Don Shula
Encyclopedia
Donald Francis "Don" Shula (born January 4, 1930) is a former American football
cornerback
and coach
.
He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins
, the team he led to two Super Bowl
victories, and to the National Football League
's only perfect season
. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year
by Sports Illustrated
. He currently holds the NFL record for most career wins with 347. Shula only had two losing seasons in his 36-year career.
, Shula grew up in suburban Cleveland, attended St. Mary's and graduated from Harvey High School
in Painesville
, and then John Carroll University
. He played football at both schools, but never started. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Physical Education from Case Western Reserve University
in 1954.
, Shula signed with the Cleveland Browns
as a defensive back, though he would later rarely see time on the field. On March 26, 1953, he was traded to the Baltimore Colts
in what was, at that time, the largest NFL player trade ever made, involving 15 players. The Colts traded T Mike McCormack, DT Don Colo
, LB Tom Catlin, DB John Petitbon, and G Herschell Forester to the Browns for Shula, DB Bert Rechichar
, DB Carl Taseff
, LB Ed Sharkey
, E Gern Nagler
, QB Harry Agganis
, T Dick Batten, T Stu Sheets, G Art Spinney
, and G Elmer Willhoite. Shula and Taseff were teammates at John Carroll, with the Browns and with the Colts.
Shula played with Baltimore for four seasons before finishing his playing career for one season with the Washington Redskins
. In his seven NFL seasons, Shula played in 73 games, intercepted 21 passes and also recovered four fumbles.
in 1958 where he coached under head coach Dick Voris. He stayed for one season before moving on to the same position at the University of Kentucky
in 1959 where he coached under head coach Blanton Collier
. In 1960
, Shula entered the NFL
as defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions
.
Shula played under both Paul Brown
and Weeb Ewbank, a Brown disciple, who is also in the Hall of Fame
. After Ewbank left the Baltimore Colts to coach the New York Jets
in 1963
, Shula was hired by Colts' owner Carroll Rosenbloom
to coach Baltimore. Shula's hiring was controversial because he was thought to be too young at only age 33.
Shula took the controls and led the Colts
to an 8–6 record in 1963. He was successful, compiling a 71–23–4 record in seven seasons with Baltimore, but he was just 2–3 in the postseason, including two losses in championship games in which the Colts were heavy favorites, the 1964 NFL championship game
won by the Browns
27–0 and Super Bowl III
, the game in which Joe Namath
of the New York Jets
guaranteed and delivered a victory.
The 1965
team
lost a special tie-breaker playoff game in overtime against the Green Bay Packers
while using running back Tom Matte
at quarterback because of injuries to Johnny Unitas
and his backups. The 1967 team failed to make the playoffs despite a regular season record of 11–1–2, losing the Coastal Division on a tiebreaker due to an 0–1–1 record vs. the Los Angeles Rams
. The Colts' only loss was a 34–10 setback to the Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
on the final Sunday of the season.
After the 1969
season, Joe Robbie, owner of the Miami Dolphins
, signed Shula to a contract to become Miami's second head coach. As a result of Shula's signing the team was charged with tampering by the NFL, which forced the Dolphins to give their first round pick to the Colts. The decision was controversial because Shula and Robbie's negotiations and signing were conducted before and after the official NFL/AFL merger
, respectively. Had the negotiations been concluded before the merger, while the NFL and AFL were rivals, the NFL's anti-tampering rules could not have been applied.
Shula's Miami teams were known for great offensive lines (led by Larry Little
, Jim Langer
and Bob Kuechenberg
), strong running games (featuring Larry Csonka
, Jim Kiick
, and Mercury Morris
), solid quarterbacking (by Bob Griese
and Earl Morrall
), excellent receivers (in Paul Warfield
, Howard Twilley
and TE Jim Mandich
) and a defense that worked well as a cohesive unit.
Pittsburgh was called "The Steel Curtain", the L.A. Rams front line was known as "The Fearsome Foursome" and the Vikings front line was known as the "Purple People Eaters". The Dolphins were known as "The No-Name Defense" even though they had a number of great players, including DT Manny Fernandez
and MLB Nick Buoniconti
.
In 1972
the Dolphins were unbeaten in the regular season
, 14–0–0. They swept the playoffs and finished 17–0–0.
Shula changed his coaching strategy as his personnel changed. His Super Bowl teams in 1971
, 1972
, 1973
and 1982
were keyed by a run-first offensive strategy and a dominating defense. In 1983
, shortly after losing Super Bowl XVII
to the Washington Redskins
, the Dolphins drafted quarterback Dan Marino
out of the University of Pittsburgh
. Marino won the starting job halfway through the 1983 regular season
, and by 1984
the Dolphins were back in the Super Bowl
thanks largely to Marino's record 5,084 yards through the air and 48 touchdown passes.
