Kansas City Chiefs CEO and Chairman Clark Hunt has released a statement on the death of legendary Dolphins HC Don Shula. Shula passed away at 90 years old on Monday morning. Here is a look at what Hunt had to say about Shula and his legacy:
“Without a doubt, Don Shula was one of the greatest coaches in the history of any sport. Over the course of his remarkable 33 seasons as a head coach, Coach Shula had a profound impact on the game he loved, paving the way for the exciting brand of offensive football that has become a mainstay in the modern NFL. No one coached more games or won more games than Coach Shula, and his 1972 Dolphins set a standard for perfection that has never been duplicated. On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Shula family and the Miami Dolphins.“
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997, Shula still holds the record as the winningest head coach of all-time with 328 total victories combined during his time with the Baltimore Colts and Dolphins. In 1972, Shula coached the Dolphins to a perfect 17-0 season. The Chiefs experienced the 1972 Dolphins team first hand falling to 20-10 at Arrowhead Stadium early in the season. They also experienced a painful loss to Shula’s Dolphins in the AFC divisional round the season prior.
Shula’s impact on the game and his willingness to evolve as a coach throughout his career is still felt in the NFL today.