How many seasons did Don Shula lose?
During his 33 years as head coach, Shula only had two losing seasons and guided the Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 2007 and 2008. During his first Super Bowl victory in 1972, he had a perfect season.
His six Super Bowl appearances, five with the Dolphins and one with the Colts, are a record for a head coach. He has the second-highest number of Super Bowl appearances among head coaches, with six, and the most defeats, with four.
To put it another way, he was the first head coach in history to lead two teams to the championship game at the same time, and he did that with the Dolphins from 1971 to 1973. Shula is the only head coach to lead two teams to their first Super Bowl appearance, having led Baltimore to Super Bowl III and Miami to Super Bowl VI.
In 1997, he became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Shula was named vice-chairman of the Dolphins after his retirement. Even after his playing days were over, he kept his ties to the game alive by appearing in a variety of ceremonial roles. He tossed the ceremonial coin at the conclusion of the pregame ceremonies during Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego in 2003.
When the Vince Lombardi Trophy was presented at Super Bowl XLII in Miami Gardens in 2007, Shula was there to accept it.
