Legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino is hoping New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick doesn’t get one specific record.
Dan Marino isn’t having any of Bill Belichick’s greatness.
Marino, who played against Belichick’s defense a few times over his career, understands the genius of his tactics. Those tactics have led Belichick to an astounding 280 career wins, placing him third on the all-time list for head coach victories behind only Don Shula (327) and George Halas (318).
At 69 years old, it’s unclear how long Belichick will continue to coach. However, with the 17-game schedule now coming into effect, the Patriots great needs roughly five good seasons to hold the mantle as winningest coach ever.
For Marino, that’s a mantle he hopes Belichick never reaches, per ESPN:
“I hope he don’t get it. I’m a Dolphin for life. Coach Shula for life. I don’t want him to get it.”
Will Bill Belichick get the NFL all-time record for wins as a head coach?
Of course, Marino was the Dolphins quarterback from 1983-99, playing under Shula for all but four of those campaigns. In their time together, they reached one Super Bowl but lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
Throughout his career with both the Baltimore Colts and Dolphins, Shula was phenomenal without break. He reached six Super Bowls, including five in Miami between 1971-84. He won a pair of those appearances, including the iconic ’72 season in which the Dolphins became — and remain — the first team to ever finish an NFL season untied and unbeaten.
Ultimately, it’s unlikely Belichick gets there. He would have to coach into his mid-70s, something rarely seen in the NFL. As it stands, there isn’t a current coach in their 70s, with only Belichick and Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks at 69 (Belichick is a few months older).
