After helping make history, Pederson recalls Shula fondly

No football figure took the death of Don Shula Monday harder than Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.

Shula, the NFL’s winningest head coach, passed away at age 90 at his home across Biscayne Bay from Miami.

The memories still resonate with Pederson, among the myriad characters Shula coached during a 33-year tour with 347 victories, a perfect season and two Super Bowl titles.

“Coach Don Shula has been an inspiration to me throughout my entire career,” Pederson said in a statement furnished by the Eagles. “Not only as a player but also now as a head coach. He believed enough in me as an undrafted player in 1991 to give me an opportunity in the league, and it was truly an honor to play for him.”

In 1993, Pederson was

25 when he celebrated his greatest achievement in a relatively undistinguished NFL playing career.

Pederson stepped into the Miami Dolphins lineup in the second half, starter Scott Mitchell exiting due to injury, and rallied the team to a 1914 win over the Eagles at Veterans Stadium.

It was the 325th coaching triumph for Shula, besting the all-time mark set by the late George Halas. For the first time since the 17-0 season in 1972, Shula was carried off the field by his players, including Pederson.

The Dolphins were already missing Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who was injured, that day. Shula, on the fly, adjusted the game plan to what Pederson was most comfortable with.

Playing almost the entire second half, Pederson completed 3 of 6 pass attempts for 34 yards and led the offense to a couple of field goals. Pederson’s longest completion was 12 yards.

Pederson threw just two passes the rest of the season. Keith Byars, the Eagles’ first-round draft back who played running back that season for the Dolphins, threw one TD pass that year, one more than Pederson managed.

After the game Shula credited Pederson for doing an amazing job. He will never know the impact he made on Pederson, the 23rd head coach of the Eagles and the first to lead the organization to a Super Bowl title.

“He taught me how to be a professional both on and off the field through his attention to detail,” Pederson said. “I learned so much from him about how to relate to players and how to lead your team. He is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport and his impact will be longlasting.”

Shula had just two losing seasons in 33 years. Shula’s Baltimore Colts teams were 71-23-4 (.755) and no losing campaigns in seven seasons.

The Dolphins were 257133-2 (.659) in 26 seasons. Shula’s teams were 19-17

(.528) in the playoffs. Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.