The longtime Miami Dolphins head coach and the NFL winningest coach in history, Don Shula, has died at the age of 90.
While announcing the death on its Twitter handle on Monday May 4, 2020, The Dolphins said, “The Miami Dolphins are saddened to announce that Head Coach Don Shula passed away peacefully at his home this morning.”
The team in a separate statement paid tribute to Don Shula whom it said wasthe patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years.
“Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years. He brought the winning edge to our franchise and put the Dolphins and the city of Miami in the national sports scene. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Anne along with his children Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anne and Mike,” the statement reads.
In a statement by the Hall of Fame president and CEO, David Baker, a tribute was paid to Don Shula.
“The game has lost one of the greatest today, but we have all lost a truly incredible man. Hall of Fame Coach, Don Shula served as an ambassador of this great game for more than half a century,” the statement reads.
“His legendary feats on the gridiron led him to a record 347 wins to become the winningest coach in the NFL history and allowed him to lead 1972 Dolphins to the only perfect season in NFL history,” the statement adds.
“The entire Prof Football Hall of Fame family mourn the passing of Coach Shula. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Mary Anne and their entire family. The Hall of Fame flag would fly at half-staff and will always keep his legacy alive to serve as inspirations for future generations,” said the statement condoling with Shula’s family.
Before becoming a coach, Shula played for the Browns, the Colts and the Redskins in seven different seasons.
From 1963 to 1969 he served as a coach for the Baltimore Colts helping the team to a record of 71-23-4. He was the Dolphin Coach from 1971 to 1995 and helped the team to a 257-133-2 season record with 1972 and 1973 Super Bowl wins.
Shula was named the 1993 sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, and in 1997 was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One other outstanding achievement of Shula was his election into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll to be selected as the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
