Highlights
Legendary Don Shula coached the Miami Dolphins to five Super Bowls, winning two, and finished his 33-year career with the National Football League's winningest record of 347-173-6. Shula, who was unanimously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997, coached the 1972 Dolphins to a perfect 17-0 season, the only one in NFL history. He was inducted into the Dolphin Honor Roll in 1996 and has been the team's vice chairman for 38 years....
Legendary Don Shula coached the Miami Dolphins to five Super Bowls, winning two, and finished his 33-year career with the National Football League's winningest record of 347-173-6. Shula, who was unanimously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997, coached the 1972 Dolphins to a perfect 17-0 season, the only one in NFL history. He was inducted into the Dolphin Honor Roll in 1996 and has been the team's vice chairman for 38 years. Including seven years with the Baltimore Colts, beginning as the league's youngest head coach at 33 in 1963, Shula coached seven teams in NFL championship games including six Super Bowls, more than any other coach. In 20 of his 33 seasons, his teams reached the playoffs. Shula was born on Jan. 4, 1930 in Grand River, Ohio. He played at Harvey High School in Painesville, Ohio and John Carroll University. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1951 as a defensive back. In 1953, he was traded to Baltimore in what was the biggest trade in NFL history at the time involving 15 players. He played four seasons with the Colts before finishing his career with the Washington Redskins. His first coaching job was in 1958 as an assistant at the University of Virginia. He moved on to the University of Kentucky in 1959 where he worked under Blanton Collier. He was defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 1960-62 before succeeding Weeb Ewbank as coach of the Colts in 1963. In 1964, Shula's Colts lost the NFL championship to the Browns 27-0. In 1969, his Colts lost Super Bowl III to Ewbank, Joe Namath and the New York Jets, 16-7, in the game that was the catalyst for the NFL merger. Shula left the Colts for the Miami Dolphins in 1970, and Baltimore was awarded a No. 1 draft choice. In his second season, the Dolphins lost to the Dallas Cowboys 24-7 in Super Bowl VI. It was a prelude of better things to come. The following year, the Dolphins made NFL history as they didn't lose a game and beat Washington, 14-7, in Super Bowl VII. In 1973, the team only lost twice and dominated Minnesota, 24-7, in Super Bowl VIII. The Dolphins would later lose to Washington, 27-17, in Super XVII following the 1982 season and then to San Francisco, 38-16, in Super Bowl XIX following the 1984 season. Shula would spend the next 11 seasons trying to reach the Super Bowl again before retiring following the 1995 season. He spent the final 21 years of his career on the NFL's Competition Committee. On Nov. 14, 1993, the Dolphins won in Philadelphia, 19-14, behind journeyman quarterback Doug Pederson, to give Shula his 325th career victory, surpassing Chicago's George Halas as the NFL's winningest coach. Sports Illustrated marked the accomplishment by naming him Sportsman of the Year. Shula was also winner of the 1994 Horatio Alger Award. Shula won at least 10 games in 21 seasons, and he suffered only two losing seasons in 1976 and 1988. He averaged 10 wins per year and was the youngest coach to reach 100, 200 and 300 wins. As the Dolphins' coach, his winning percentage of .658 (257-133-2) was the best record in professional sports. He coached seven Hall of Fame players and presented Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little and Dwight Stephenson for induction. (Dan Marino and Nick Bunoniconti were presented by their sons.) Shula's wife of 32 years, Dorothy, died in 1991 after a battle with breast cancer. The Shulas had two sons, David and Mike, and three daughters, Donna, Sharon and Annie. Shula married his current wife, Mary Ann Stephens, in 1993. Their family includes eight children and 16 grandchildren. They reside in the Village of Indian Creek, Florida. Dave Shula, 48, was a NFL assistant and then coach of Cincinnati (1992-96). He lost to his father 23-7 (1994) and 26-23 (1995) in the only meetings between father and son head coaches in professional sports. The Chaminade-Madonna High School and Dartmouth College graduate is President of Don Shula Steakhouse, Inc. Mike Shula, 42, was a NFL assistant before becoming the University of Alabama's coach (2003-2006). He led his alma mater to a 10-2 record in 2005 and a 16-13 win over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. The former Miami Columbus High School quarterback is currently quarterbacks coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In addition to his chain of steakhouses, Shula is a partner in the Don Shula's Hotel and Club in Miami Lakes. The Don Shula Foundation, formed to aid breast cancer research as a tribute to his late wife, is one of several charities that he supports including the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, American Red Cross, the United Way and Catholic Charities. Shula also helps fund a $1 million chair in the Department of Philosophy at John Carroll. The school named its new stadium after him in 2003. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from John Carroll, St. Thomas University, the University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University. The annual winner of the game between FAU and Florida International University receives the Don Shula Trophy. Outside of football, Shula joined with Ken Blanchard in 1995 to co-author "Everyone's A Coach," outlining managerial philosophies for business and personal success. Even in retirement, Shula remains one of the most recognizable faces in South Florida and sports.
