History of Don Shula in Timeline
"Don Shula was an American football coach and player who holds the NFL record for most career wins (347) and regular season wins (328). His coaching career spanned from 1963 to 1995, most of which he spent with the Miami Dolphins. Before coaching, Shula also played seven seasons as a defensive back in the NFL."
1936: Shula's Siblings Are Born
Don Shula's mother gave birth to triplets in 1936.
1945: Shula Begins High School Football Career
Don Shula began playing high school football in 1945.
1947: Shula Graduates High School
Don Shula graduated from Harvey High School in 1947.
October 1948: Shula Stars Against Youngstown State
Don Shula had a breakout game while filling in for an injured teammate, rushing for 175 yards and two touchdowns against Youngstown State in October of 1948.
1950: Shula's Senior Year
Don Shula played his final year of college football in 1950.
1950: Previous Baltimore Colts Franchise Folds
The NFL franchise that would eventually become the modern-day Indianapolis Colts, the Baltimore Colts, replaced an earlier Colts franchise that folded after the 1950 season.
1951: The Browns Lose the 1951 NFL Championship Game
Don Shula and the Cleveland Browns lost the 1951 NFL Championship Game to the Los Angeles Rams, 24-17.
1951: Shula Drafted by the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns drafted Don Shula in the ninth round of the 1951 NFL draft.
1953: Colts Finish With a Losing Record in Baltimore Debut
Don Shula and the Baltimore Colts finished with a 3-9 record in their first season in Baltimore in 1953.
1953: Shula Traded to the Baltimore Colts
Don Shula was traded to the Baltimore Colts in 1953.
1955: Shula Suffers Broken Jaw
Don Shula suffered a broken jaw in a 17-17 tie with the Los Angeles Rams in 1955.
1956: Johnny Unitas Joins the Colts
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas joined the Baltimore Colts in 1956.
1957: Shula's Playing Career Ends; Coaching Career Begins
The Baltimore Colts waived Don Shula in 1957. He would go on to play one season with the Washington Redskins before retiring and immediately beginning his coaching career.
February 1958: Shula Accepts First Coaching Job
Don Shula accepted his first coaching position with the University of Virginia in February 1958.
July 19, 1958: Marriage to Dorothy Bartish
Don Shula married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Bartish, on July 19, 1958, after his playing career ended.
May 28, 1959: Birth of Son Dave
On May 28, 1959, Don and Dorothy Shula welcomed their first child, a son named Dave.
1960: First NFL Coaching Job
Don Shula landed his first NFL coaching role as the defensive backfield coach for the Detroit Lions in 1960.
April 28, 1961: Birth of Daughter Donna
Donna, Don and Dorothy Shula's second child and first daughter, was born on April 28, 1961.
1961: Second Place Finish in NFL West
The Detroit Lions, under Shula's coaching as defensive backfield coach, finished second in the NFL West in 1961.
June 30, 1962: Birth of Daughter Sharon
On June 30, 1962, Don and Dorothy Shula welcomed their third child, a daughter named Sharon.
1962: The "Fearsome Foursome"
The 1962 Detroit Lions defense, led by Don Shula, featured a formidable line nicknamed the "Fearsome Foursome," comprising defensive tackles Roger Brown and Alex Karras, and defensive ends Darris McCord and Sam Williams.
1962: Defensive Success with the Lions
The Detroit Lions finished second in the NFL West in 1962 and their defense, coached by Shula, was among the league's best, ranking second in fewest points allowed and leading the league in fewest yards allowed (3,217).
1963: Head Coach of the Colts
After Weeb Ewbank's dismissal, Don Shula was appointed as the head coach of the Baltimore Colts in 1963 by owner Carroll Rosenbloom.
1963: First Season with the Colts
Despite losing his first regular-season game, Don Shula led the Colts to an 8-6 record and a third-place finish in the NFL West in 1963.
1963: Start of Head Coaching Career
Don Shula's head coaching career began in 1963.
