Art Rooney II, Kevin Colbert, Bill Cowher among those paying tribute to Don Shula

Chris Adamski
Monday, May 4, 2020 2:39 p.m. | Monday, May 4, 2020 2:39 p.m.

Steelers owner Art Rooney (left) talks with Dolphins coach Don Shula at Three Rivers Stadium before their teams met in the 1972 AFC championship game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers president and general manager and their only living former coach were among those mourning Monday after the death of legendary NFL coach Don Shula.

Steelers president Art Rooney II said Shula was on his “Mount Rushmore of NFL head coaches.” Rooney II also cited Shula’s recommendation to Rooney’s grandfather, team founder Art Rooney, in hiring eventual four-time Super Bowl winning coach Chuck Noll, a former Shula assistant.

“Shula’s coaching career impacted so many people on and off the field,” Rooney II said in a statement released by the team.

“I know both (Rooney Sr. and Noll) had a great respect for Coach Shula and all of the outstanding contributions he made to the NFL. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Shula family as he will be missed by the entire NFL community.”

Shula went 347-173-6 over 33 seasons as coach of the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins before retiring after the 1995 season. Shula was 90 when he died at his home across Biscayne Bay from downtown Miami, the Dolphins said in a statement.

The first NFL team Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert worked for as a college scout was the Dolphins from 1985-89.

“I always admired the manner in which he lived out his faith and showed a dedication to his family while meeting the demands of being a great NFL coach,” Colbert said in a statement. “These are lessons I will forever cherish. Please know that he and his family will be in our prayers.”

We lost one of the most iconic men in the history of NFL coaching in Don Shula. His leadership and wisdom helped to guide me and many others who have made a life in coaching football. Thank you Coach Shula. May your spirit and legacy live on forever. RIP

— Bill Cowher (@CowherCBS) May 4, 2020

Earlier Monday, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher posted a message to his verified Twitter account in remembrance of Shula, who coached an AFC rival the first four of Cowher’s 15 seasons coaching the Steelers.

Cowher this fall will join Shula as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“We lost one of the most iconic men in the history of NFL coaching in Don Shula,” Cowher’s tweet read. “His leadership and wisdom helped to guide me and many others who have made a life in coaching football. Thank you Coach Shula. May your spirit and legacy live on forever. RIP”

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.