The NFL can be quite harsh for some people. To take partin the world’sbest football competition, you have to be prepared for anything. Especially, to overcomeevery obstacle along the way. Results and performances can be decisive, and asetback can wipe out any previous achievements.
That rule applies to anyone in the league. Every player, no matter the position nor the status, and all coaches have to deal with the challenge of working under pressure continuously. Throughoutthehistory of the competition, many have come and gone in a blink of an eye.
Not many people last long in the managerial role, one of the most unstablein this sport. If things don’t work, they are usually the first to blame, and most of the timethey don’t get a chanceto prove those arguments wrong. However, some head coaches were the exception and retained their positions for a long time, cementing a legacy in the sport. Check out who were five of them.
Bill Belichick (Cleveland Browns – New England Patriots)
29 seasons*
Belichick is the longest-tenured coach currently active in the NFL (Getty).
The iconic New England Patriots head coach is the only one from this list who is still working in the NFL. Bill Belichick is already a legend in the Foxborough franchise, where he took over as the head coach inthe 2000 season following a five-year stint with the Cleveland Browns. Being with the Patriots for more than 20 years already, heis one of the very few to have lasted for such a long time in charge of the same team. Under his guidance, the Pats claimed a recordsix Super Bowl rings, building a dynasty with one of the best quarterbacks ever, Tom Brady.
*Still serving as NFL coach
Tom Landry (Dallas Cowboys)
29 seasons
Tom Landry holds the record for the most consecutive seasons as an NFL coach (Getty).
The first coach in the Cowboys‘ history, Landry was in charge of the team for 29 straight years from 1960 to 1988, an NFL record. During that successful spell, Dallas won two Super Bowls, five NFC championships, and 13 divisional titles. Moreover, he also holds the record for the most consecutive winning seasons (20).
Don Shula (Baltimore Colts – Miami Dolphins)
33 seasons
Don Shula is the winningest coach in NFL’s history (Getty).
The Miami Dolphinsand NFL legend served as acoach for 33 years, from 1963 to 1995. He beganhis career with the Baltimore Colts, who made it to their first Super Bowl ever with him,but he spent most of his coaching life in South Florida, where he will be always remembered for his 26-year tenure. Under his leadership,Miami won two Super Bowls in a row, which remain their only championships in history. The first of those, in 1972, was the only perfect season in the league so far. Don Shula is also thewinningest coach in the NFL’s history with 347 triumphs.
Curly Lambeau (Green Bay Packers -Chicago Cardinals -Washington Redskins)
33 seasons
The Packers named their stadium in honor of Curly Lambeau (packers.com).
Co-founder of the Green Bay Packers, who named their stadium after him in 1965, Lambeau coached the team from 1921 to 1949. In that span, the Packers won six NFL championships and amassed200+ wins. After leaving Green Bay, he spent two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals and a further two with the Washington Redskins.
George Halas (Chicago Bears)
40 seasons
‘Papa Bear’, an NFL pioneer and legend (chicagobears.com).
The longest-serving coach in the league’s history, George Halas dedicated almost his entire life to theChicago Bears, being founder and owner of the franchise. He served as a coach in four different stints, one from 1920 to 1929, then between 1933 and 1942, later in 1946 and 1955, and his final one in 1958 until 1967, winning six titles. One of the co-founders of the NFL, Halas’ name will be always remembered in the sport’s history.
