Chris Shula family tree: Meet NFL Hall of Fame grandpa Don, wife and daughter and more from coaching roots

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• Chris Shula grandpa: Don Shula
• Chris Shula dad: Dave Shula
• Chris Shula uncle: Mike Shula
• Chris Shula wife: Jennifer Shula
• Chris Shula mom: Leslie Shula
• Where is Chris Shula from?

The Shula name is synonymous with the NFL thanks to legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, but the family remained involved with professional football long after their patriarch retired.

After Shula's sons led coaching careers of their own, another coach with the family name is on the rise. Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is considered one of the brightest young minds in the NFL, and he's already emerging as a popular head coaching candidate.

Shula could be the next branch of the Sean McVay coaching tree, but his roots around the game go back much further than his time with McVay.

Here's what you need to know about Shula's family and the coaching history of his father, uncle and grandfather. 

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Is Chris Shula related to Don Shula?

Shula is Don Shula's grandson, giving the Shula family three generations of coaches at the NFL level. Chris was born in Miami during his grandfather's 26-year stint as head coach of the Dolphins. 

Chris Shula grandpa: Don Shula

Don Shula is considered one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. A two-time Super Bowl champion who spent seven years in the NFL as a player, Shula coached the Colts for seven seasons before beginning a 26-year stint with the Dolphins that saw him lead the only undefeated championship team in the Super Bowl era and become the NFL's all-time coaching wins leader.

In 2024, Chris Shula told Fox Sports that he tries to separate his own coaching career from his grandfather's, while still appreciating his success.

"I don't take it for granted, as far as what he accomplished in this league," Chris said. "I don't really think about it, as far as holding up a legacy or anything like that. But it is cool to hear different stories about him."

Don Shula coaching record

• 328-156-6

Shula went 328-156-6 as an NFL head coach, including 257-133-2 with the Dolphins. His 328 wins are the most in league history, just ahead of Bears great George Halas' 318.

Don Shula NFL awards and accolades

• Pro Football Hall of Fame
• 2-time Super Bowl champion
• 4-time Coach of the Year
• NFL all-time wins leader 

Shula was a four-time Coach of the Year, actually winning three of his awards while with the Colts, and he won a pair of Super Bowls with the Dolphins. Shula is the NFL's all-time coaching wins leader and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

How many grandchildren does Don Shula have?

Shula had 16 grandchildren, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he even had five great grandchildren as of his 90th and final birthday in 2020. 

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Who owns Shula's Steak House?

Don Shula himself founded Shula's Steak House in 1989, seeking to "provide the highest quality steaks in a warm, inviting setting." There are now three Shula's Steak House Locations, plus a handful of other restaurants operated by Shula's Restaurant Group. 

Shula's Restaurant Group remains family involved, though former hotel executive Cody Plott is the CEO at the moment. 

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Chris Shula dad: Dave Shula

Chris Shula's father, Dave, followed in Don's footsteps by becoming an NFL head coach as well.

Dave worked under his father in Miami for seven seasons before becoming the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator in 1989. He would join the Cincinnati Bengals as wide receivers coach in 1991 and was promoted to head coach in 1992 at just 32 years old.

Dave's tenure with the Bengals was messy, as he went just 19-52 across five seasons and became the fastest coach in NFL history to reach 50 losses. The Bengals fired Dave after a 1-6 start to the 1996 season.

After his dismissal in Cincinnati, Dave left football altogether and joined the Shula's Steak House business. He didn't return to coaching until 2018, when he began a six-year stint as Dartmouth's wide receivers coach.

Dave Shula coaching record

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Chris Shula uncle: Mike Shula

Chris Shula's uncle, Mike Shula, has also enjoyed a long coaching career at both the college and NFL levels.

Mike held NFL assistant jobs for the first 15 years of his career, including one stint under his father in Miami and another stint in Miami after his father's retirement. Mike was Tony Dungy's offensive coordinator for four seasons in Tampa Bay from 1996-99.

After three years as the Dolphins' QBs coach, Shula became the head coach at Alabama ahead of the 2003 season. Shula only finished three games over .500 over four seasons at the helm of the Crimson Tide, which preceded Nick Saban's dominant tenure.

Mike spent 17 years back in the NFL after his Alabama exit, including a successful run as the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator that included a run to Super Bowl 50 in 2015. His last stop in the NFL was a two-year stint as an offensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills, and he was most recently South Carolina's offensive coordinator under Shane Beamer before his firing in November 2025.

Mike Shula coaching record

Shula had only one winning season in four years at Alabama, winning 10 games in 2005 before slipping to 6-6 in 2006. He would be replaced by Nick Saban. 

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Is Chris Shula married?

Shula has been married to his wife, Jennifer, since 2001. 

Chris Shula wife: Jennifer Shula

Not much is known about Shula's wife, Jennifer, but the two married in 2021 and went on a honeymoon in Greece, according to her social media posts. 

While on their honeymoon, Shula and his wife actually met up with his longtime friend and now-boss Sean McVay, which illustrates how close the Shula family is to the Rams coach. 

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Does Chris Shula have kids?

The Rams say Shula and his wife have a daughter named Avery. Social media photos also indicate the Shulas have a young son.

Chris Shula daughter: Avery Shula

Shula and his wife had a daughter named Avery shortly after getting married. 

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Chris Shula mom: Leslie Shula

Shula's mother, Leslie, graduated Dartmouth in 1981 along with her husband, Dave. She played tennis at Dartmouth 

"In my first two terms we were in four courses together," Dave said of Leslie when speaking to Dartmouth's website in 2018, calling their converging paths "fate." 

"I wore her down. We started dating sophomore year and we have been a couple ever since," Dave said. When he returned to coaching at Dartmouth in 2018, he said Leslie gave her approval partly because her parents lived nearby. 

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Does Chris Shula have siblings?

Dan Shula

Shula's brother, Dan, played quarterback at Dartmouth and held a few assistant coaching jobs at the college level — including one year under his uncle at Alabama — before going into the medical sales industry. Dan is married and has three children.

Matthew Shula

Shula's other brother, Matthew, played linebacker at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and briefly played as a defensive lineman at Lafayette. 

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Where is Chris Shula from?

Shula was born in Miami and attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale before heading north to attend Miami (Ohio).

Shula has spent his entire NFL coaching career out on the west coast, starting out with the Chargers while they were still in San Diego before joining McVay's first coaching staff with the Rams.