# Don Shula
**Don Shula** (Donald Francis Shula; January 4, 1930 – May 4, 2020) was an American professional football coach who holds the record for most victories by a head coach in [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) history, with a career mark of 347 wins, 173 losses, and 6 ties over 33 seasons with the Baltimore Colts and the [Miami Dolphins](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-dolphins).[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) He coached the 1972 Dolphins to the only perfect season in NFL history, 17-0 including playoffs, and was inducted into the [Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-hall-of-fame) in 1997, his first year of eligibility.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) • [2](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Career record | 347-173-6 (.665) overall; 328-156-6 (.676) regular season, 1963-1995[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) • [3](https://www.colts.com/team/history/hall-of-fame/don-shula) |
| Head coaching tenure | Baltimore Colts 1963-1969 (73-26-4); Miami Dolphins 1970-1995 (257-133-2)[3](https://www.colts.com/team/history/hall-of-fame/don-shula) • [4](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/378/don-shula-bio) |
| Perfect season | 1972 Dolphins, 14-0 regular season and 3-0 playoffs, the only undefeated full season in NFL history[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) |
| Championships | Two Super Bowl titles (VII, VIII) in six Super Bowl appearances; NFL champion with the 1968 Colts[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) • [5](https://as.com/us/us/2020/08/14/nfl/1597356824_846438.html) |
| Coach of the Year | Four times: 1964, 1967, 1968, and 1972[4](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/378/don-shula-bio) |
| Wins record | Passed George Halas's 324 victories on November 14, 1993[6](https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article242482656.html) • [7](https://www.profootballhof.com/pfhof/media/pfhof/News/Dolphins24_Teacher-Activity-Guide.pdf) |
| Hall of Fame | Inducted January 25, 1997 election; enshrined July 26, 1997, in his first year of eligibility[2](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf) |
| Death | May 4, 2020, at age 90[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) |
## Early life and playing career
Shula was born in Grand River, Ohio, and played college football at [John Carroll University](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-carroll-university) in Cleveland, graduating in 1951.[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula) He became one of two rookies on coach [Paul Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-brown)'s 1951 [Cleveland Browns](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland-browns) team and played defensive back in the NFL for seven seasons, from 1951 to 1957, with the Browns, the Baltimore Colts, and the Washington Redskins.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) • [9](https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-creates-coach-shula-award-to-honor-football-coaches-09000d5d81619bc7) Over 73 games he recorded 21 interceptions and four fumble recoveries.[10](https://case.edu/ech/articles/s/shula-donald-francis-don) In 1953 he moved to the Colts as part of a 15-player trade, and he later joined the Redskins for the 1957 season.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula)
He turned to coaching after his playing career ended, serving as an assistant at the [University of Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-virginia) in 1958 and the [University of Kentucky](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-kentucky) in 1959 before joining the [Detroit Lions](https://www.edgepedia.org/detroit-lions) as defensive backfield coach; he was the Lions' defensive coordinator from 1960 to 1962.[2](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf) • [4](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/378/don-shula-bio)
## Baltimore Colts, 1963-1969
In 1963, at age 33, Shula was hired as head coach of the Baltimore Colts, becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history at the time.[10](https://case.edu/ech/articles/s/shula-donald-francis-don) His first career win came on September 22, 1963, against the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers).[6](https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article242482656.html) In seven seasons he led the Colts to a 73-26-4 overall record, seven straight winning seasons, and playoff appearances in three years.[3](https://www.colts.com/team/history/hall-of-fame/don-shula) • [1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula)
The 1968 Colts went 13-1 and reached [Super Bowl III](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-iii), where they were upset by the [New York Jets](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-jets).[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula) After a winning but disappointing 8-5-1 season in 1969, Shula left the team; his relationship with owner Carroll Rosenbloom had soured, and he became coach of the Miami Dolphins.[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula) • [10](https://case.edu/ech/articles/s/shula-donald-francis-don)
## Miami Dolphins and the perfect season
Shula took over a Dolphins team that had finished 3-10-1 in 1969, its fourth season of existence, and produced winning records of 10-4 and 10-3-1 in his first two years.[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula) The 1971 team reached [Super Bowl VI](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-vi), losing 24-3 to the [Dallas Cowboys](https://www.edgepedia.org/dallas-cowboys).[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula)
