A Tour of the NFL’s Most Successful Coaches
On October 22, 2023, Bill Belichick joined an exclusive club by becoming only the third NFL coach to secure 300 regular season wins when his New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills. Even as Belichick steps away from his head coaching job, another standout, Andy Reid, is hot on his heels on this high list of winningest coaches. Reid, the fourth-highest quarterback in NFL history, has his Kansas City Chiefs set to continue winning, backed by their Super Bowl LVIII glory.
Now let’s examine the most dominant coaches in NFL history, with the most effective coaches identified by a star.
5. Tom Landry: The 270-Win Legacy
Landry has helped the Dallas Cowboys for 29 consecutive years, marking a streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons – another NFL record. His skill set led the Cowboys to Super Bowl victories over the Miami Dolphins (Super Bowl VI) and the Denver Broncos (Super Bowl XII). His innovative approach to the game, including the 4-3 defense, saw him honored as the NFL Coach of the Year in 1966 and the UPI NFL Coach of the Year in 1975, and he later won a spot on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team .
4. Andy Reid*: 288 Game Wins
Reid holds the unique distinction of being the only NFL head coach to achieve 100 wins with two different franchises – the Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2012) and the Chiefs (since 2013). Despite leading the Eagles to several deep playoff runs and the Super Bowl in 2004, Reid wasn’t able to lift the Lombardi Trophy until he played against Kansas City. With his offensive prowess and ability to bring up quarterbacks, Reid and his team, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, look set to continue their winning streak.
3. George Halas: Record 324 victories
The founder of the NFL and founder of the Bears, Halas wore many hats, earning him the nickname “Mr. Everything”. After retiring as a player, Halas returned to coach the Bears several times, leading them to eight NFL championships. His new T-formation led to the biggest blowout in NFL history – a 73-0 victory over Washington in 1940 NFL Championship Game. Halas was recognized as the AP’s NFL Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1965 and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
2. Bill Belichick: Celebrating 333 Win
Belichick is often hailed as the greatest coach of all time in professional sports, having earned an NFL record eight Super Bowl victories – six as a head coach with the Patriots and two as an assistant coach with the Giants. He also leads all NFL coaches in playoff wins with 31 to his name. Despite many franchises trying to emulate his “Patriot Way,” Belichick’s absence is always felt. If he were to return to coaching, he would be just 26 wins away from passing Don Shula as the all-time winningest regular season coach.
1. Don Shula: Most Won With 347 Wins
After seven seasons as an NFL defensive player, Shula retired to pursue coaching, beginning his career in 1963 with the Baltimore Colts. Shula’s impressive tenure as head coach of the Dolphins from 1970 to 1995 included two Super Bowl victories and an undefeated season in 1972. Whether counting just regular season wins (328) or including playoff wins (347), Shula stands as the all-time winningest. coach in NFL history.
