Don Shula facts for kids

Donald Francis Shula (January 4, 1930 – May 4, 2020) was a famous American football player and coach. He played for seven seasons as a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). Shula is best known as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins for most of his career. He holds the NFL record for the most career wins as a head coach, with 347 victories.

Shula coached for 33 years and had only two losing seasons. He led the Dolphins to two Super Bowl championships in a row in Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII. His 1972 team achieved the only "perfect season" in NFL history, winning every game, including the Super Bowl. Shula was the first head coach to appear in six Super Bowls and to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl. He was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

Quick facts for kids
Don Shula

Shula in 2009
No. 96, 44, 25, 26
Position:	Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	(1930-01-04)January 4, 1930 Grand River, Ohio, U.S.
Died:	May 4, 2020(2020-05-04) (aged 90) Indian Creek, Florida, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:	Harvey (Painesville, Ohio)
College:	John Carroll
NFL Draft:	1951 / Round: 9 / Pick: 110
Career history
As player:
Cleveland Browns (1951–1952) Baltimore Colts (1953–1956) Washington Redskins (1957)
As coach:
Virginia (1958) Defensive backs coach Kentucky (1959) Defensive backs coach Detroit Lions (1960) Defensive backs coach Detroit Lions (1961–1962) Defensive coordinator Baltimore Colts (1963–1969) Head coach Miami Dolphins (1970–1995) Head coach
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (VII, VIII) NFL champion (1968) 4× AP NFL Coach of the Year (1964, 1967, 1968, 1972) Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (1993) Lamar Hunt Award (2013) NFL 1970s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Miami Dolphins Honor Roll Dolphins Walk of Fame (2011) 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
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 73 Interceptions: 21 Player stats at NFL.com
Head coaching record
Regular season:	328–156–6 (.676)
Postseason:	19–17 (.528)
Career:	347–173–6 (.665)
Coaching stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Early Life and College Years

Don Shula was born on January 4, 1930, in Grand River, Ohio. His parents were from Hungary. As a child, Shula loved playing football in his neighborhood. However, his parents stopped him from playing after he got a cut on his face when he was 11.

His family grew, and his father worked in fishing and at a rayon plant. Don went to a private Catholic school and later to Thomas W. Harvey High School in Painesville. He joined the football team in 1945, even though his mother didn't want him to. An assistant coach saw him in gym class and convinced him to play. Shula even forged his parents' signatures to sign up!

Don quickly became a starting halfback for his high school team. He helped lead them to a great 7–3 record in his senior year. This was the best record for Harvey High in 18 years. He also ran track and was a successful athlete in other sports.

After high school in 1947, it was hard to get a football scholarship because many older players were returning from World War II. But a chance meeting with a former coach led him to John Carroll University. He got a one-year scholarship, which became a full scholarship after he played very well. In college, Shula even thought about becoming a Catholic priest, but he chose to stick with football.

Playing Career in the NFL

Don Shula graduated from college in 1951. The Cleveland Browns of the NFL chose him in the ninth round of the 1951 draft. He signed a $5,000-a-year contract and played as a defensive back. He played in all 12 games for the Browns in 1951 and had four interceptions. The Browns made it to the championship game but lost.

Shula served for 11 months in the Ohio Army National Guard in 1952 during the Korean War.

In 1952, Shula served in the Ohio Army National Guard during the Korean War. This kept him away from football for a while. When he returned, he became a full-time starter for the Browns. They reached the championship game again but lost to the Detroit Lions.

In 1953, Shula was traded to the Baltimore Colts. He played for the Colts for four seasons, getting many interceptions. The Colts struggled during these years. In 1957, the Colts let him go, and he played one season with the Washington Redskins before retiring as a player. In his seven NFL seasons, he played in 73 games and had 21 interceptions.

Coaching Career

Early Coaching Years (1958-1962)

Right after his playing career, Shula became a coach. His first job was as a defensive backs coach at the University of Virginia in 1958. He then moved to the University of Kentucky in 1959.

In 1960, Shula got his first NFL coaching job with the Detroit Lions as their defensive backfield coach. The Lions had winning records in all three of Shula's seasons there. Their defense was one of the best in the league, known for its strong defensive line called the "Fearsome Foursome".

Baltimore Colts (1963-1969)

In 1963, the owner of the Baltimore Colts hired Shula as their new head coach. Shula was only 33 years old, making him the youngest head coach in NFL history at the time. The owner believed Shula would bring a new team spirit.

Shula's Colts team, led by star quarterback Johnny Unitas, had a great season in 1964 with a 12–2 record. They made it to the NFL championship game but lost to the Cleveland Browns. Despite the loss, Shula won the NFL's Coach of the Year Award.

In 1965, the Colts tied for first place but lost a playoff game to the Green Bay Packers in overtime. In 1968, even with Unitas injured, the Colts had an amazing 13–1 record with backup quarterback Earl Morrall. They won the NFL Championship and went to Super Bowl III. However, they were upset by Joe Namath and the New York Jets, losing 16–7. Shula coached one more season with the Colts before leaving. He had a strong record of 71 wins, 23 losses, and 4 ties in Baltimore.

