Whereas it looks as if virtually each NFL file that stood again in 1993 has since been damaged, there’s not less than one main mark that has stood the check of time: Don Shula’s all-time wins file. The previous Dolphins coach handed fellow teaching legend George Halas because the league’s winningest head coach again in ’93 and completed with an NFL-best 328 regular-season victories (347 together with playoffs). That file has remained unchanged and Shula held the mark all through his passing in Might of 2020. Whereas Shula continues to sit down atop the NFL teaching mountain, New England’s Invoice Belichick is closing in on the file. 

Belichick presently sits at 280 profession wins (311 together with playoffs) and is third all-time behind Halas and Shula. The steward of the Patriots‘ six Tremendous Bowl titles finds himself 38 regular-season wins (simply when 13 together with playoffs) behind Halas for second-best on the all-time checklist and, as for Shula, Belichick is 48 regular-season wins (36 when together with playoffs) away from getting even on the prime spot. 

Whereas Belichick could also be on the trajectory to sooner or later surpass Shula and declare the all-time teaching wins file, it will come to the chagrin of Corridor of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. 

“I hope he do not get it,” Marino informed ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe. “I am a Dolphin for all times. Coach Shula for all times. I do not need him to get it.”

After all, this stance by Marino is to be anticipated. As he famous, he is a Dolphins lifer after spending his total 17-year NFL profession in Miami and 13 of these have been below Shula, so loyalty to his man is not surprising. Marino even famous how a lot Shula meant to him by explaining how he introduced him alongside as a rookie in 1983. 

“He was the most effective. He took care of me on a regular basis. He was an unbelievable man and head coach. He taught me the right way to be locally, be a frontrunner, work arduous. However from Day 1 — which I believed was genius — he stated, ‘I need you to be the beginning QB, so it’s important to be taught this rapidly, and now you are going to name all of your performs in apply and exhibition video games,'” Marino stated. “It takes extra work as a substitute of a coach telling you what to run — it’s important to give it some thought beforehand, it’s important to put together for it beforehand.

“I at all times thought that was particular, and doubtless totally different than what lots of people do now, I might think about. It might be so much tougher to do it now than it was then, however it did put lots of stress on me to be taught rapidly.”

Because it pertains to Belichick probably leaping over Shula for the file, it is no certain factor. The pinnacle coach will enter the 2021 season at 69 years outdated and it is unclear how for much longer he plans on kicking across the league in his present put up. If he plans on being in New England into his early to mid 70’s he’ll have his alternative. If he is wanting in direction of retirement sooner slightly than later, it will get that rather more tough.  Additionally, the membership does must proper the ship after a 7-9 season in 2020. If Mac Jones can in the end reside as much as his first-round billing, that ought to assist in Belichick’s hunt. 

And as he makes an attempt to take action, greatest imagine Marino and different Shula disciples will rooting towards him.