Artwork by Mark Summers

"You get the feeling that when it comes to football, Shula does not become haunted by terrors of the night, and if he ever did, he would keep his feelings well hidden. The coaching miseries that have unhinged so many haven't found room on his crowded schedule."

Text by Paul Zimmerman
Issue Date: December 20, 1993

On November 14, 1993, Don Shula became the winningest coach in NFL history, surpassing George "Papa Bear" Halas' 26-year-old career record with 325 victories. In 1970, after seven seasons with the Baltimore Colts, Shula took over as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, a job he kept for 25 years. Shula's teams reached the playoffs 20 times in 33 seasons and won Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973. The 1972 Dolphins went 17-0 -- the only undefeated season in the modern NFL annals.