For all his success, the Dolphins' January, 1974 Super Bowl win over the Minnesota Vikings
proved to be Shula's last championship. Despite consistent success in the regular season, Shula was unable to win in the post-season, failing in 12 trips to the playoffs—including two more Super Bowl appearances—before retiring after the 1995
season.
His retirement following that regular season ended one of the greatest coaching legacies in NFL history. He set numerous records in his 33 seasons as a head coach. He is first in most games coached (526), most consecutive seasons coached (33), and Super Bowl Appearances—six, appearing once with the Baltimore Colts and five times with the Miami Dolphins. Shula had a 2-4 record in his six Super Bowl appearances.
Shula was the head coach of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who finished a perfect 17-0 and won the Super Bowl VII
14-7 over the Washington Redskins. Shula's 1973 team repeated as NFL champions, winning the 1974 Super Bowl over the Minnesota Vikings. The following season the Dolphins seemed destined to win a third title in three years, but the Dolphins fell to the Oakland Raiders 28-26, in an AFC divisional playoff game in one of the greatest games ever played. With 35 seconds remaining in the game, Kent Stabler was in the process of being sacked by Vern Den Herder
. Just before he was tackled, he threw a completed desperation forward pass to his running back Clarence Davis in the game's final moments, and in doing so ended Miami's dominance. The Dolphins team was decimated the following season by the creation of the now defunct World Football League and the loss of three of its star players—Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Paul Warfield—to the rival league. The Dolphin franchise has never been able to duplicate the success of 1971-74.
s, Shula's Steakhouse and a line of condiments. He appeared in NutriSystem commercials with Dan Marino
and other former NFL players.
in 1991. Together they had five children — including former Alabama coach Mike Shula
and former Cincinnati Bengals coach Dave Shula
. In 1991, The Don Shula Foundation for breast cancer
research was founded.
He remarried on October 16, 1993, to Mary Anne Stephens. On November 25, 1996 he was added to the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll. In 2007 ads for NutriSystem geared for people age 60 and older featured then-77-year-old Shula and his 61 year-old wife Mary Anne.
prescription drug plan benefits, enrolling just after midnight on November 15, 2005.
In 2007, in Miami at Super Bowl XLI
, Shula took part in the Vince Lombardi Trophy
presentation. On March 25, 2007, Shula presented the Winners Cup to Tiger Woods
, winner of the 2007 WGC-CA Golf Tournament held at the Doral Resort
in Miami. On February 3, 2008, he participated in the opening of Super Bowl XLII
.
In 2011, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
, Dan Reeves
and Marv Levy
). His teams won seven NFL conference titles: 1964, 1968, 1971–73, 1982 and 1984. Shula's teams were consistently among the least penalized in the NFL, and Shula served on the Rules Committee, to help change the game to a more pass oriented league. He had a winning record against every coach he ever faced except Levy, against whom he was 5–14 during the regular season and 0–3 in the playoffs.
Shula is honored at the Don Shula Stadium at John Carroll University
, and the Don Shula Expressway in Miami. An annual college football game between South Florida schools Florida Atlantic University
and Florida International University
is named the Shula Bowl
in his honor. The game's winner receives a traveling trophy named the Don Shula Award. On January 31, 2010 a statue of him was unveiled at Sun Life Stadium.
*57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to 9
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the team he led to two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
victories, and to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's only perfect season
1972 Miami Dolphins season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to win the Super Bowl with a perfect season. The undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable players Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka...
. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year
Sportsman of the Year
Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." Both Americans and non-Americans are eligible, though in the past the...
by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. He currently holds the NFL record for most career wins with 347. Shula only had two losing seasons in his 36-year career.
Personal life
Born in Grand River, OhioGrand River, Ohio
Grand River is a village in Lake County, Ohio, United States, along the Grand River. The population was 345 at the 2000 census.Grand River is the hometown of Don Shula, a former professional football coach for the National Football League, who coached the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories,...
, Shula grew up in suburban Cleveland, attended St. Mary's and graduated from Harvey High School
Harvey High School (Painesville, Ohio)
Thomas W. Harvey High School is a public high school in Painesville, Ohio, United States. It is the only high school in the Painesville City Local School District.-Notable alumni:*Joe Dolce, singer-songwriter.*Don Shula, former coach of the Miami Dolphins....
in Painesville
Painesville, Ohio
As of the 2010 Census, there were 19,563 people. As of the census of 2000, there were 17,503 people, 6,525 households, and 4,032 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,928.6 people per square mile . There were 6,933 housing units at an average density of 1,160.0 per square mile...
