RIP Coach Shula

As a young Minnesota Vikings fan in the 1970s with an exploding curiosity for the NFL and it's history, Don Shula was the equivalent of the devil. So was Hank Stram, Chuck Noll, and John Madden. They were the coaching rivals of Bud Grant and that man was a deity.

As I learned more about the game and developed a great appreciation of it's history, I discovered that Don Shula wasn't such a bad guy. Neither was Stram, Noll, or Madden. Although Stram will always be a bit squirrelly.

Don Shula passed away on Monday at the age of 90. While he appeared more frail with each appearance, the NFL felt a little stronger, a little better, knowing that he was still a part of it. The NFL and everyone that cares about it lost a lot on Monday.

Sometimes it takes a little more than simply saying that he coached for 33 years. Here are a couple people that put some more substance into those 33 years.

From Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith:

George Halas coached in the NFL's first season in 1920. Bill Belichick is coaching in 2020. 
Don Shula coached against both of them.

From Get Up ESPN producer Paul Hembekides:

How long did Don Shula coach?

In his first season (1963), he coached against Y.A. Tittle.

In his last season (1995), he coached against Drew Bledsoe.

Tittle & Bledsoe were born 46 years apart.

Their age difference is equivalent to Marilyn Monroe and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. 

Shula's coaching career spanned the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton.

Don Shula coached a long time. 33 years as a head coach. Five as an assistant coach. He played defensive halfback for seven years. 45 years in the NFL. He played for Paul Brown and Weeb Ewbank. He coached Johnny Unitas and Dan Marino. And Bob Griese. Lenny Moore and Paul Warfield. He led the Dolphins to the playoffs in his first year with the team. And his last. 328 regular season wins. 19 playoff wins. An undefeated, championship season. 2 Super Bowl wins. 6 Super Bowl appearances. A granite-jawed bust in Canton. Just like George Halas was the Bears and Paul Bown was the Browns. Don Shula was the Dolphins. And he was much more than that. As a member of the NFL's competition committee he helped bring the league from what it was to what it is. It can be argued that Don Shula made as great an impact on the NFL as any single figure in the league's history. His presence will always be felt throughout the league.

RIP Coach Shula.