Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, died on Monday morning at the age of 90.
Over 33 seasons with the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins, Shula put together a Hall of Fame coaching career, racking up a 347-173-6 record and making him one of just two men to have attained 300 wins in the NFL, along with George Halas.
He won back-to-back Super Bowls with Miami, the first in 1972 as the culmination of the only perfect season (17-0) in league history.
“Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years,” the Dolphins said in a statement, expressing condolences to his wife, Mary Anne, and their children. “He brought the winning edge to our franchise and put the Dolphins and City of Miami in the national sports scene.”
In recent weeks, Shula, a restaurateur, teamed up with other former Dolphins to provide free meals to first responders in the coronavirus pandemic.
“Don Shula will always be remembered as one of the greatest coaches and contributors in the history of our game,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He made an extraordinarily positive impact on so many lives. The winningest coach in NFL history and the only one to lead a team to a perfect season, Coach Shula lived an unparalleled football life. As a player, Hall of Fame coach, and long-time member and co-chair of the NFL Competition Committee, he was a remarkable teacher and mentor who for decades inspired excellence and exemplified integrity. His iconic legacy will endure through his family and continue to inspire generations to come.”
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