Don Shula may have passed away today, but his legend will live on… and on!
Don Shula, the legendary coach of the Miami Dolphins, has passed away today at the age of 90 years old. The ‘Perfect Season’, the ‘golden years’ of the Super Bowl championships, and Dan Marino’s Hall of Fame career were all guided by the leadership of Don Shula. Over his 33-year head coaching career, Don Shula earned every superlative that an NFL coach can have…
… and more.
Don Shula wasn’t just a great coach, his greatness extended beyond the X’s and O’s of the field, he was a man of great character. Oddly, it was in Shula’s final defeat as the Dolphins Head Coach that proved how rare a man he was.
Shula’s final defeat in football was his greatest victory as a man
Shula’s high principles and resolute character brought him NFL success… and also forced the end of his career. But, his final defeat as the Dolphins Head Coach proved he was a rare man of true character.
Wayne Huizenga gave Shula an ultimatum after the letdown of the 1995 Season: fire pariah defensive coordinator Tom Olividotti or resign. There’s no doubt that getting rid of Olivadotti was the right move because he was a terrible coordinator–terrible! But, Shula was loyal and prideful to a fault. Like the noble warrior who wouldn’t relinquish his honor to save himself, Shula refused to bend his loyalty and his football vision… even at the expense of his career.
A lesser man would have crumbled under the pressure and groveled to keep his dream job: Not Shula. Shula was just 66 years old (two years younger than Bill Belichick) when he retired. There was still tread on the tire, so this wasn’t an easy choice.
Only a man of these inflexible principles could have achieved his unprecedented greatness and consistency in coaching. What he preached to his players was simply how he lived his life. Not many can say that. Most people who have great success aren’t as equally successful as humans, but Don Shula was.
Like fine wine, Shula gets better with age
As a boy, I was furious over his decision to resign for Olividotti. I was also furious that he had kept him as long as he did. But, when I grew up into a man, I admired him even more for the strength of character it took to hold to his principles. From a football perspective, I still think he was wrong. Now though, I understand this was just Shula being consistent with his philosophy… being the man I admired.
One of my favorite poems is ‘IF’ by Rudyard Kipling. The poem is about the true qualities of man. Don Shula exemplifies this poem to a tee. The older you get, the rarer you realize men like this are.
Coach, thanks so much for the great memories and example of character. So many are grateful for the life you lived and you will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, Don Shula! Go Phins!!!
