-
! colspan="2"|MIA Total||257||133||2||.659||||17||14||.548||
|-
! colspan="2"|Total<ref name="Shula PFR coach">{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ShulDo0.htm|title=Don Shula: Coaches Main Page|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=May 4, 2020}}</ref>||328||156||6||.677|||| 19|| 17 || .528 ||
|-
|-
|National Football League||August 10, 1997||Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears||[https://www.sportspaper.info/football/nfl/seasons/1997/08-10_chb-mia.html Program]
|}
|}
<small>*''57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to 9''</small>
==See also==
* [[List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins]]
* [[List of professional gridiron football coaches with 200 wins]]
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Don Shula}}
* {{profootballhof|id=194|name=Don Shula}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0795677|name=Don Shula}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shula, Don}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shula, Don}}
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Revision as of 09:29, 24 July 2020

List of credited publications

League Date/Season Team(s) Type
National Football League 1971 Miami Dolphins Media Guide
National Football League September 16, 1979 Minnesota Vikings vs. Miami Dolphins Program
National Football League September 30, 1979 New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins Program
National Football League August 6, 1983 Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins Program
National Football League 1987 Miami Dolphins Media Guide
National Football League November 29, 1987 Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins Program
National Football League 1990 Miami Dolphins Media Guide
National Football League September 30, 1990 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins Program
National Football League November 14, 1993 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Miami Dolphins Program
National Football League July 26, 1997 Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings Program
National Football League August 2, 1997 Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams Program
National Football League August 10, 1997 Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears Program
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