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Who is Don Shula? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

Author

James Olson

Updated on April 06, 2026

Donald Francis Wiki Biography

Donald Francis “Don” Shula was born on the 4th January 1930, in Grand River, Ohio, USA of Hungarian descent. He is best known for being a retired professional American Football player, who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Redskins. He is also recognized for being the head coach of the Baltimore Colts, and Miami Dolphins. His professional career was active from 1951 to 1995.

Have you ever wondered how rich Don Shula is, as of mid 2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that the overall size of Don’s net worth is $30 million, accumulated through his successful career in the sports industry not only as a professional NFL player, but also as a professional NFL head coach. Another source is coming from the books which he has co-authored. He is also the owner of a restaurant chain, which has also added to his net worth.

Don Shula Net Worth $30 Million

Don Shula was raised with six siblings by parents Dan and Mary Shula, immigrants from Hungary. When he was still a child, he began playing football in his neighborhood. He went to private elementary school at St. Mary’s, after which he attended Thomas W. Harvey in Painesville, where he played football for the school’s team. After matriculation in 1947, he received a scholarship at John Carroll University, a private Jesuit school in University Heights in Cleveland.

Don attended John Carroll University, after his scholarship was extended, thanks to his great performance in the freshman year. During his college days, Don made only one notable play, rushing for 125 yards, against Syracuse, which was favored to win the game. After he finished college education, he was drafted by the Cleveland Brown in the 1951 NFL Draft, as the 110th pick overall. He played only one season for the Browns, in which they reached finals, however, they lost to the Los Angeles Rams. He was then traded to the Baltimore Colts, for which he played until 1956, when he was waived by the team. After that he signed with the Washington Redskins, playing one season, before deciding to retire.

Soon after his playing career was over, he found engagement as the assistant coach at the University of Virginia, under head coach Dick Voris. He then moved between several universities, before becoming the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL in 1960. He served in that position for two years, after which he was hired by the Baltimore Colts as their head coach, becoming the youngest coach in the history of the league, as he was only 33 years old. In his first season, he finished third with the winning record of 8-6, and in the second his team had a 12-2 record, eventually reaching the finals, but losing to the Cleveland Browns. He managed to win the NFL Championship with the Colts in 1968, defeating the Browns with a 34-0 result, but lost to the New York Jets in the Super Bowl.

He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 1970, when his contract expired, which only added further to his net worth. He subsequently spent 25 years with the Dolphins, winning two Super Bowls, in 1972 and 1973.

In his 32 years as a head coach, only two were losing seasons. During his career he received numerous prestigious awards, including six times NFL Coach Of The Year, and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of The Year in 1993. Don was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997, and was also inducted into the Miami Dolphins Ring of Fame.

After retirement, he started a restaurant chain – “Shula`s Steakhouse” – and he also owns a hotel located in Miami Lakes, which also adds to his net worth. Besides that, he is also the co-author of three books – “The Winning Edge” (1973), “Everyone’s A Coach” (1995), and “The Little Black Book Of Coaching: Motivating People To Be Winners” (2001).

Speaking about his personal life, Don Shula has been married to Mary Anne Stephens since 1993; the couple lives in the Indian Creek, Florida. Previously, he was married to Dorothy Bartish, with whom he has five children. They were together from 1958 to 1991, when she passed away from breast cancer, so in the same year he established The Don Shula Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.



