The winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula died peacefully in his home Monday morning at 90.

In a statement, the Miami Dolphins posted on their Twitter page in regards to the passing of their legendary coach,

Shula played for seven seasons in the NFL from 1951-1957 for three different organizations as a defensive back. 

In 1960, Shula became the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, which he held until 1962. He went on to take the head coaching job of the Baltimore Colts from 1963-1969. 

Following the 1969 season, the Dolphins signed Shula to be their head coach, a position he held until he retired in 1995. With the Dolphins, Shula won two Super Bowls in Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII. In Super Bowl VII, the Dolphins completed the first and still only perfect season going 14-0. 

Shula won the Coach of the Year Award for the NFL four times. His NFL leading 328 regular-season wins, and 347 total wins as a coach, led Shula to be one of ten coaches named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary team in 2019 as well as being enshrined into the NFL’s Hall of Fame in 1997.

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A sad day not just in the world of football but in the world of all professional sports. Hall of Fame Miami Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti has died at the age of 78 due to a degenerative brain disease caused by repetitive head trauma.

Buoniconti was a leader of the “No-Name Defense,” for the Dolphins that won back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1970s including a 17-0 season which remains the only undefeated season for any team in NFL history.

After retirement from football, Buoniconti and his son, Marc Buoniconti, worked tirelessly raising money and awareness to find a cure for paralysis. In 1985, Marc suffered a life-changing football injury when he became paralyzed from the shoulders down after making a tackle for the Citadel. In their efforts, they raised more than a half-billion dollars. They founded the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis together as well, the world’s largest spinal research center.

During his Hall of Fame speech in 2001, Nick Buoniconti said: “I would trade this [Super Bowl] ring in, and all my individual accomplishments, if one thing could happen in my lifetime. My son Marc dreams that he walks. And as a father, I would like nothing more than to walk by his side.”

“My dad has been my hero and represents what I have always aspired to be: a leader, a mentor and a champion,” the younger Buoniconti said in a statement.

“He was the leader of one of the most dominant NFL teams in history,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “and earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with his grit, fearlessness and skill while playing with the Patriots and Dolphins.”

“Nick was special to me in every way,” Hall of Fame coach Don Shula said. “He was someone I greatly admired. His love for his wife, Lynn, his children, grandchildren, friends, teammates, family and the community was evident. His groundbreaking work with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis has made a huge difference in the lives of so many people. I am thankful to have had Nick in my life. I will miss him.”

Buoniconti is survived by his wife, Lynn, sons Marc, Nick Jr. and Justin, and daughter Gina.

Legendary former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, a Hall of Famer and the winningest coach in NFL history, celebrated his 87th birthday on Wednesday.

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Shula, who often attends Dolphins’ home games, still holds the league record for most coaching victories with 347, and led Miami to their two Super Bowl titles in 1972 and 1973– the first of which the team went 17-0 for pro football’s only perfect season.

The Dolphins have had 10 coaches (including interim jobs) since Shula– the second coach in the team’s history– retired after the 1995 season.

Miami just finished a 10-6 regular season in Adam Gase’s first year as head coach, and will next face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon in an AFC Wild Card game. This marks the Dolphin’s first playoff appearance since 2008, and they are seeking their first postseason win wince 2000.

A Dolphins victory on Sunday would surely come as a great belated birthday present for Shula.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 01: Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula speaks as Head Coach Steve Specht, of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, is awarded the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award during a press conference for Super Bowl XLVII at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on February 1, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)