DON SHULA AND MARY ANN STEPHENS

The iconic football coach, Don Shula is widely considered to be one of the greatest NFL players of all time. He also has an equally successful married life. He was offered a coaching job by NFL’s Cleveland Browns after he earned his degree in sociology. Shula is best known for the success of the Dolphins, leading them to Super Bowl wins back to back in the 1970s and remained undefeated since.

He met Mary Ann Stephens during a New Year’s Party in 1992. The two started dating two months after their first meeting and got married in July 1993. Shula retired in 1995 from the NFL and was inducted into the 1997 Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mary Ann is known for her philanthropic efforts and was even awarded the Arkansas Citizen of the Year in 1990. The couple were together for 27 years before Shula’s passing in 2020.