, and then John Carroll University
John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
. He played football at both schools, but never started. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Physical Education from Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
in 1954.
Playing career
In 19511951 NFL season
The 1951 NFL season was the 32nd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Baltimore Colts owner Abraham Watner faced financial difficulties, and thus gave his team and its player contracts back to the league for $50,000. However, many Baltimore fans started to protest...
, Shula signed with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a defensive back, though he would later rarely see time on the field. On March 26, 1953, he was traded to the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in what was, at that time, the largest NFL player trade ever made, involving 15 players. The Colts traded T Mike McCormack, DT Don Colo
Don Colo
Don Colo is a former American football defensive tackle who played nine seasons in the National Football League....
, LB Tom Catlin, DB John Petitbon, and G Herschell Forester to the Browns for Shula, DB Bert Rechichar
Bert Rechichar
Albert Daniel Rechichar was an American football defensive back who played with the National Football League's Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers from 1952 to 1960, and the American Football League's New York Titans in 1961...
, DB Carl Taseff
Carl Taseff
Carl N. Taseff was an American football player and assistant coach.-College:Taseff played college football at John Carroll University and was the roommate of Don Shula's. Taseff was the roommate of Don Shula at John Carroll University and they were teammates with the Browns and Colts...
, LB Ed Sharkey
Ed Sharkey
Edward Joseph Sharkey is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Yanks, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. He also played in the All America Football Conference for the New York Yankees...
, E Gern Nagler
Gern Nagler
Gern Nagler is a former American football wide receiver who played ten seasons in the National Football League....
, QB Harry Agganis
Harry Agganis
Aristotle George Agganis ' , nicknamed "The Golden Greek", was an American athletic star in two sports. His family origins were from Longanikos near Sparta, Greece. -Career:...
, T Dick Batten, T Stu Sheets, G Art Spinney
Art Spinney
Arthur F. Spinney Jr. was a guard who played nine seasons with the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League. Spinney attended Boston College...
, and G Elmer Willhoite. Shula and Taseff were teammates at John Carroll, with the Browns and with the Colts.
Shula played with Baltimore for four seasons before finishing his playing career for one season with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. In his seven NFL seasons, Shula played in 73 games, intercepted 21 passes and also recovered four fumbles.
Early coaching career
Shula's first coaching position was as a defensive backs coach at the University of VirginiaVirginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in 1958 where he coached under head coach Dick Voris. He stayed for one season before moving on to the same position at the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
in 1959 where he coached under head coach Blanton Collier
Blanton Collier
Blanton Long Collier was an American football coach who led the University of Kentucky and the Cleveland Browns...
. In 1960
1960 NFL season
The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Pete Rozelle was elected NFL commissioner as a compromise choice on the twenty-third ballot. Meanwhile, the league expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Also, the Cardinals...
, Shula entered the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
as defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
Shula played under both Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
and Weeb Ewbank, a Brown disciple, who is also in the Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
. After Ewbank left the Baltimore Colts to coach the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1963
1963 NFL season
The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. On April 17, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle indefinitely suspended Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras for gambling on their own teams, as well as other NFL games;...
, Shula was hired by Colts' owner Carroll Rosenbloom
Carroll Rosenbloom
Carroll Rosenbloom was an American entrepreneur and former owner of two professional football teams, the Baltimore Colts and the Los Angeles Rams....
to coach Baltimore. Shula's hiring was controversial because he was thought to be too young at only age 33.
Shula took the controls and led the Colts
1963 Baltimore Colts season
The 1963 Baltimore Colts season was the 11th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1955 season with a record of 8 wins and 6 losses and finished third in the Western Conference....
to an 8–6 record in 1963. He was successful, compiling a 71–23–4 record in seven seasons with Baltimore, but he was just 2–3 in the postseason, including two losses in championship games in which the Colts were heavy favorites, the 1964 NFL championship game
NFL Championship Game, 1964
The 1964 National Football League championship game was the 32nd annual championship game. The NFL title game was held on December 27, 1964 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio before a crowd of 79,544...
won by the Browns
1964 Cleveland Browns season
The 1964 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 15th season with the National Football League. The Browns' championship is the most recent championship by a professional sports team in the Cleveland area.-The Upset Heard 'Round Pro Football World:...
27–0 and Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
, the game in which Joe Namath
Joe Namath
Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
of the New York Jets
1969 New York Jets season
The 1969 New York Jets season was the tenth season for the team in the final season of the American Football League . Trying to defend their AFL championship and Super Bowl III title, they won the AFL Eastern Division again with a 10–4 record...
guaranteed and delivered a victory.
