‘You embody greatness.’ Tributes to Miami Dolphins coaching legend Don Shula pour in
Hall of Fame coaching legend Don Shula, who led the Miami Dolphins to the only perfect season in NFL history, died Monday. He was 90.
Tributes and praise poured in from around the league on social media.
Shula was the NFL’s all-time leader with 347 career wins (including playoffs), 23 ahead of longtime Chicago Bears coach George Halas. The New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick is No. 3 all-time with 304 wins. The Dallas Cowboys’ legendary Tom Landry is fourth with 270 career victories.
“Don Shula is one of the all-time coaching figures and the standard for consistency and leadership in the NFL,” Belichick said in a release.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called Shula an iconic figure “in the history of our game” in a release.
“On behalf of our family and the Dallas Cowboys organization, we extend our deepest sympathies to the entire Shula family,” the release said. “We are so grateful for the relationship we have shared with Don and Mary Anne through so many years, and our support, friendship and admiration will be with her always moving forward.”
Shula coached 33 years in the NFL, including the last 26 with the Miami Dolphins. He won the Super Bowl twice and he remains the only coach to guide an NFL team (1972 Dolphins) to a perfect record and a championship in the Super Bowl era.
“He was an American institution who always represented the highest levels of character, leadership and integrity,” Jones said. “Being in his presence was always a special opportunity to rub shoulders with true greatness. His name and his legacy will serve to inspire all of the very best virtues of sportsmanship, competition and achievement in coaches for generations to come. There will never be another one like him.”
During the first decade of the Super Bowl’s existence, Shula’s Dolphins, like the Cowboys, were regulars in the title game, with each having played in three of the first 10 contests. Tom Landry’s Cowboys beat Shula’s Dolphins, 24-3, in their only head-to-head Super Bowl match-up following the 1971 season. Decades later, after the 1995 season, Jimmy Johnson left the Cowboys to replace Shula.
Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who played his entire career under Shula, offered his thoughts on Twitter.
“You embody the definition of ‘greatness.’ You brought that winning attitude with you every day and made everyone around you better,” Marino said. “Thank you for always believing in me. You made me a better player and person. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Shula family. Love you Coach!”
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
