 Don Shula capped an illustrious career when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Don Shula's unanimous election to the Hall was the ultimate honor in a career full of record-setting accomplishments.
Don Shula broke into the NFL as the lone rookie on Coach Paul Brown's defending NFL champion Cleveland Browns in 1951. He was involved in the largest trade in modern NFL history, a 15-player deal with Baltimore in 1953, and he played four seasons with the Colts (1953-56) and one season at Washington (1957) at right cornerback. Don Shula had 21 career interceptions for 247 yards in seven seasons. After serving for three years (1960-1962) as defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Don Shula became head coach in Baltimore.
Don Shula entered the coaching ranks with an assistant's job at Virginia (1958) and Kentucky (1959) before joining the Lions. Starting with the 1996 season, Don Shula served as vice-chairman of the Miami Dolphins. He also contributed to the growth of the NFL off the field by serving from 1975 through 1995 on the league's influential Competition Committee.
Along with his football responsibilities, Don Shula has always offered considerable time and support to many charities. The Don Shula Foundation, formed primarily to assist breast cancer research, was established as a tribute to his late wife, Dorothy. A member of the class of 1951 at John Carroll, Don Shula helped fund a $1 million charity in the University's Department of Philosophy. To show their appreciation, John Carroll University named their athletic complex The Don Shula Sports Center.
Because of his success on the football field and his long-time civic and charitable service, Don Shula has received countless prestigious awards, including the 1993 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award. In addition, he co-authored Everyone's A Coach (1995) with Ken Blanchard. This highly acclaimed book outlines the application of their managerial philosophies for business and personal success. Don Shula personifies those business principles himself, serving as an equity partner in two highly successful enterprises, Don Shula's Hotel & Golf Club and Don Shula's Steak Houses, Inc.
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