The 1965
1965 NFL season
The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the...
team
1965 Baltimore Colts season
The 1965 Baltimore Colts season was the 13th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1965 season with a record of 10 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie, tied for first in the Western Conference with the Green Bay Packers...
lost a special tie-breaker playoff game in overtime against the Green Bay Packers
1965 Green Bay Packers season
The 1965 Green Bay Packers season was their 45th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 10-3-1 record under coach Vince Lombardi, earning them a tie for first place in the Western Conference with the Baltimore Colts. The Packers and Colts played a one-game playoff in Green Bay,...
while using running back Tom Matte
Tom Matte
Thomas Roland Matte was an American football player who played quarterback in college and primarily running back in the NFL in the 1960s and 1970s and earned a Super Bowl Ring. He attended Shaw High School in East Cleveland and is an Eagle Scout...
at quarterback because of injuries to Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas
John Constantine Unitas , known as Johnny Unitas or "Johnny U", and nicknamed "The Golden Arm", was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football...
and his backups. The 1967 team failed to make the playoffs despite a regular season record of 11–1–2, losing the Coastal Division on a tiebreaker due to an 0–1–1 record vs. the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. The Colts' only loss was a 34–10 setback to the Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
on the final Sunday of the season.
1970–1973
After the 1969
1969 NFL season
The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the...
season, Joe Robbie, owner of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, signed Shula to a contract to become Miami's second head coach. As a result of Shula's signing the team was charged with tampering by the NFL, which forced the Dolphins to give their first round pick to the Colts. The decision was controversial because Shula and Robbie's negotiations and signing were conducted before and after the official NFL/AFL merger
AFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
, respectively. Had the negotiations been concluded before the merger, while the NFL and AFL were rivals, the NFL's anti-tampering rules could not have been applied.
Shula's Miami teams were known for great offensive lines (led by Larry Little
Larry Little
Lawrence Chatmon Little is a former offensive guard in college and professional American football in the National Football League. He has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993...
, Jim Langer
Jim Langer
James John Langer is a former American football center who played for the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings. He is considered one of the greatest NFL centers of all time and a hard working and quick blocker...
and Bob Kuechenberg
Bob Kuechenberg
Robert John Kuechenberg is a former National Football League offensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins for fourteen seasons between 1970 and 1983, spending the 1984 season on injured reserve...
), strong running games (featuring Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka
Larry Richard Csonka is a former collegiate and professional American football fullback.-Childhood:One of six children, Csonka was born in Stow, Ohio where he was raised on a farm by his Hungarian family...
, Jim Kiick
Jim Kiick
James Forrest Kiick is a former professional American football running back, who is best known for playing halfback for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League from 1968 to 1969 and in the National Football League from 1970 through 1974...
, and Mercury Morris
Mercury Morris
Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris , is a former American football player, nicknamed early on for his mercurial quickness when running with the ball. Morris was a running back and kick returner for 9 years, playing mostly for the Miami Dolphins...
), solid quarterbacking (by Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
and Earl Morrall
Earl Morrall
Earl Edwin Morrall is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Morrall, who also occasionally punted, played 21 seasons in the National Football League as both a starter and reserve. In the latter capacity, he became known as the greatest backup quarterback in NFL...
), excellent receivers (in Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
, Howard Twilley
Howard Twilley
Galena Park Senior High SchoolHoward James Twilley, Galena Park Senior High SchoolHoward James Twilley, Galena Park Senior High SchoolHoward James Twilley, (born December 25, 1943 in Houston, Texas, was the 1965 Heisman Trophy runner-up at the University of Tulsa and a former American professional...
and TE Jim Mandich
Jim Mandich
James Michael "Mad Dog" Mandich was a professional American football tight end with the Miami Dolphins. Mandich was an All-American at the University of Michigan. In 2004 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. As color commentator for the Miami Dolphins , he was teamed with Jimmy...
) and a defense that worked well as a cohesive unit.
Pittsburgh was called "The Steel Curtain", the L.A. Rams front line was known as "The Fearsome Foursome" and the Vikings front line was known as the "Purple People Eaters". The Dolphins were known as "The No-Name Defense" even though they had a number of great players, including DT Manny Fernandez
Manny Fernandez (American football)
Manuel Jose Fernandez is a former American football player of who played eight seasons for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League...
and MLB Nick Buoniconti
Nick Buoniconti
Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti is a former American Football League and NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker, who played for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins....
.
In 1972
1972 in sports
1972 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Gustav Thöni, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria-American football:...
the Dolphins were unbeaten in the regular season
Regular season (NFL)
The National Football League regular season begins the weekend after Labor Day. Each team plays 16 games during a 17-week period. Traditionally, the majority of each week's games are played on Sunday afternoon, with weekly games on Sunday night and Monday night, and occasional games on Thursday...