May 7, 1964: Birth of Daughter Anne
Don and Dorothy Shula's fourth child and third daughter, Anne, was born on May 7, 1964.
1964: World Championship Appearance with Unitas
Before the Super Bowl era, Don Shula coached the Baltimore Colts and Johnny Unitas to a World Championship appearance in 1964.
1964: Coaching Record with the Colts
Don Shula concluded his seven-season tenure as the Baltimore Colts head coach with a 71-23-4 record but only a 2-3 record in the postseason, which included upset losses in the 1964 NFL Championship Game and Super Bowl III despite being favored in both games.
June 3, 1965: Birth of Son Mike
Mike Shula, the fifth child and second son of Don and Dorothy Shula, was born on June 3, 1965.
1965: Playoff Loss to Green Bay
The Colts tied with the Green Bay Packers at 10-3-1 in 1965, leading to a playoff game. Despite leading 10-0 at halftime, the Colts lost 13-10 to the Packers in sudden-death overtime.
1967: Missed Playoffs, Coach of the Year
Despite an 11-1-2 record in 1967, the Colts missed the playoffs, losing the Coastal Division title to the Los Angeles Rams on a tiebreaker. Don Shula received his second Coach of the Year award that season.
1968: Super Bowl Appearances with Unitas and Morrall
Don Shula coached the Baltimore Colts to Super Bowl III in 1968, with Johnny Unitas and Earl Morrall sharing quarterback duties.
1968: Super Bowl III Loss
The Colts, led by backup quarterback Earl Morrall due to Johnny Unitas's injury, achieved a 13-1 record in 1968. They won the NFL Championship but lost Super Bowl III to the New York Jets, coached by Weeb Ewbank.
1969: Offer from the Miami Dolphins
Following the 1969 season, Don Shula accepted a lucrative offer from Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie, which included a $70,000 annual salary, general manager authority, and a 10% ownership stake in the team.
1969: Final Season with the Colts
In 1969, the Colts finished with an 8-5-1 record and did not make the playoffs. This marked the end of Shula's tenure with the team.
1969: Dolphins' Struggles Before Shula
Prior to Shula's arrival, the Dolphins had struggled since their establishment in 1966, failing to win more than five games in any season under coach George Wilson through the 1969 season.
1970: AFL and NFL Prepare to Merge
Don Shula joined the Miami Dolphins as the AFL and NFL prepared for a merger starting in the 1970 season.
1970: Immediate Success with Miami
Don Shula turned the Dolphins around immediately, leading them to a 10-4 record in 1970 and a 10-3-1 record in 1971. They won the AFC championship in the 1971 season but lost to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI.
1970: Tampering Controversy
The Colts owner, Carroll Rosenbloom, accused the Dolphins of tampering for hiring Shula. The NFL commissioner found the Dolphins in violation and penalized them with the loss of their 1971 first-round draft pick.
1971: Dolphins' First Super Bowl Berth
Don Shula coached the Miami Dolphins to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history during the 1971 season.
1971: First Super Bowl Appearance with Griese
In 1971, Don Shula led the Miami Dolphins to their first Super Bowl appearance, with Bob Griese as quarterback.
1971: Super Bowl Victory
Shula's coaching style adapted to his players; his Super Bowl-winning teams in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1982 relied on a strong running game and a dominant defense.
1971: Penalty for Tampering
The Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft as a penalty for tampering with Don Shula's contract while he was still the coach of the Baltimore Colts.
1972: The Perfect Season
Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins completed the NFL's only perfect season in 1972.
1972: Second Super Bowl Appearance with Griese
Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins, with Bob Griese as quarterback, reached the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year in 1972.
1972: 100 Wins in a Decade
Don Shula made history in 1972 by becoming the first professional American football coach to reach 100 wins within his first decade of coaching.
1972: Perfect Season with Miami Dolphins
In 1972, Don Shula achieved the only perfect season in NFL history as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
1972: Super Bowl Victory
Shula's coaching style adapted to his players; his Super Bowl-winning teams in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1982 relied on a strong running game and a dominant defense.