Full Name Don Shula
Net Worth $30 Million
Date Of Birth January 4, 1930
Place Of Birth Grand River
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.8 m)
Weight 190 lbs (86.18 kg)
Profession American football player, Coach, American Football coach
Education Thomas W. Harvey High School, John Carroll University, Case Western Reserve University
Nationality United States of America
Spouse Mary Anne Stephens ,, Dorothy Bartish.
Children Mike Shula, Dave Shula
Parents Mary Shula, Dan Shula
Siblings Jane Shula, Irene Battista, Jim Shula, Jeannette Moroz
Nicknames Donald Francis Shula , Donald Francis “Don” Shula
Twitter
IMDB
Awards Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, NFL Honors – AP Coach of the Year
Movies Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Football All Stars: Intimate Portraits: Vol. 4, Football All Stars: Intimate Portraits: Vol. 6, Football All Stars: Intimate Portraits: Vol. 2, Football All Stars: Intimate Portraits: Vol. 1, Football All Stars: Intimate Portraits: Vol. 5
Fact
1 Retired.
2 Brother of Jim Shula.
3 Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 9th Round (110th pick overall) of the 1951 NFL Draft.
4 Attended Harvey High School in Painesville, OH.
5 Played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns (1951-1952), Baltimore Colts (1953-1956), and Washington Redskins (1957).
6 The only head coach to have an undefeated season (1972) in the NFL.
7 On October 2, 1994, in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium, Don Shula’s Dolphins met Dave Shula’s Bengals, the first time ever in professional sports that a father and son faced each other as head coaches.
8 Holds honorary doctorates from John Carroll (alma mater), St. Thomas University, the University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University.
9 An equity partner in Don Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club and Don Shula’s Steak Houses.
10 Most successful coach in NFL history.
11 Father of David Shula, Mike Shula, and Donna Shula. David was head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, while Mike was the quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins.
12 Cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts and Washington Redskins during the fifties.
13 Head coach for the Baltimore Colts (1963-1969) and Miami Dolphins (1970-1995).
14 Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
15 Football coach

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Ballers 2015 TV Series Don Shula
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective 1994 Miami Dolphin

Self

Title Year Status Character
NFL Films Presents 2015 TV Series documentary Himself
A Football Life 2015 TV Series Himself
Namath 2012 TV Movie documentary Himself
Mike & Mike 2011 TV Series Himself – Telephone Interviewee
Man v. Food 2010 TV Series Himself
ESPN 25: Who’s #1? 2004-2007 TV Series documentary Himself
Super Bowl XLI 2007 TV Special Himself – Vince Lombardi Trophy Presenter
The Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame… 2006 TV Series Himself
Fox NFL Sunday 2005 TV Series Himself – Declaration of Independence Reciter
ESPN SportsCentury 2000-2005 TV Series documentary Himself
Super Bowl XXXVII 2003 TV Movie Himself – Ceremonial Coin Toss
Unitas 1999 TV Movie documentary Himself
All Pro Sports: Don Shula 1996 Video short Himself
NFL Monday Night Football 1970-1995 TV Series Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
ESPN’s Sunday Night Football 1987-1995 TV Series Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
TNT Sunday Night Football 1990-1994 TV Series Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
The NFL on NBC 1970-1993 TV Series Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
1992 AFC Championship Game 1993 TV Special Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
The NFL on CBS 1964-1990 TV Series Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach / Himself – Baltimore Colts Head Coach / Himself – Baltimore Cols Head Coach
Follies, Crunches and Highlights 1990 TV Movie documentary Himself
Strange But True Football Stories 1987 TV Movie documentary Himself
1985 AFC Championship Game 1986 TV Movie Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Super Bowl XIX 1985 TV Special Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
1984 AFC Championship Game 1985 TV Special Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Super Bowl XVII 1983 TV Movie Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
1982 AFC Championship Game 1983 TV Movie Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
1978 AFC Wild Card Playoff Game 1978 TV Movie Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Super Bowl VIII 1974 TV Movie Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
1973 AFC Championship Game 1973 TV Movie Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Super Bowl VII 1973 TV Special Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
1972 AFC Championship Game 1972 TV Special Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Super Bowl VI 1972 TV Special Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
1971 AFC Championship Game 1972 TV Special Himself – Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Super Bowl III 1969 TV Special Himself – Baltimore Colts Head Coach
1968 NFL Championship Game 1968 TV Special Himself – Baltimore Colts Head Coach
1964 NFL Championship Game 1964 TV Special Himself – Baltimore Colts Head Coach

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
A Football Life 2016 TV Series Himself
Year of the Quarterback 2011 TV Series documentary Himself
Rome Is Burning 2007 TV Series Himself