Since the National Football League's (NFL) inception in 1920, more than 500 people, mostly former players, have had the privilege of being an NFL head coach. Ten coaches have won more than 200 games, including the following four who are the all-time leaders in coaching victories.
Don Shula (347)
Don Shula is the NFL's all-time leader in wins (347) and total regular and postseason games coached (526). The legendary coach compiled a regular season record of 328-156-6 through 33 seasons from 1963-95. A two-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Associated Press (AP) Coach of the Year, Shula began his coaching career with the Baltimore Ravens and, in 1970, was hired to coach the Miami Dolphins.
Shula led the Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1972 and 1973. The 1972 Dolphins were the first and remain the only team to finish the regular season and playoffs with an undefeated record. Shula coached the Dolphins for 26 years before retiring in 1996. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and passed away in 2020.
Bill Belichick (329)
The only active coach in the top-10 list for career victories, Bill Belichick began his head coaching career with the Cleveland Browns in 1991 and was fired following the 1995 season, after compiling a 36-44 record. He was hired by the New England Patriots prior to the 2000 season and has since become the most successful coach in modern NFL history.
Belichick has won a record six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots and leads all coaches with 31 career playoff victories. No other coach has more than 22. Belichick has a 262-108 regular season record in 23 seasons with the Patriots.
George Halas (324)
George Halas, who coached during the inaugural NFL season and retired in 1967, held the all-time regular season coaching victories record with 324 until Shula passed him in 1994. Halas was 72 years old when he coached his final game.
He founded the Chicago Bears and owned the team until 1983. He coached the Bears during four separate stints and compiled a career regular season record of 318-148-31. He had a playoff record of 6-3 and won five NFL Championships. Halas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
Tom Landry (270)
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, Tom Landry won a combined 270 regular season and playoff games through 29 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 1960-88. He led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl championships and was AP Coach of the Year in 1966.