1973: Third Super Bowl Appearance with Griese
1973 marked Don Shula's third consecutive Super Bowl appearance as coach of the Miami Dolphins, with Bob Griese as quarterback, cementing their place in NFL history.
1973: Dolphins Three-peat in AFC Championship Game
Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins made their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance in 1973.
1973: Publication of "The Winning Edge"
In 1973, Don Shula co-authored his first book, "The Winning Edge," with Lou Sahadi.
1973: Super Bowl Victory
Shula's coaching style adapted to his players; his Super Bowl-winning teams in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1982 relied on a strong running game and a dominant defense.
1974: Devout Catholic Faith
At the height of his coaching success in 1974, Don Shula, a devout Roman Catholic, shared his practice of attending daily Mass and revealed that he had once considered becoming a priest but felt he couldn't fully commit to both vocations.
1974: AFC Divisional Playoff Loss
In 1974, the Dolphins' bid for a third consecutive Super Bowl title ended with a 28-26 loss to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC divisional playoff game.
1974: Tension with Joe Robbie
Shula's relationship with Dolphins owner Joe Robbie became increasingly strained, partly due to disagreements over player salaries. A notable incident occurred at a banquet celebrating the Dolphins' 1974 Super Bowl victory.
1975: Player Departures and the World Football League
The Dolphins faced significant challenges in 1975 due to the emergence of the World Football League, which lured away key players like Csonka, Warfield, and Jim Kiick to the Memphis Southmen.
1976: Losing Season
The Dolphins experienced a rare losing season in 1976, finishing with a 6-8 record.
1978: Playoff Appearance
The Dolphins returned to the playoffs in 1978 but were eliminated in the first round.
1979: Playoff Appearance
The Dolphins made another playoff appearance in 1979 but were again eliminated in the first round.
1980: Griese's Retirement
Bob Griese retired from professional football after the 1980 season, leading to a quarterback change for the Dolphins.
1981: Epic in Miami
The Dolphins' 1981 season ended with a memorable double-overtime playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers, a game widely considered one of the greatest ever played.
1982: Super Bowl Appearance with Woodley
Don Shula coached the Miami Dolphins to Super Bowl XVII in 1982, with David Woodley as quarterback.
1982: Super Bowl Victory
Shula's coaching style adapted to his players; his Super Bowl-winning teams in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1982 relied on a strong running game and a dominant defense.
1983: USFL Offer from Donald Trump
During the 1983 season, Don Shula received a lucrative contract offer from Donald Trump, then-owner of the New Jersey Generals in the USFL. Shula ultimately declined the offer and remained with the Dolphins.
1983: Don Shula Expressway Dedication
Miami dedicated the Don Shula Expressway in 1983, a testament to Shula's impact on the city.
1983: Drafting Dan Marino
The Dolphins drafted quarterback Dan Marino in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft, marking a new era for the team.
1984: Post-Super Bowl Performance
After their Super Bowl appearance in 1984, the Dolphins only had one losing season under Shula's leadership but did not return to the Super Bowl.
1984: Super Bowl Appearance with Marino
In 1984, Don Shula led the Miami Dolphins to another Super Bowl appearance, this time with Dan Marino as quarterback.
1985: Adapting Coaching Style
Shula adjusted his coaching philosophy to suit the strengths of quarterbacks like Bob Griese and Dan Marino, emphasizing a pass-oriented offense during Marino's era.
1989: Entering the Restaurant Business
Don Shula partnered with the Graham family to launch a chain of Shula-branded steakhouses, primarily in Florida, in 1989.
1990: Playoff Appearance
The Dolphins qualified for the playoffs in 1990.
February 25, 1991: Death of Dorothy Shula and Foundation Founding
Tragically, Dorothy Shula passed away from breast cancer on February 25, 1991. That same year, the Don Shula Foundation for Breast Cancer Research was founded in her memory.
1991: Expanding the Brand
The Shula brand expanded in 1991 to include other hospitality ventures, such as hotels and golf clubs, in partnership with the Graham family.
