Jack Nicklaus on NFL’s Don Shula: ‘A legend, a legendary man, and a friend’

Jack Nicklaus and Don Shula, two larger-than-life South Florida legends, have known each other for 50 years.

Nicklaus, the North Palm Beach resident, was in the heyday of his Hall of Fame golf career and Shula just starting his career as coach of the Miami Dolphins when the two first me at La Gorce Country Club in Miami.

That conversation led to many more memories. And rounds of golf.

“Don took the time to sit down for lunch with a guy he didn’t know, and just talk football,” Nicklaus said Monday. “What a wonderfully nice, pleasant man he was. I was already a Miami Dolphins fan and an even bigger fan of Don Shula, but that started a special friendship I have cherished for 50 years.”

Shula died Monday at the age of 90. One of Nicklaus’ fondest memories is the night he received the Don Shula Sports Legend Award at the Reid & Fiorentino Call of The Game Dinner in Hollywood, the event hosted by Miami Heat announcers Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino.

“Don and I played golf a number of times over the years, and we always had a great time,” said Nicklaus, whose grandson, Nick O’Leary, was a Dolphins tight end in 2018 and 2019.

“Our paths crossed many times at various charity functions. Then, in 2017, I was humbled when the Miami Heat’s Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino gave me an award bearing Don Shula’s name. That alone made the honor incredibly special, but more important, it was inspired by the way Don lived his life and how he gave back to his community—something that provided an example for my wife Barbara and me. As I recall saying that night, there is only one coach who can claim a perfect season, but with his name on that special honor, I was able to stake claim to a perfect night.”

Jack and Barbara Nicklaus both turned 80 this year and Shula sent them a message.

“Barbara and I heard from Don just a few months ago when he sent us a wonderful message for our 80th birthdays,” Nicklaus said. “His words made us smile and filled our hearts—hearts hurting today with the passing of a legend, a legendary man, and a friend. Our thoughts, prayers and love go out to his wife Mary Anne, the Shula family, and his very large extended family in South Florida.”

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