NFL Coaches Who Have Served In The Military

Before he came to the National Football League as an assistant coach with the New York Giants in 1954, legendary coach Vince Lombardi spent five years coaching at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point under Red Blaik. As Lombardi went on to success with the Green Bay Packers later, he often credited his time with the Army football team for shaping his methods.

Lombardi is still the icon of NFL coaches, and the league's championship trophy is named after its greatest coach. But how many other famous coaches in professional football history have military ties?

The following five coaches achieved varying levels of success, but each has his own impact on the NFL—and their service in the Armed Forces had its influence upon them, for sure.

Al Davis, Oakland Raiders

Al Davis is more known now for his tenure as the owner of the Raiders, but he was the team's coach from 1963-65. Davis also coached in the military (1953), at an Army base in Fort Belvoir, Virginia and he was the offensive line coach at The Citadel in 1955-56. When Davis took the Raiders job, he led them to a nine-win improvement in 1963 and was named American Football League Coach of the Year.

George Halas, Chicago Bears

George Halas served in both World War I (1918) and World War II (1942-46). He was the Rose Bowl MVP in 1919 and played for the New York Yankees (baseball) for two months later that summer. Eventually, he would win eight NFL championships as a head coach, and after World War II, Halas set up an annual charity game that benefited relief agencies of the Armed Forces.

Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys

Tom Landry served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-45 achieving the rank of second lieutenant. Landry played football for the University of Texas after World War II, and then become both a player and an assistant coach with the New York Giants (1954-55). Eventually, he landed the head-coach position with the expansion Cowboys, where he achieved his most notable success:  Five Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl titles in the 1970s.

Mike McCormack, Philadelphia Eagles; Baltimore Colts & Seattle Seahawks

Mike McCormack served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army during his playing career, where he eventually won NFL championships with the Cleveland Browns in 1954-55. Later, McCormack was head coach of three different NFL teams. While his coaching record (29-51-1) pales in comparison to the others on this list, McCormack's last NFL job was successful. As President and General Manager of the expansion Carolina Panthers, he helped the team to a division title in just its second year of play (1996).

Don Shula, Baltimore Colts & Miami Dolphins

Don Shula was playing for the Cleveland Browns when he was activated as a member of the Ohio National Guard during the Korean War (1952).  He served for almost a year before returning to his NFL playing career. By 1963, he was head coach of the Baltimore Colts, and Shula led them to the NFL title in 1968 before infamously losing in the Super Bowl to the New York Jets. He took over as coach of the Miami Dolphins in 1970. He led the team to two Super Bowl wins, and the only perfect season (1972) in NFL history. Shula still holds the records for most coaching wins (328) and most Super Bowl appearances (six).