Sports
NFL Legendary Coach, Baltimore Colts Player Don Shula Dies At 90
Shula played for the Baltimore Colts from 1953 to 1956 and then returned a decade later to coach the team for seven seasons.
BALTIMORE, MD — Don Shula, the former Baltimore Colts player and head coach, died on Monday.
He was 90.
Most people know the legendary Shula for his NFL triumphs with the Miami Dolphins, where he finished his coaching career with the most wins in league history, two Super Bowl victories and the only undefeated season ever recorded in the NFL.
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In a statement issued Monday morning, the Dolphins confirmed Shula's death.
"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," the franchise said. "Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Anne along with his children Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anne and Mike."
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Before Shula became a household name with Miami, he both played and coached for the Baltimore Colts.
Shula played in Baltimore for four seasons from 1953 to 1956. The Ohio native primarily played defensive back during his 45 games for the Colts and collected 14 interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
Shula would then return to the organization as head coach in 1963. He led the team for seven successful seasons, finishing with an overall record of 71-24-4.
Despite the Colts' regular season success with Shula, the team struggled in the playoffs, going just 2-3 in the postseason and losing in his lone Super Bowl appearance with the organization.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame lowered its flags to half-mast on Monday, in honor of Shula.
"The game has lost one of the greats today, but we have all lost a truly incredible man. Hall of Fame Coach Don Shula served as an ambassador for this great game for more than half a century. His legendary feats on the gridiron led him to a record 347 wins to become the winningest coach in NFL history and allowed him to lead the 1972 Dolphins to the only perfect season in NFL history," said Pro Football Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker.
Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fam in 1997.
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