, 14–0–0. They swept the playoffs and finished 17–0–0.
Post-1973
Shula changed his coaching strategy as his personnel changed. His Super Bowl teams in 1971
1971 Miami Dolphins season
-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Playoffs:- Standings : -Roster:-Scoring summary:*Dallas Mike Clark, FG 14 yds *Dallas L.Alworth, 9 yd pass from Staubach *Miami Yeprmeniam, FG 23 yds...
, 1972
1972 Miami Dolphins season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to win the Super Bowl with a perfect season. The undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable players Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka...
, 1973
1973 Miami Dolphins season
-Awards and honors:* Larry Csonka, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player* Larry Csonka, Pro Bowl Selection* Bob Griese, Pro Bowl Selection-Notes and references:**...
and 1982
1982 Miami Dolphins season
-NFL Draft:-Regular season:The Dolphins finished the strike-shortened regular season with a 7–2 record, ranking them second in the AFC.The Dolphins' main strength was their defense, nicknamed the "Killer Bees" because 6 of their 11 starters had last names that began with the letter "B"...
were keyed by a run-first offensive strategy and a dominating defense. In 1983
1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
, shortly after losing Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, the Dolphins drafted quarterback Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
out of the University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
. Marino won the starting job halfway through the 1983 regular season
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
, and by 1984
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
the Dolphins were back in the Super Bowl
Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX was an American football game played on January 20, 1985 at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1984 regular season...
thanks largely to Marino's record 5,084 yards through the air and 48 touchdown passes.
For all his success, the Dolphins' January, 1974 Super Bowl win over the Minnesota Vikings
1974 Minnesota Vikings season
-References:...
proved to be Shula's last championship. Despite consistent success in the regular season, Shula was unable to win in the post-season, failing in 12 trips to the playoffs—including two more Super Bowl appearances—before retiring after the 1995
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
season.
His retirement following that regular season ended one of the greatest coaching legacies in NFL history. He set numerous records in his 33 seasons as a head coach. He is first in most games coached (526), most consecutive seasons coached (33), and Super Bowl Appearances—six, appearing once with the Baltimore Colts and five times with the Miami Dolphins. Shula had a 2-4 record in his six Super Bowl appearances.
Shula was the head coach of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who finished a perfect 17-0 and won the Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 regular season...
14-7 over the Washington Redskins. Shula's 1973 team repeated as NFL champions, winning the 1974 Super Bowl over the Minnesota Vikings. The following season the Dolphins seemed destined to win a third title in three years, but the Dolphins fell to the Oakland Raiders 28-26, in an AFC divisional playoff game in one of the greatest games ever played. With 35 seconds remaining in the game, Kent Stabler was in the process of being sacked by Vern Den Herder
Vern Den Herder
Vern Wayne Den Herder was an American football player who played twelve seasons for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He played in three Super Bowls for the Dolphins. In 1996 he was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.-High school:Den Herder attended high school in Sioux Center, Iowa...
. Just before he was tackled, he threw a completed desperation forward pass to his running back Clarence Davis in the game's final moments, and in doing so ended Miami's dominance. The Dolphins team was decimated the following season by the creation of the now defunct World Football League and the loss of three of its star players—Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Paul Warfield—to the rival league. The Dolphin franchise has never been able to duplicate the success of 1971-74.
Post-coaching activities
In retirement, Shula has lent his name to a chain of steakhouseSteakhouse
A steakhouse is a restaurant that specializes in beef steaks. The same type of restaurant is also known as a chophouse.The steakhouse started in the USA in the late 19th century as a development of traditional inns and bars....
s, Shula's Steakhouse and a line of condiments. He appeared in NutriSystem commercials with Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
and other former NFL players.
Family
Shula was married to Dorothy Bartish from 1958 until her death from breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 1991. Together they had five children — including former Alabama coach Mike Shula
Mike Shula
Mike Shula is an American football quarterback coach for the Carolina Panthers, an NFL team. Between 2003 and 2006, he was the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program.- Early life :...
and former Cincinnati Bengals coach Dave Shula
Dave Shula
David Donald Shula is a former American football player and coach. The son of famed National Football League coach Don Shula and brother of Mike Shula, he now works with his father in the family's restaurant business, Shula's Steak Houses....
. In 1991, The Don Shula Foundation for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
research was founded.
He remarried on October 16, 1993, to Mary Anne Stephens. On November 25, 1996 he was added to the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll. In 2007 ads for NutriSystem geared for people age 60 and older featured then-77-year-old Shula and his 61 year-old wife Mary Anne.
