Thirty-three years as an NFL head coach. Thirty seasons as head coach or vice-chairman of the Miami Dolphins. These numbers embody unparalleled longevity. All-time NFL-coaching bests of 347 total wins and 328 regular-season wins. A career winning percentage of .676. Six Super Bowl head coaching appearances, with two championships. Only two losing seasons in 33 seasons as a head coach. And, still untouched by history, an immortal 17-0 season in 1972. These figures exemplify unrivaled success. Shula, the man with the distinctive jutting jaw, turned 70 this year, but his records and legacy are ageless. And beyond the wins and records, consider the coaches and players who learned at the knee of Shula. Hall-of-Fame performers like Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Johnny Unitas, Paul Warfield, Dwight Stephenson, Larry Csonka, Raymond Berry, Ted Hendricks, John Mackey, Gino Marchetti, Lenny Moore and
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