Miami Dolphins (1970-1995)

After the 1969 season, Shula became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had been one of the worst teams in the league. However, Shula quickly turned them around.

In 1970, the Dolphins had a winning record of 10–4. The next year, in 1971, they won the AFC championship but lost Super Bowl VI to the Dallas Cowboys. The team had many talented players, including quarterback Bob Griese, fullback Larry Csonka, and the famous "No-Name Defense."

In 1972, Shula led Miami to the NFL's only perfect season! They finished with a 17–0 record, winning Super Bowl VII against the Washington Redskins 14–7. This incredible achievement has never been matched by any other NFL team. Even when Griese was injured, backup quarterback Earl Morrall stepped in and kept the winning streak going.

Shula's 1973 team continued their success. They won a second Super Bowl in a row, beating the Minnesota Vikings 24–7 in Super Bowl VIII.

The Dolphins almost won a third straight title in 1974 but lost a close playoff game to the Oakland Raiders. After that, some key players left the team for another league, which made the Dolphins less strong for a while.

Shula continued to lead the Dolphins to many winning seasons throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1982, his team made it to Super Bowl XVII but lost to the Washington Redskins. This team's defense was nicknamed the "Killer Bees" because many players' last names started with "B."

In 1983, the Dolphins drafted star quarterback Dan Marino. By 1984, Marino led the team back to the Super Bowl, setting records for passing yards and touchdowns. However, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Joe Montana.

Don Shula on the sidelines at Giants Stadium during a "replacement players" game on October 18, 1987.

Shula stayed with the Dolphins for many more years. In 1994, he coached against his son, Dave Shula, who was the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. This was the first time in NFL history a father and son coached against each other.

Don Shula retired in 1996 at 66 years old. He finished his coaching career with an amazing 328 wins, 156 losses, and 6 ties in the regular season. This made him the all-time winningest head coach in NFL history. Shula was known for changing his coaching style to fit his players. He could lead a run-heavy team or a pass-heavy team, depending on his players' strengths.

Later Life and Death

After retiring from coaching, Shula started a business with his name on it, opening many steakhouses and other restaurants, mostly in Florida. He also appeared in commercials for various products.

Shula remained connected to football. He often appeared at Super Bowls for special ceremonies, like the coin toss. In 2008, he watched the Super Bowl where the New England Patriots tried to match his 1972 perfect season, but they lost. In 2013, he attended a White House ceremony honoring his 1972 undefeated team.

Shula was also a big golfer. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2011 for his good work outside of sports. He also supported the Philosophy Department at John Carroll University, his old college.

Don Shula passed away on May 4, 2020, at the age of 90.

Personal Life

Shula married Dorothy Bartish in 1958. They had five children: Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anne, and Mike. Dorothy passed away in 1991 from breast cancer. The Don Shula Foundation for Breast Cancer Research was started in her honor.

He married his second wife, Mary Anne Stephens, in 1993. Shula was a devoted Roman Catholic throughout his life and attended Mass every morning during his coaching career.

Legacy

A statue of Shula outside of Hard Rock Stadium

Don Shula holds many records in the NFL. He has the most total wins as a head coach (347), coached the most games (526), and coached for the most consecutive seasons (33). His teams won 15 division titles and appeared in six Super Bowls. Shula's teams were also known for making very few mistakes.

He was known as a tough coach who made his players work hard and be disciplined. But he also had a very smart football mind that helped him stay ahead of other teams.

Shula coached five different quarterbacks who made it to the Super Bowl: Johnny Unitas, Earl Morrall, Bob Griese, David Woodley, and Dan Marino. Three of these quarterbacks are now in the Hall of Fame.

After he retired, Shula was added to the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll in 1996. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2010, a statue of him was put up outside Hard Rock Stadium, where the Dolphins play. The street address of the stadium is 347 Don Shula Drive, named after his total career wins.

Shula is also honored at the Don Shula Stadium at John Carroll University and the Don Shula Expressway in Miami. Since 2002, a college football game between two South Florida schools is called the Shula Bowl in his honor.

Literary Works

Shula wrote three books:

• The Winning Edge (1973) with Lou Sahadi
• Everyone's a Coach (1995) with Ken Blanchard
• The Little Black Book of Coaching: Motivating People to be Winners (2001) with Ken Blanchard

Head Coaching Record

*A 57-day players' strike in 1982 shortened the season from 16 games to 9.

Coaching Tree

Don Shula worked under three head coaches:

• Dick Voris (Virginia, 1958)
• Blanton Collier (Kentucky, 1959)
• George Wilson (Detroit Lions, 1960-1962)

Many of Shula's assistant coaches and former players went on to become head coaches in the NFL or college football. This shows how much he influenced other football leaders. His sons, Dave Shula and Mike Shula, also became head coaches.

See Also

• List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins
• List of professional gridiron football coaches with 200 wins
• List of Super Bowl head coaches
• Shula Bowl (a college football game named in his honor)