On January 17, 1971, Tom Landry‘s Cowboys and the Baltimore Colts faced off in Super Bowl V at the Miami Orange Bowl. The victory ultimately went to Don McCafferty’s team, with a 16-13 score, leaving Dallas empty-handed.

Despite the disappointment and heartbreak of not securing the coveted ring, the Dallas Cowboys had the privilege of having the game’s best player on their roster: the talented linebacker Chuck Howley. In that game, Howley played alongside Lee Roy Jordan and Dave Edwards.

In this way, Chuck Howley became the first—and so far, the only—player in the history of the sport to lose a Super Bowl final and still be recognized as the MVP of the event.

Howley’s journey with the Cowboys

Chuck Howley spent his college days wearing the colors of West Virginia. After a standout campaign with the Mountaineers, the linebacker decided to enter the draft, where he was ultimately selected by the Chicago Bears with the first pick in the 7th round. The year 1958 would not be just another in Howley’s life—it marked his arrival in the NFL.

In 1961, he was traded to none other than the Dallas Cowboys, where he would spend his entire NFL career. There, he went on to win Super Bowl VI, defeating Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins 24-3. Prior to that, he played in Super Bowl V, where, although he didn’t secure the championship, he earned the MVP honors for his outstanding performance.

“I went back because I decided there were better things to do than run a gas station. Also, I thought it would be a unique opportunity to play for Dallas, a team that was just getting started,” Howley stated after being traded to the Cowboys, according to talkoffametwo.com.

In 1973, he decided to retire from his professional playing career, having achieved numerous milestones, including being named a 6-time Pro Bowler. Additionally, he earned a place in the Dallas Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.

The MVP without a title

The Cowboys’ great run under Landry in the early 70s culminated in the long-awaited Super Bowl. The fifth edition of this monumental event would see Dallas face off against the then-Baltimore Colts, coached by Don McCafferty. In front of nearly 80,000 fans at the Miami Orange Bowl, the AFC team would ultimately claim the title.

Despite the loss, the standout performance of the game came from linebacker Chuck Howley, who was ultimately named the MVP of that Super Bowl without securing a championship. Howley intercepted two passes and forced a fumble, cementing his status as one of the game’s biggest stars.

“It was one of those kind of games when I was in the right place at the right time, all the time,” Howley told Bob Barnett and Bob Carroll in “Chuck Howley” from The Coffin Corner (Vol. 6, Nos 9 and 10). “Even when I made mistakes and was out of position, I was in the right place.”

Andy Reid has been in the league for a long time, yet he can still add to his brilliant résumé. The Kansas City Chiefs head coach is heading into another postseason, where he can continue increasing his legacy.

Having already established himself as one of the best football coaches, Reid can also improve his winning record in the playoffs if the Chiefs make the championship game. Let’s take a look at where he stands in the top five.

5. Joe Gibbs (17)

One of the greatest coaches in football history, Joe Gibbs led Washington to plenty of success between 1981 and 1992. Under his tutelage, the Redskins went on to win three Super Bowls (1983, 1988, 1992).

Besides, Gibbs also guided the team to four NFC championships. In short, he knew a thing or two about the playoffs, as his Redskins team had a 17-7 record in postseason games.

4. Don Shula (19)

The winningest coach of all time with 347 victories, it’s not a surprise to see Don Shula on the list. Though most of his victories came in the regular season (328), the architect of the only perfect season in NFL history also managed to succeed in the playoffs.

Shula initially struggled in the postseason, leaving the Colts with a 2-3 record that included a shocking loss to the AFL Jets in Super Bowl III. However, he bounced back in great fashion, leading the Dolphins to three consecutive Super Bowl appearances – winning the trophy unbeaten in 1972-73, before retaining the crown in 1973-74. In the end, Shula finished with a 19-17 playoff record.

3. Andy Reid (19)

The Kansas City Chiefs coach is on the verge of surpassing Shula in postseason wins. If his team beats the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2023 NFL Divisional Round, Andy Reid would reach 20 playoff victories.

After failing to take the Philadelphia Eagles to the promised land in a 14-year tenure, Reid finally got his hands on the Vince Lombardi trophy in 2019-20 with the Chiefs. He continued to lead Kansas City to deep runs, improving his playoff record to 19-16.

2. Tom Landry (20)

The Cowboys chose Tom Landry to be their first coach, and it couldn’t have gone better. It was such a wise decision, that Landry went on to be Dallas’ coach for 29 consecutive years (1960-1988), more than any other coach in football history.

In nearly three decades at the helm of America’s Team, Landry delivered two Super Bowls, five NFC championships, as well as 13 division titles. The coach with most consecutive winning seasons (20), Landry had a 20-16 record in the playoffs.

1. Bill Belichick (31)

Unsurprisingly, Bill Belichick is by far the NFL coach with most postseason wins. Leader of one of the greatest dynasties not only in football but in all sports, the longtime Patriots coach has a 31-13 playoff record.

With one win and a defeat during his time with the Browns, Belichick had an unprecedented success in New England, winning 30 playoff games while losing just 12. With six Super Bowl trophies under his belt, he also has more championships than any other coach in NFL history.

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*

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

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

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

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

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.