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Shula's takes a hike
The Baltimore SunThe Shula's Steak House in the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel is closed. It actually closed a couple of months ago, quietly. It had operated at the hotel, since 1998, in a licensing agreement with the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based chain presided...Tags: Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore Colts, Foods and Beverages, Steaks
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A look into the changes coming at Camden Yards
Orioles fans have known since December that their ballpark at Camden Yards will have a different look when the O's open the regular season against the Minnesota Twins on April 6. Now, it's time to take an early peek at the changes that are being made...
Tags: Frank Robinson, Maryland Stadium Authority, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Jr., Peter G. Angelos
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For Orioles Hall of Famers, statues at Camden Yards 'a very nice gesture'
The Orioles detailed on Monday several of their upcoming changes to Camden Yards, including a permanent tribute to the six most decorated players in modern franchise history and a slight alteration to the right-field wall.
As part of Camden Yards' 20th...Tags: Frank Robinson, Johnny Unitas, Maryland Stadium Authority, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Jr.
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Colts legend Raymond Berry to present Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl
The Baltimore SunWhen the phone call came, asking if he would present the silver trophy at the Super Bowl in February, Raymond Berry took it for a prank. "You've got to be kidding," he told the caller. "Is this a joke?" Frank Supowitz, the NFL's senior vice president of...Tags: Bart Starr, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Colts, National Football League
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More details on Camden Yards improvements, statues
The Orioles announced some improvements/changes to Camden Yards today.
As previously reported, the Orioles will honor their six Hall of Famers with bronze statues in a picnic grove beyond the batter’s eye wall in center field this year. The statues...Tags: Johnny Unitas, Frank Robinson, Maryland Stadium Authority, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Jr.
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Who are best choices to coach K.C., Miami?
Jeff Fisher stands out Dan Pompei Chicago Tribune The best available coach for any opening is Jeff Fisher. You could throw Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden into the discussion, but it's doubtful that either would leave his comfortable broadcasting...Tags: Miami Dolphins, Kyle Boller, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Times
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Catching Up With Norm Bulaich
He had a funny name, a Texas drawl and churning legs that chewed up yardage. Remember Norm Bulaich, the Baltimore Colts' star running back in their 1970 Super Bowl run? He turns 65 on Christmas. Bulaich can't believe it, either. When he signed up for...Tags: Edgerrin James, Prostate Cancer, Weeb Ewbank, Baltimore Colts, Football
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Ravens Q&A with Mike Preston
As he does after each game, columnist Mike Preston fielded your fan questions following the Ravens' 24-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Tom in West Palm Beach: It appears the Ravens will head into the postseason as one of the top seeds. But each...Tags: Torrey Smith, Donovan McNabb, Cleveland Browns, Art Modell, Jimmy Smith (football)
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For players, AFC championship the 'epitome' of where they want to be
For the fans, Sunday's AFC title game between the Ravens and New England Patriots is just another step to the Super Bowl. But those who have played in a conference championship for Baltimore say that, psychologically, the game means much, much more....Tags: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Bill Curry
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Throwback Thursday: John Mackey's Hall-of-Fame hands
We have countless awesome sports photos in the archives here at The Baltimore Sun, and I have decided to share one with you each week in a regular feature called "Throwback Thursday." With former Baltimore Colts tight end John Mackey passing away...Tags: Multi-Sport Events, Mike Ditka, Baltimore Colts, Athletes, Football
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Legendary Colts tight end John Mackey dies at 69
Baltimore Sun reporterJohn Mackey changed the game of football on and off the field. The former Baltimore Colt brought grace to a position that had been known for its brutality, and he made the first real headway in the NFL players' fight to earn a more equal share of the pie....Tags: High School Sports, Pension and Welfare, Natural Resources, Mike Ditka, National Football League Players Association
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John Mackey: A revolutionary player on the field, a true force off of it
![In death, legendary Baltimore Colts tight end John Mackey will undoubtedly be remembered for how he played the game. The 6-foot, 2-inch, 230-pounder who played from 1963 to 1972 set the standard for his position, combining speed and power like no tight end who had ever taken the field. As his former coach Don Shula told the Baltimore Sun, "Previous to John, tight ends were big strong guys like [Mike] Ditka and [Ron] Kramer who would block and catch short passes over the middle. Mackey gave us a tight end who weighed 230, ran a 4.6 and could catch the bomb. It was a weapon other teams didn't have." He was the second player at his position ever elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and college football's award for best tight endbears his name.](http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/thumbnails/story/2011-07/63093556-08104346.jpg)
In death, legendary Baltimore Colts tight end John Mackey will undoubtedly be remembered for how he played the game. The 6-foot, 2-inch, 230-pounder who played from 1963 to 1972 set the standard for his position, combining speed and power like no tight...Tags: Mike Ditka, Athletes, National Football League Players Association, San Diego Chargers, Alzheimer's Disease
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