Editing Don Shula (section)

===Baltimore Colts===
In early 1953, Brown traded Shula along with Taseff and eight other players to the [[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]] in exchange for five Colts players including [[tackle (American and Canadian football)|tackle]]s [[Mike McCormack (American football)|Mike McCormack]] and [[Don Colo]].<ref name="pias" />{{rp|264}} Before joining Baltimore, Shula finished a [[master's degree]] in physical education at [[Case Western Reserve University]] in [[Cleveland]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Britannica Guide to Football|year=2011|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|location=New York|isbn=978-1-61530-524-7|editor=Adam Augustyn|page=174}}</ref>

Shula signed a $6,500-a-year contract with the Colts, which was preparing for its first season after relocating from Dallas, where the franchise had been called the [[1952 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]].<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="Browns trade 10 players">{{cite news|title=Browns Trade 10 Gridders For Five Baltimore Colts|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2Z9aAAAAIBAJ&pg=4530,2985626&dq=baltimore+colts&hl=en|access-date=November 3, 2013|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=March 26, 1953|agency=Associated Press|location=Cleveland|page=20|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502030809/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2Z9aAAAAIBAJ&pg=4530%2C2985626&dq=baltimore+colts&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The team replaced an earlier Colts franchise that folded after the 1950 season.<ref name="Colts back in NFL">{{cite news|title=Baltimore Colts Back In League|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IWg1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2046,1400214&dq=baltimore+colts&hl=en|access-date=November 3, 2013|newspaper=The Times-News|date=February 4, 1953|agency=United Press International|location=Baltimore|page=8|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502030809/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IWg1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2046%2C1400214&dq=baltimore+colts&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The Colts finished with a 3–9 record in 1953 despite leading the NFL in defensive takeaways, including three interceptions by Shula.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" /><ref name="1953 NFL defensive stats">{{cite web |title=1953 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1953/opp.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |access-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923044513/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1953/opp.htm |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Baltimore continued to struggle the following year under new head coach [[Weeb Ewbank]], a former Browns assistant.<ref name="Colts hire Ewbank">{{cite news|title=Baltimore Colts Select Ewbank|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FckUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5323,1656700&dq=baltimore+colts+weeb&hl=en|access-date=November 3, 2013|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|date=January 15, 1954|agency=United Press International|location=Baltimore|page=2B|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502030849/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FckUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5323%2C1656700&dq=baltimore+colts+weeb&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1954 Colts stats">{{cite web |title=1954 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1954.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |access-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023172213/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1954.htm |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The team again finished 3–9 for last place in the NFL West, although Shula had a career-high five interceptions.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" /><ref name="1954 Colts stats" />

Shula had five interceptions again in 1955, but the Colts finished 5–6–1, well out of contention for the divisional championship.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" /><ref name="1955 Colts stats">{{cite web |title=1955 Baltimore Colts Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1955.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |access-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023160406/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1955.htm |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shula missed the final three games of the season because of a broken jaw suffered in a 17–17 tie with the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /> Ewbank brought in future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] quarterback [[Johnny Unitas]] as a backup in 1956, but the Colts posted a losing record even after Unitas became the starter partway through the season.<ref name="Unitas HOF page">{{cite web |title=Hall of Famers: Johnny Unitas |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=219 |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129122824/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?player_id=219 |archive-date=November 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shula had just one interception that year.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" />

The Colts waived Shula at the end of training camp in 1957 season, the last player cut as the team reduced its squad to 35 men,<ref name=Linthicum>Jesse A. Linthicum, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-colts-spirit-stops-ji/160448691/ "Colts' Spirit Stops Jinx: Football Used in Beating Detroit Given to Shula,"] ''Baltimore Sun,'' Sept. 30, 1957, pp. 15,[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-colts-spirit-stops-ji/160448377/ 18].</ref> and the [[Washington Redskins]] picked him up.<ref name="CNNSI timeline" /><ref name="Shula to Redskins">{{cite news|title=Pittsburgh Gets Wells of 'Skins|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gfkjAAAAIBAJ&pg=4162,208727&dq=baltimore+colts+shula&hl=en|access-date=November 3, 2013|newspaper=The [[Milwaukee Journal]]|date=October 1, 1957|agency=Associated Press|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|page=13}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Shula spent one season with the Redskins before retiring. In his seven NFL seasons, he played in 73 games, intercepted 21 passes and recovered four fumbles.<ref name="Shula PFR stats" />