Dolphins Birthday: Don Shula Was Born 95 Years Ago

The legendary Don Shula was born on this day 95 years ago — Jan. 4, 1930.

A native of Ohio, Don Shula spent more than three decades as an NFL head coach. His final 26 seasons came as the head man of the Miami Dolphins. Shula remains the winningest coach in NFL history.

A graduate of John Carroll University, Shula played seven seasons in the NFL from 1951 to 1957 with the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts and Washington Redskins. Following two years in the college ranks as an assistant coach at Virginia and Kentucky, Shula was on staff for the Detroit Lions for three years before getting his first opportunity as an NFL head coach with the Baltimore Colts in 1963.

In seven seasons with Baltimore from 1963 to 1969, Shula coached the Colts to a winning record each year. After two losses in the NFL Championship, Shula’s Colts won the NFL title in 1968, but were infamously defeated by Joe Namath and the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. As relationships soured between Shula and Baltimore ownership, the head coach took over in South Florida in 1970.

Baltimore’s loss was Miami’s gain as the Dolphins’ turnaround was instant. After coaching Miami to its first-ever playoff appearance in 1970, Shula led the Dolphins to three straight Super Bowl appearances, winning the last two. In the process, Shula was able to shuck the stereotype of being unable to win the big game.

His 1972 team remains the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect season. Over his 26 years in Miami from 1970 to 1995, Shula had a losing record just twice, leading the Dolphins to the aforementioned two Super Bowl titles, five AFC championships, 16 playoff appearances, 12 division titles and 274 total wins.

With an NFL record 347 wins for his career, Shula was a 4-time NFL Coach of the Year. A member of the Dolphins’ Ring of Honor and the NFL’s 100th Anniversary team, Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Shula passed away in May 2020 at the age of 90 years old.