**The 1972 season.** In 1972 the Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season and won three playoff games, finishing 17-0 with a 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins in [Super Bowl VII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-vii). It remains the only perfect season in NFL history.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) The team set an NFL record with 2,960 rushing yards that year.[11](https://as.com/us/us/2020/05/04/nfl/1588628919_697807.html) Miami repeated as champion after the 1973 season, beating the Minnesota Vikings 24-7 in Super Bowl VIII to cap a two-season span in which the Dolphins won 32 of 34 games.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula)
Shula returned to the Super Bowl twice more, losing to Washington after the strike-shortened 1982 season and to the San Francisco 49ers after the 1984 season, the Dolphins' first year with quarterback Dan Marino.[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula) His six Super Bowl appearances are not the NFL record for a coach, against two wins.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) • [16](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/patriots/dymbmqxyugf1v7mbhkkd.pdf) Marino never won a championship under Shula, something the coach's career otherwise lacked.[12](https://as.com/us/us/2020/05/04/nfl/1588623806_087814.html)
## Records and coaching style
Shula's consistency defined his tenure. His teams reached the playoffs 20 times in 33 years and won at least 10 games in 21 seasons; in 26 years at Miami, the Dolphins had only two seasons below .500.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) His playoff record was 19-17.[4](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/378/don-shula-bio)
On November 14, 1993, a win at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium gave Shula his 325th victory, breaking the record of 324 set by George Halas, who had held the mark since retiring with 318 regular-season and 324 total wins.[6](https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article242482656.html) • [13](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/george-halas) He was named NFL Coach of the Year four times, in 1964, 1967, 1968, and 1972, and was named Coach of the Decade for the 1970s.[4](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/378/don-shula-bio) • [8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula)
His coaching style emphasized ball control on offense and disciplined defense; quarterback Bob Griese thrived in the short-yardage system Shula installed in 1970.[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula) Seven assistants from his staffs later became NFL head coaches, including Don McCafferty, Bill Arnsparger, Monte Clark, Howard Schnellenberger, and his son David Shula; the tree's single championship came from McCafferty's 1970 Colts.[4](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/378/don-shula-bio)
## Later years and legacy
Shula retired after the 1995 season, his 33rd, at age 66.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) • [8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula) In 1994 he and his son Dave, then coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, took part in the first father-son head coaching matchup in professional sports history.[6](https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article242482656.html) After coaching he ran Shula Enterprises, the holding company for his steakhouse chain.[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula)
His wins record has outlasted every successor. Bill Belichick, the only coach with a realistic path to the mark, ended his New England tenure after the 2023 season with 333 career wins, 14 short of Shula's 347.[14](https://apnews.com/article/b4736aabfddb57c75477b6e3ea2bcb14) Shula was also known for insisting on playing by the rules, publicly criticizing Belichick after the videotaping and underinflated-football scandals involving the Patriots.[15](https://www.nfl.com/news/don-shula-dies-at-age-90-iconic-coach-left-indelible-mark-on-nf-0ap3000001112598) He died on May 4, 2020, at age 90, and the Dolphins wore a commemorative patch in his honor that season.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula) • [5](https://as.com/us/us/2020/08/14/nfl/1597356824_846438.html)
## References
1. [Don Shula, Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/don-shula)
2. [Dolphins in the Hall of Fame, Miami Dolphins media guide (PDF)](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf)
3. [Don Shula Colts Hall of Fame, Indianapolis Colts](https://www.colts.com/team/history/hall-of-fame/don-shula)
4. [Don Shula biography and coaching record, Pro Football History.com](https://pro-football-history.com/coach/378/don-shula-bio)
5. [Dolphins usarán parche conmemorativo de Don Shula, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2020/08/14/nfl/1597356824_846438.html)
6. [Don Shula through the years: A timeline of a legendary life, Miami Herald](https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article242482656.html)
7. [Miami Dolphins Teacher Activity Guide, Pro Football Hall of Fame (PDF)](https://www.profootballhof.com/pfhof/media/pfhof/News/Dolphins24_Teacher-Activity-Guide.pdf)
8. [Shula, Don, Notable Sports Figures, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/don-shula)
9. [NFL creates 'Coach Shula Award' to honor football coaches, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-creates-coach-shula-award-to-honor-football-coaches-09000d5d81619bc7)
10. [Shula, Donald Francis "Don", Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Case Western Reserve University](https://case.edu/ech/articles/s/shula-donald-francis-don)
11. [La imperfecta campaña perfecta de los Dolphins de Don Shula, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2020/05/04/nfl/1588628919_697807.html)
12. [Don Shula, un legado en Miami que quedó para la inmortalidad, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2020/05/04/nfl/1588623806_087814.html)
13. [George Halas, Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/george-halas)
14. [NFL legend Bill Belichick is coaching practices again. Only now he's a college rookie at UNC, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/b4736aabfddb57c75477b6e3ea2bcb14)
15. [Don Shula dies at age 90: Iconic coach left indelible mark on NFL, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/don-shula-dies-at-age-90-iconic-coach-left-indelible-mark-on-nf-0ap3000001112598)
16. [static.clubs.nfl.com](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/patriots/dymbmqxyugf1v7mbhkkd.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › NFL head coaches › Late 20th century head coaches*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license