October 15, 1993: Marriage to Mary Anne Stephens
On October 15, 1993, Don Shula married his second wife, Mary Anne Stephens.
October 2, 1994: The Shula Bowl
On October 2, 1994, Don Shula's Miami Dolphins faced off against his son David Shula's Cincinnati Bengals. The game, dubbed the "Shula Bowl," marked the first time in NFL history that a father and son coached against each other in a regular-season game.
1995: Publication of "Everyone's a Coach"
Don Shula co-authored his second book, "Everyone's a Coach," in 1995.
1995: Shula's Final Season
Don Shula coached his final season with the Dolphins in 1995.
1995: End of Head Coaching Career
Don Shula retired from coaching in 1995.
1996: Retirement
Don Shula retired from coaching in 1996, concluding a legendary career.
1997: Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction
Don Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
1997: Shula Inducted into the Hall of Fame
Don Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
1999: Lombardi Award of Excellence
In recognition of his embodiment of Coach Vince Lombardi's spirit, Don Shula received the "Lombardi Award of Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation in 1999.
2001: Publication of "The Little Black Book of Coaching"
Don Shula's third book, "The Little Black Book of Coaching: Motivating People to be Winners," co-authored with Ken Blanchard, was published in 2001.
2002: Inaugural Shula Bowl
The first annual Shula Bowl, a college football game between Florida Atlantic and FIU, was held in 2002 to honor Don Shula.
2003: Coin Toss at Super Bowl XXXVII
Don Shula participated in the pregame ceremonies of Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego by conducting the ceremonial coin toss.
2003: Don Shula Stadium Dedication
John Carroll University dedicated the Don Shula Stadium in honor of the legendary coach upon its opening in 2003.
November 15, 2005: Medicare Part D Enrollment
Don Shula became the first American to enroll in the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan shortly after midnight on November 15, 2005, as part of a government public awareness initiative.
March 25, 2007: Presentation of the Winners Cup
On March 25, 2007, after his retirement from coaching, avid golfer Don Shula presented Tiger Woods with the Winners Cup following Woods' victory at the 2007 WGC-CA Golf Tournament at the Doral Resort in Miami.
2007: Vince Lombardi Trophy Presentation
During Super Bowl XLI in Miami Gardens, Don Shula took part in the presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
2007: Promoting NutriSystem
In 2007, Don Shula and his wife Mary Ann collaborated on promoting NutriSystem diet programs tailored for individuals aged 60 and above.
2007: Unmatched Feat
The 2007 New England Patriots came close to replicating the Dolphins' 1972 perfect season, but their undefeated run ended with a loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.
February 3, 2008: Attending Super Bowl XLII
Don Shula was present at Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona, where the New England Patriots, aiming to match the Dolphins' perfect season, were defeated by the New York Giants.
January 31, 2010: Statue Unveiling
A statue of Don Shula was unveiled at Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins, on January 31, 2010.
2011: Walk of Fame Induction
Don Shula was honored with an induction into the Walk of Fame outside Hard Rock Stadium in 2011.
2011: Ellis Island Medal of Honor and Endowed Chair
In 2011, Shula received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in recognition of his humanitarian work. Additionally, he established the Don Shula Chair in Philosophy at John Carroll University, supporting the Philosophy Department with programs of interest to philosophers and the public.
2012: Brand Endorsements
Shula actively participated in brand endorsements during his retirement, representing companies like Warren Henry Auto Dealership, HearUSA, NutriSystem, Humana, and Budweiser, reflecting his selective approach to endorsements.
2013: White House Ceremony
Don Shula attended a White House ceremony in 2013 honoring the 1972 Miami Dolphins' perfect season.
2016: Pacemaker Implantation
In 2016, due to worsening sleep apnea and heart issues, Don Shula had a pacemaker implanted.
2023: Value of Shula's First Coaching Offer in 2023 Dollars
The $3,750 teaching and coaching offer Don Shula received from Canton Lincoln High School in 1951 is equivalent to $44,000 in 2023.