Other
As part of a government public awareness campaign he was the first American to sign up for Medicare Part DMedicare Part D
Medicare Part D is a federal program to subsidize the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. It was enacted as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and went into effect on January 1, 2006.- Eligibility and...
prescription drug plan benefits, enrolling just after midnight on November 15, 2005.
In 2007, in Miami at Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
, Shula took part in the Vince Lombardi Trophy
Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the trophy awarded each year to the winning team of the National Football League's championship game, the Super Bowl.-History:...
presentation. On March 25, 2007, Shula presented the Winners Cup to Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, winner of the 2007 WGC-CA Golf Tournament held at the Doral Resort
Doral Golf Resort & Spa
The Doral Golf Resort & Spa is a golf resort located in Doral, Florida, USA. The resort was founded by real estate pioneer Alfred Kaskel in 1962, with the name "Doral" coming from an amalgamation of the first names of Kaskel and his wife, Dorris....
in Miami. On February 3, 2008, he participated in the opening of Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
.
In 2011, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children...
in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.
Legacy
Shula set numerous records in his 33 seasons as a head coach. He is the All-Time leader in Victories with 347. He is first in most games coached (526), most consecutive seasons coached (33), and Super Bowl losses (4, tied with Bud GrantBud Grant
Harry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr is the former longtime American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. Grant was the second and fourth head coach of the team...
, Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
and Marv Levy
Marv Levy
Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
). His teams won seven NFL conference titles: 1964, 1968, 1971–73, 1982 and 1984. Shula's teams were consistently among the least penalized in the NFL, and Shula served on the Rules Committee, to help change the game to a more pass oriented league. He had a winning record against every coach he ever faced except Levy, against whom he was 5–14 during the regular season and 0–3 in the playoffs.
Shula is honored at the Don Shula Stadium at John Carroll University
John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
, and the Don Shula Expressway in Miami. An annual college football game between South Florida schools Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic Owls football
The Florida Atlantic Owls football team represents Florida Atlantic University, a mid-major NCAA Division I-A college football team, that competes in the Sun Belt Conference.-Overview and history:...
and Florida International University
FIU Golden Panthers football
The FIU Golden Panthers football team represent Florida International University in Miami, Florida in the sport of college football. The FIU Panthers are a mid-major NCAA FBS college football team in the Sun Belt Conference led by Mario Cristobal and play at the on-campus FIU Stadium.-History:On...
is named the Shula Bowl
Shula Bowl
The Shula Bowl is an annual college football rivalry game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Florida International University Golden Panthers. The game's winner receives a traveling trophy, the "Don Shula Award" for one year. The current winner is FIU, winning 41-7 on 12 November...
in his honor. The game's winner receives a traveling trophy named the Don Shula Award. On January 31, 2010 a statue of him was unveiled at Sun Life Stadium.
Writings
He has co-authored three books: The Winning Edge (1973) with Lou Sahadi ISBN 0525235000, Everyone's a Coach (1995) ISBN 0310208157 and The Little Black Book of Coaching: Motivating People to be Winners (2001); ISBN 0066621038, both with Kendra Blanchard.Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | BAL 1963 Baltimore Colts season The 1963 Baltimore Colts season was the 11th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1955 season with a record of 8 wins and 6 losses and finished third in the Western Conference.... |
1963 1963 NFL season The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. On April 17, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle indefinitely suspended Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras for gambling on their own teams, as well as other NFL games;... |
8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 3rd in Western Conference | - | - | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAL 1964 Baltimore Colts season The 1964 Baltimore Colts season was the 12th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1964 season with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses and finished first in the Western Conference.... |
1964 1964 NFL season The 1964 NFL season was the 45th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season started, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who had been suspended for the 1963 season due to... |
12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 1st in Western Conference | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in NFL Championship Game NFL Championship Game, 1964 The 1964 National Football League championship game was the 32nd annual championship game. The NFL title game was held on December 27, 1964 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio before a crowd of 79,544... . |
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| BAL 1965 Baltimore Colts season The 1965 Baltimore Colts season was the 13th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1965 season with a record of 10 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie, tied for first in the Western Conference with the Green Bay Packers... |
1965 1965 NFL season The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the... |
10 | 3 | 1 | .769 | 2nd in Western Conference | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... in Western Conference Playoff NFL playoffs, 1965 The 1965 NFL playoffs determined the champion of the National Football League. Although a single championship game between conference winners was the current format for the league, a tie in the Western Conference standings between the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts necessitated a divisional... . |
||
| BAL 1966 Baltimore Colts season The 1966 Baltimore Colts season was the 14th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1966 season with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses and finished second in the Western Conference.... |
1966 1966 NFL season The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams... |
9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 2nd in Western Conference | - | - | - | - | ||
| BAL 1967 Baltimore Colts season The 1967 Baltimore Colts season was the 15th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1967 season with a record of 11 wins, 1 loss, and 2 ties. They tied for first in the Western Conference's Coastal division with the Los... |
1967 1967 NFL season The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and... |
