Over the 100-year history of the NFL, legendary head coaches have defined the sport. Each decade has seen select coaches dominate and help shape dynasties. While the rise of player power and extravagant personalities has changed the role of head coaches, they are still critically important to a team's success. Here are the top five most successful head coaches of all time.
Don Shula: 1963 - 1995 (347 wins, 2 x Super Bowls, 4 x Coach of The Year)
The great Don Shula holds the NFL coaching record for most wins. Shula's career spanned over three decades, and his longevity and success made him a legend. In 33 years as a coach, Shula's teams recorded just two losing seasons. His relentless drive for success and ability to create strong bonds with his players helped Shula win two Super Bowls. In his first Super Bowl-winning season of 1972, Shula's Miami Dolphins posted a perfect 14-0 record. The Dolphins doubled up in 1973 as they retained their Super Bowl crown. Shula instilled discipline and forged a tenacious mindset within his teams.
Moreover, Shula demonstrated adaptability by routinely building successful teams with new groups of players. Shula's team reached the Super Bowl six times in Miami, with three different starting quarterbacks. That was a testament to his adaptability and relentless hunger. Shula still holds the record for most wins.
Bill Belichick: 1991 - Present (330 wins, 6 x Super Bowls, 3 x Coach of The Year)
Bill Belichick, the head coach of the 21st century's most remarkable dynasty, is second in all-time wins and the most successful coach of the Super Bowl era. Belichick started his head coaching career with the Cleveland Browns before a tumultuous path led him to the New England Patriots in 2000. With the help of a young Tom Brady and some legendary defenders, Belichick turned the Patriots into a relentless winning machine. New England won Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, and 2004. Belichick's Patriots reset the bar for consistent excellence, and they have won the AFC East a record 17 times.
Like Don Shula, Belichick displayed his brilliance by building several winning teams. Following the Super Bowl win of 2004, the Patriots posted an undefeated 16-0 regular season record in 2007 before falling just short of perfection at Super Bowl 42. New England reached the Super Bowl again in 2011 before finally winning in 2014. The 2014 win heralded a new run of three Super Bowls in five years as Belichick entrenched his legacy among the greats.
Known as a ruthless disciplinarian with an unerring knack for coaching great defenses, Belichick has earned a reputation for leaving no stone unturned and finding every detail.
George Halas: 1920 - 1967 (324 wins, 8 x NFL Championships, 2 x Coach of The Year)
Referred to as 'Papa Bear,' George Halas was the NFL's first super coach. Halas founded, coached, and owned the Chicago Bears. He managed the Bears with great dignity and integrity. Halas was the first head coach to implement daily practice sessions and hold film study sessions on opponent teams. Halas was an inaugural member of the Hall of Fame, and he helped set the template for head coaches.
Andy Reid: 1999 - Present (273 Wins, 2 x Super Bowls, 1 x Coach of The Year)
Often seen as the antithesis of Bill Belichick, Andy Reid might be the best offensive coach of the 21st century. Reid created high-powered offenses, and his teams were arguably the most exciting to watch. Reid won six NFC East titles in Philadelphia, leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance in 2004. Reid's tenure in Philadelphia ended in 2012, and he moved to Kansas City and has created a juggernaut.
Since 2012, the Chiefs have won seven consecutive AFC West titles and have two Super Bowl wins. Reid's offenses have electrified the NFL, first with Alex Smith and now with the incredible Patrick Mahomes.
A fun-loving, Hawaiian shirt-wearing, cheeseburger-eating maverick, players gravitate towards Reid. He often looks at players as an extension of his family, and players have always spoken with glowing respect about Reid. With Mahomes contracted to Kansas City for the long term, Reid's record should only get more successful as the years pass.
Tom Landry: 1960 - 1988 (270 Wins, 2 x Super Bowls, 1 x NFL Championship, 1 x Coach of The Year)
The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry, fathered the 'Boys into America's Team. A defensive visionary, Landry's Doomsday Defense led Dallas to two Super Bowl titles and an NFL Championship predating the Super Bowl era. Landry invented the 4-3 defense and FLEX defense, and his partnership with Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach captivated millions.
Landry's Cowboys recorded 20 consecutive winning seasons, an NFL record that still stands. Renowned for unearthing star players and developing promising talents, Landry was viewed as a father figure by his players. A Hall of Fame inductee in 1990, Landry's unrivaled legacy still dominated the football-mad Dallas area.