Don Shula Biography: Age, Pictures, Children, Wife, Instagram, Height, Death, Net Worth

Don Shula was an iconic American football coach, player, and executive best known for his long tenure as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

He played seven seasons as a defensive back in the NFL before transitioning to coaching. Shula made history as the coach with the most career wins in NFL history, with 347 victories.

His remarkable career spanned 33 years, during which he only had two losing seasons. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and became renowned for his leadership qualities and motivational speaking, leaving a lasting impact on the football world.

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• Full Name: Donald Francis Shula
• Stage Name: Don Shula
• Born: January 4, 1930
• Death date: May 4, 2020
• Age: 90 years old
• Birthplace: Grand River, Ohio, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American professional football player, coach and executive
• Height: 1.8 m
• Parent: Dan Shula ,Mary Shula
• Siblings: David Donald Shula, Mike Shula, Donna Shula, Sharon Shula, Ann Shula.
• Spouse: Mary Anne Stephens (m. 1993–2020) and Dorothy Bartish (m. 1958–1991)
• Children: Mike Shula, Dave Shula, Sharon Shula, Annie Shula ,Donna Shula
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $30 million and $60 million

Early Life And Education

Donald Francis Shula was born on January 4, 1930, in Grand River, Ohio, United States, to Dan and Mary Shula, both of Hungarian descent.

His parents, originally from Hungary, had immigrated to the United States as children. Shula’s father, Dan, worked hard at a rose nursery, earning just $9 a week. Eventually, he saved enough money to buy a small house where Shula spent his early childhood.

Shula was one of seven children growing up in a family with six siblings, including a set of triplets. His siblings were David Donald Shula Mike Shula, and three sisters: Donna, Sharon, and Ann.

Shula attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and later Harvey High School in Painesville, Ohio, where he excelled in various sports, showing a particular talent for football.

His success in high school athletics earned him a football scholarship to John Carroll University, where he continued to hone his skills.

At John Carroll, Shula earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1951, which set the foundation for his future coaching career.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Shula furthered his education by obtaining a master’s in physical education from Western Reserve University (now known as Case Western Reserve University) in 1953.

Career

Don Shula began his professional football career as a player in the NFL, serving as a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns after graduating from Harvey High School in Painesville, Ohio.

During his high school years, Shula was already displaying his talent on the football field, which helped him earn a one-year scholarship to attend a private Jesuit school in University Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.

After a successful freshman year, Shula’s scholarship was extended to a full scholarship, and his performance continued to impress. In his senior year of college, he rushed for 125 yards in a victory over a heavily favoured Syracuse team.

In 1950, Shula began his professional playing career with the Baltimore Colts, where he played for several seasons before transitioning to coaching.

In 1963, at 33 years old, Shula became the youngest head coach in NFL history when he was hired to coach the Colts.

His tenure with the Colts proved successful, as he led the team to a remarkable record of 73-26-4, with four playoff appearances.

Shula’s leadership was pivotal in guiding the Colts to an NFL Championship win in 1968, although they were defeated in Super Bowl III by the New York Jets in a significant upset.

In 1970, Shula left the Colts and became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, where he would stay for 26 seasons.

During his time with the Dolphins, Shula established himself as one of the most successful coaches in NFL history. He had only two losing seasons (1976 and 1988) and led the team to 11 division titles and five AFC Championships.

His crowning achievement came in 1972 when he led the Dolphins to a perfect season, finishing with a 17-0 record and winning Super Bowl VII. The following year, he achieved a second consecutive Super Bowl win, securing victory in Super Bowl VIII.

Shula’s legacy was defined by his remarkable Super Bowl record, becoming the first head coach to appear in six Super Bowls.

His appearances included five with the Dolphins and one with the Colts. Although he had the most Super Bowl losses (four), his leadership in guiding two different franchises to the Super Bowl was unparalleled.

Shula was also the first head coach to lead two teams to their Super Bowl debut and the first to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls, which he did with the Dolphins from 1971 to 1973.

Shula retired with a 347–173–6 record, making him the winningest coach in NFL history. He was the first coach to win the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award four times and was selected to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

After retiring in 1996, he was immediately enshrined in the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

In 2019, Shula was named one of the 10 greatest head coaches in NFL history as part of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He passed away in 2020 at 90, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and success that remains unmatched in NFL history.

Social Media

Don Shula does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Don Shula was married twice. His second marriage was to Mary Anne Stephens, whom he married on October 16, 1993. The two met at a New Year’s Day party in 1992 and began dating shortly after.

Their relationship was described as blissful and supportive. Mary Anne had three children from her previous marriages, and while she did not have children with Shula, they created a blended family with five children from his first marriage.

Shula’s first wife, Dorothy Bartish, passed away in 1991. Shula had five children with Dorothy: Dave, Mike, Donna, Sharon, and Anne.

Net Worth

At the time of his death in 2020, Don Shula’s estimated net worth ranged between $30 million and $60 million.

His wealth was primarily the result of his legendary coaching career, which included two Super Bowl victories and leading the Miami Dolphins to a perfect season in 1972.

In addition to his football career, Shula’s business ventures, such as owning a steakhouse chain and a hotel, also significantly influenced his financial success.