11 | 1 | 2 | .917 | 2nd in Coastal Division | - | - | - | - | ||
| BAL 1968 Baltimore Colts season The 1968 Baltimore Colts season was the 16th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1968 season with a record of 13 wins and 1 loss... |
1968 1968 NFL season The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The... |
13 | 1 | 0 | .929 | 1st in Coastal Division | 2 | 1 | .667 | Won 1968 NFL Championship. Lost to New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in Super Bowl III Super Bowl III Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history... . |
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| BAL 1969 Baltimore Colts season The 1969 Baltimore Colts season was the 17th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1969 season with a record of 8 wins, 5 losses and 1 tie... |
1969 1969 NFL season The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the... |
8 | 5 | 1 | .615 | 2nd in Coastal Division | - | - | - | - | ||
| BAL Total | 71 | 23 | 4 | .755 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |||||
| MIA 1970 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Roster:- Playoffs :-Notes and references:**... |
1970 1970 NFL season The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new... |
10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 2nd in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFC Divisional Game. |
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| MIA 1971 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Playoffs:- Standings : -Roster:-Scoring summary:*Dallas Mike Clark, FG 14 yds *Dallas L.Alworth, 9 yd pass from Staubach *Miami Yeprmeniam, FG 23 yds... |
1971 1971 NFL season The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins... |
10 | 3 | 1 | .769 | 1st in AFC East | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... in Super Bowl VI Super Bowl VI Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season... . |
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| MIA 1972 Miami Dolphins season The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to win the Super Bowl with a perfect season. The undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable players Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka... |
1972 1972 NFL season The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:... |
14 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st in AFC East | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl VII Super Bowl VII Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 regular season... Champions. |
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| MIA 1973 Miami Dolphins season -Awards and honors:* Larry Csonka, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player* Larry Csonka, Pro Bowl Selection* Bob Griese, Pro Bowl Selection-Notes and references:**... |
1973 1973 NFL season The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season... |
12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 1st in AFC East | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl VIII Super Bowl VIII Super Bowl VIII was a professional American football game played on January 13, 1974 at Rice Stadium. in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 1973 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Miami Dolphins defeated the National Football... Champions. |
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| MIA 1974 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-AFC: Oakland Raiders 28, Miami Dolphins 26:-Notes and references:**... |
1974 1974 NFL season The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings... |
11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFC Divisional Game. |
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| MIA 1975 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Notes and references:**... |
1975 1975 NFL season The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:... |
10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1976 Miami Dolphins season The 1976 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 11th as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins failed to improve on their previous season's output of 10–4, winning only six games. One of these wins came over their new in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – who proceeded to lose... |
1976 1976 NFL season The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers... |
6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1977 Miami Dolphins season The 1977 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 12th as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins improved upon their previous season's output of 6–8, winning ten games. Despite the improvement, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third straight... |
1977 1977 NFL season The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central.... |
10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1978 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Roster:-AFC Wildcard Playoff : vs. Houston Oilers:-Notes and references:**... |
1978 1978 NFL season The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference... |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... in AFC Wild-Card Game NFL playoffs, 1978-79 The NFL playoffs following the 1978 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIII.This was the first year that the playoffs expanded to a ten-team format, adding a second wild card team from each conference... . |
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| MIA 1979 Miami Dolphins season The 1979 Miami Dolphins season was the 14th year of existence for the Miami Dolphins franchise. Although they finished at 10–6, one win fewer than the previous year, they were still able to win the AFC East Division outright... |
1979 1979 NFL season The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams... |
10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... in AFC Divisional Game. |
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| MIA 1980 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Regular season:The 1980 NFL season would see the Dolphins drop to an 8–8 record, from their 10–6 showing the previous year.Quarterback Bob Griese, who struggled with leg problems during 1979, lost the starting job to longtime backup Don Strock, but he did poorly in two games, leading... |
1980 1980 NFL season The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1981 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Playoffs:- Standings :-Notes and references:**... |
1981 1981 NFL season The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.-Major rule changes:... |
11 | 4 | 1 | .733 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFC Divisional Game. |
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| MIA 1982 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Regular season:The Dolphins finished the strike-shortened regular season with a 7–2 record, ranking them second in the AFC.The Dolphins' main strength was their defense, nicknamed the "Killer Bees" because 6 of their 11 starters had last names that began with the letter "B"... |
1982* 1982 NFL season The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule... |
