NFL Icon and Former Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula Passes Away

After living to a ripe old age of 90, two-time Super Bowl champion, Don Shula has passed away. The player-turned coach is highly revered and he won more games than any other coach in NFL history.

“Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years,” the heartbroken 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.”

The Ohio-born Shula became a coaching legend in South Florida after spending more than four decades in the NFL. During his prime, he plied his trade as a defensive back for three different teams. However, he is best-remembered as a coach, most notably with the Miami Dolphins.

Don Shula led the Dolphins to two Super Bowl titles and a historic undefeated season in 1972. He made Super Bowl appearances with five different quarterbacks, including three future Hall of Famers. Finally, he joined his illustrious former teammate in the Hall of Fame in 1997.

NFL mourns the passing of Don Shula

“Don Shula lives by his word,” his son Dave said during the Hall of Fame induction. “He would not ask his players to do something he would not do himself, so he ran gassers after practice with his team. If he had something on his mind, you were soon to hear about it, good or bad. Honesty is his credo.”

Back in the day, Shula won an average of 10 regular-season games per season and retired with 328 total. George Halas is the only other coach to date who has eclipsed the 300 mark.

After retiring at the end of the 1995 season, Shula opened a chain of steakhouses in his name. He also opened several other business and endorsement-related pursuits. He also spent time with his five children, two of whom went on to become coaches themselves.