Well, this'll be interesting (Shula)

[MHS831]

This indirectly gives me the window to elaborate on a closely-guarded theory, "Why Shula was a Panther OC for so long"Theory.  Don Shula was a player for the Colts until 1957.  Jerry RIchardson signed with the Colts in 1958 and played 2 seasons.  Don Shula returned to head coach the Colts in 1963 at the age of 33. 

While they were never a part of the organization at the same time, Richardson would have been very aware of Shula as a player (Don had 5 interceptions one season when they played 12 games).  It is my bet that JR followed Shula's young career that featured the 1968 Super Bowl III loss to the Jets and the 1970 Super Bowl victory vs. the Cowboys.  Shula was a tremendous success by age 40 and was the Billechek of his time.  That is not to mention what he did in Miami, the most significant era of his career.  Shula then led the Dolphins to a perfect season in 1972, at the age of 42.  In all, he coached in six Super Bowls.

My guess is that JR followed his career and the two became friends.  I  imagine Don Shula personified excellence to JR, and rightly so.  Mike must have seemed like a nephew, and maybe JR believed in the bloodline, hoping to restore some of that "Baltimore/Miami" magic  that featured Shula-coached teams dominating the Super Bowl scene for over a decade in the late sixties and seventies.

Just a theory.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, MHS831 said:

This indirectly gives me the window to elaborate on a closely-guarded theory, "Why Shula was a Panther OC for so long"Theory.  Don Shula was a player for the Colts until 1957.  Jerry RIchardson signed with the Colts in 1958 and played 2 seasons.  Don Shula returned to head coach the Colts in 1963 at the age of 33. 

While they were never a part of the organization at the same time, Richardson would have been very aware of Shula as a player (Don had 5 interceptions one season when they played 12 games).  It is my bet that JR followed Shula's young career that featured the 1968 Super Bowl III loss to the Jets and the 1970 Super Bowl victory vs. the Cowboys.  Shula was a tremendous success by age 40 and was the Billechek of his time.  That is not to mention what he did in Miami, the most significant era of his career.  Shula then led the Dolphins to a perfect season in 1972, at the age of 42.  In all, he coached in six Super Bowls.

My guess is that JR followed his career and the two became friends.  I  imagine Don Shula personified excellence to JR, and rightly so.  Mike must have seemed like a nephew, and maybe JR believed in the bloodline, hoping to restore some of that "Baltimore/Miami" magic  that featured Shula-coached teams dominating the Super Bowl scene for over a decade in the late sixties and seventies.

Just a theory.

Not so farfetched...

Igo has pointed out that Jerry Richardson was a big fan of having the Shula name associated with the franchise.