It’s no secret that NFL coaches have a significant impact on the game. These legendary coaches are responsible for winning championships and leaving a legacy that will live on forever.
They are also known for their leadership, tactics and philosophy. They are able to guide their team through any challenge they face.
Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll was the first coach to win four Super Bowls, and he shaped one of the greatest football dynasties in history. But he was also a shy and introspective man who kept his private life out of the public eye.
During his 23 seasons as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Noll compiled an extraordinary record of 193 wins and 148 losses. He coached 11 Pro Football Hall of Fame players, including Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris.
He was also known for his meticulous attention to detail in practice, often requiring players to re-position their feet in a certain way or to perform drills with a specific number of reps. This discipline helped develop the linebacker tradition that still exists today in Pittsburgh.
Noll’s most memorable team came during the 1970s, when he guided the Steelers to unprecedented success. He won four Super Bowls during a six-year run in which his teams were unmatched in NFL history.
His first Steelers team was a dismal 1-13 season, but he quickly turned around the fortunes of the franchise. Strong drafts filled the roster with future Hall of Famers.
After a few years in the league, Noll joined the Baltimore Colts under Don Shula. During the 1968 season, the Colts set an NFL record for fewest points allowed, a key element of Noll’s philosophy.
The next year, he took the 4-3 defense that Shula had established and implemented it in Pittsburgh, which eventually became known as the “Steel Curtain” defense. In the 1970s, Noll’s teams won four Super Bowls and reached eight AFC championship games.
MacCambridge brings Noll to life as a complex and fascinating person, from his childhood in Ohio to the heights of his coaching career. His acclaimed biography is the definitive account of one of the most remarkable coaches in football history.
Don Shula
Don Shula, a former nfl coach who had a storied career with the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins, passed away on May 4, 2020 at age 90. He coached in six Super Bowls and was the winningest head coach in NFL history.
A native of Grand River, Ohio, Shula began his professional football career as a defensive back with the Cleveland Browns in 1951. He played seven seasons with the Browns, Baltimore Colts and Washington Redskins before entering coaching in 1957.
During his playing days, Shula had 21 interceptions and recovered four fumbles. He also served in the National Guard for a time after his football career.
He coached collegiately at Virginia, Iowa and Kentucky before taking his first head coach position in 1960. He had a 347-173-6 record as a coach and set numerous records during his 33-year career.
Shula is the winningest coach in nfl history and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also active in charity, co-authored three books and owned several businesses, including a chain of steakhouses.
A devout Catholic, Shula even considered becoming a priest. He established the Don Shula Foundation for Breast Cancer Research in honor of his wife, Dorothy, who died from the disease in 1991.
One of the most beloved coaches in NFL history, Shula guided the Miami Dolphins to multiple superbowl wins and two perfect seasons. In the process, he ushered in a new era of dominance for the team.
Shula, who compiled a 324-1511-31 record as a head coach, entered the Hall of Fame in 1997. He passed George Halas’ league-record 324 victories in 1993 and retired following the 1995 season, his 33rd as an NFL head coach.
Bill Walsh
In 1979, Bill Walsh was hired as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and within three years he had won three Super Bowls. He was a great football coach and has influenced many other NFL coaches.
He is also known for his wit and humor. When he took over the 49ers, they were 2-14 in the 1978 season and were in serious trouble. He turned things around and helped them win their first Super Bowl.
His coaching philosophy has changed the game of football and he has inspired many other NFL coaches. He is a true leader who cares about the players on his team. He is the type of coach who knows how to get them in the right mindset for success.
Before becoming an NFL head coach, Bill Walsh worked for the College of San Mateo, the College of San Jose State and the Stanford University football program. He is credited with developing a new offensive scheme called the West Coast Offense that was designed to help his teams win more games.
After a successful career in the NFL, Bill Walsh went on to become a sports broadcaster for NBC. He was a popular commentator on NBC’s game-day programs and was also a motivational speaker.
He was a very good judge of people and he always tried to be fair and treat everyone with respect. His family was very important to him. He had 3 children and he was married to Geri for 50+ years.
He is a very good teacher, he has a unique style of coaching and he is very good at analyzing opponents and determining their weaknesses and strengths. He has a great sense of humor and his players will never forget him.
Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer was an NFL coach who led the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He compiled a record of 200-126-1 over his 21-year coaching career, finishing with the eighth most wins among all coaches in the league.
Schottenheimer was a competitive man and wanted the best for his teams. He believed in the power of a good team and knew how to build one from the ground up.
He was known for his intense work ethic and demanded perfection every day. He would make sure everything was scheduled down to the minute, punishing players who were late.
His players grew to appreciate his rigorousness and the way he instilled discipline into them, especially on the defensive side of the ball. He also stressed the importance of physical defense, something that stems from his time playing in the NFL as a linebacker.
In 2004, he was named the AFC West coach of the year after leading the Chargers to a 12-4 record, including a 14-2 mark that included an incredible performance by running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The Chargers also advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs, but ultimately fell short.
After his time with the Chargers, he spent time as an NFL analyst and served as a head coach in the United Football League for the Virginia Destroyers. He is survived by his wife, Pat, and two children, Kristin and Brian.
A former Buffalo Bills player, Schottenheimer began his coaching career as a defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Portland Storm in 1974. He then went on to work with the New York Giants, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns before moving on to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989.
Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher has been a coach in the nfl for over fifteen years and is a legendary coach in his own right. He was the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for a long time and coached them to eight division titles, 10 post season berths, and 21 playoff games. He also led the team to two nfl Super Bowl appearances and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
He coached his teams for 15 seasons and won 149 regular season games. This is impressive, but it doesn’t put him in the top echelon of all time coaching records.
After leaving the nfl, he joined CBS as an analyst and continues to live in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2007, he made his first appearance as a broadcaster on CBS’ pre-game show The NFL Today.
During his career, he has won many awards including the NFL Coach of the Year award in 1992. He has also coached many players to great success including Rod Woodson, Tommy Maddox, Jerome Bettis, Kendrell Bell, Ben Roethlisberger, and James Farrior.
Cowher’s coaching career began in 1985 when he was named the special teams coach for the Cleveland Browns and the defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. He served in those positions for three years before being promoted to the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach in January 1992.
He guided the Steelers to an 11-5-0 record and a berth in the playoffs in his first season. He has a 149-90-1 record and is ranked 25th all-time in winning percentage.
In his 15 years as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he led his team to eight division titles and was inducted into the NFL Hall of fame. He was also a successful coach for the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles.