7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 1st in AFC East | 3 | 1 | .750 | Lost to Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... in Super Bowl XVII Super Bowl XVII Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season... . |
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| MIA 1983 Miami Dolphins season The 1983 season was the 17th season in football for the Miami Dolphins and they sought to return to the Super Bowl after losing to the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII... |
1983 1983 NFL season The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:... |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... in AFC Divisional Game. |
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| MIA 1984 Miami Dolphins season 1984 was the 18th season in football for the Miami Dolphins and the fifteenth for coach Don Shula with the club. The Dolphins sought to build on a spectacular 1983 season where they went 12–4 with rookie quarterback Dan Marino only to be upended by the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs... |
1984 1984 NFL season The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana.... |
14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 1st in AFC East | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... in Super Bowl XIX Super Bowl XIX Super Bowl XIX was an American football game played on January 20, 1985 at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1984 regular season... . |
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| MIA 1985 Miami Dolphins season The 1985 Miami Dolphins season was the 20th season in franchise history. The club won their fourth consecutive AFC East championship and appeared in the AFC Championship Game.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Monday Night game vs... |
1985 1985 NFL season The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:... |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC East | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... in AFC Championship Game. |
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| MIA 1986 Miami Dolphins season The 1986 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 21st as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 12–4, winning only eight games. This was the first time in six seasons the team did not qualify for the playoffs... |
1986 1986 NFL season The 1986 NFL season was the 67th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXI when the New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos to win their first league title in 30 years.-Major rule changes:... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1987 Miami Dolphins season The 1987 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 22nd as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins improved upon their previous season's output of 8–8, losing one fewer game. Despite the improvement the team failed to reach the playoffs.-Schedule:... |
1987 1987 NFL season The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players... |
8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1988 Miami Dolphins season The 1988 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 23rd as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 8–7, winning only six games and failing to reach the playoffs for the third straight season.... |
1988 1988 NFL season The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division.... |
6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 5th in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1989 Miami Dolphins season The 1989 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 24th as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins improved upon their previous season's 6–10 W-L record, winning eight games... |
1989 1989 NFL season The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1990 Miami Dolphins season -Offseason:-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Passing:-Receiving:-Defense:-AFC Wildcard Game:With 2:28 left in the game, the Dolphins capped an 85-yard drive with quarterback Dan Marino's winning 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Clayton.... |
1990 1990 NFL season The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period... |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 2nd in AFC East | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFC Divisional Game. |
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| MIA 1991 Miami Dolphins season The 1991 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 26th as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 12–4, winning only eight games and failing to qualify for the playoffs.-Staff:-Roster:... |
1991 1991 NFL season The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills.... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1992 Miami Dolphins season -Schedule:-AFC Divisional Playoff:As the Dolphins defense shut out the Chargers, holding San Diego quarterback Stan Humphries to just 18 of 44 completions for 140 yards and intercepting him four times. Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino threw 3 touchdown passes in the second quarter... |
1992 1992 NFL season The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that... |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFC East | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFC Championship Game. |
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| MIA 1993 Miami Dolphins season The 1993 Miami Dolphins' season was the 28th for the franchise and 24th in the NFL. The season was marked by Don Shula becoming the winningest coach in NFL history, passing George Halas against the Philadelphia Eagles... |
1993 1993 NFL season The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | - | - | ||
| MIA 1994 Miami Dolphins season The 1994 season was the 29th in Dolphins history. On March 23, the NFL approved the transfer of majority interest in the club from the Robbie family to Wayne Huizenga.-Staff:-Schedule:-Notable Games:* September 4 vs. New England Patriots:... |
1994 1994 NFL season The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season... |
10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC East | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFC Divisional Game. |
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| MIA 1995 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:-AFC Wild Card Game:Although Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino completed 33 out of 64 passes for 422 yards, the Bills jumped to a 27–0 lead going into the fourth quarter, and rushed for an NFL playoff record 341 yards.... |
1995 1995 NFL season The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFC Wild-Card Game NFL playoffs, 1995-96 The NFL playoffs following the 1995 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXX.-Bracket:-AFC: Buffalo Bills 37, Miami Dolphins 22:Although Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino completed 33 out of 64 passes for 422 yards, the Bills jumped to a 27-0 lead going into the fourth quarter, and rushed for an NFL... . |
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| MIA Total | 257 | 133 | 2 | .659 | 17 | 14 | .548 | |||||
| Total | 328 | 156 | 6 | .678 | 19 | 17 | .528 | |||||
*57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to 9
External links
- Databasefootball.com: player profile