Andy Reid poised to blow past Don Shula as winningest NFL coach after getting extension
The Dolphins’ home address is 347 Don Shula Dr. for a good reason.
It represents the number of total wins Don Shula amassed in his career, making him the NFL’s winningest coach.
But for how long?
For years, attention has focused on Bill Belichick as the likely foil to threaten Shula’s throne, but news out of Kansas City this week likely changed that. The Chiefs gave Andy Reid an extension through the 2029 season, putting Shula’s records squarely in his crosshairs.
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In fact, the only way Reid won’t surpass Shula’s 347 is by winning at a far slower pace than he currently is. And before we explain why, it might be beneficial to know that Patrick Mahomes also is signed to a long-term extension. So the most valuable player in the league and the most creative coach in the league are going to be a team for years to come.
First, the basics.
Most regular-season wins by NFL coach
Shula: 328
Belichick: 302
Reid: 258
How Reid ends up on top: He needs 71 wins to surpass Shula, meaning he would need to win an average of 11.8 per year over the length of his extension to reach 329. Over the past five years, he has averaged 12.6 regular-season wins. So it’s a tight race, but … check out the numbers in the next chart.
Most total wins by NFL coach
Shula: 347
Belichick: 333
Reid: 284
How Reid ends up on top: Looking at the list, the knee-jerk reaction is to assume Belichick would leapfrog Shula long before Reid ever does. But Belichick is 72 and out of a job. Maybe someone will give a 73-year-old coach who has been out of the league a year a job in 2025, but don’t count on it. And with 15 wins required, Belichick likely would have to coach two more years to surpass Shula. But Reid, 66? He would need 10.6 wins per season (regular and playoffs) to be king fish. And this is where he has a big edge. Over the past five years, Reid has averaged 15.4 wins per season. At such a torrid pace, he would surpass Shula early in the 2028 season.
Also: Reid has won three of the past five Super Bowls, including the most recent two. Shula has two total Super Bowl wins. Belichick has six.
Reid essentially is getting the last laugh over everyone who spent this past Super Bowl week peppering him with questions on whether his final act as Chiefs coach would be hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy as red confetti rained down. Reid hoisted the trophy, all right, but he’s nowhere near ready for a rocking chair.
"I'm incredibly grateful to (chairman and CEO) Clark (Hunt) and the entire Hunt family for giving me the opportunity to lead this historic franchise,” Reid said in a statement. "Over the last 11 years, Tammy and I have enjoyed calling Kansas City our home. The community has embraced us, we've watched our family grow, including having all 12 grandkids during our time here. On the field, there have been so many people that have contributed to our success and Super Bowls, and I'm grateful to the players, coaches and staff that have all invested their time into this process. I'd also like to thank my agent, Bob LaMonte. Chiefs Kingdom is a special place and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to be here."
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While longtime Dolphins fans would like to see The Don remain atop the wins list, they can take a certain amount of satisfaction if it’s Reid rather than Belichick knocking him down a notch. Shula made it clear he wasn’t a fan of Belichick’s controversial tactics. Reid, however, exhibited class early this season when asked by CBS about comparisons of his career to both Shula and Belichick.
“Yeah I don’t go there,” Reid said. “ … Maybe down the road I’ll think about that when I’m done coaching.”
Best of all, he modestly tipped his cap to Shula and Belichick.
“I will tell you though, Don Shula was one heck of a football coach and Belichick is one heck of a football coach. … I was able to compete against both of them and I keep them on a high pedestal.”
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: With extension, Andy Reid poised to blow past Don Shula's record wins
