Updates

The NFL announced the high school football coaches nominated by the 32 NFL teams for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, representing the best in coaching at the high school level.

The coaches were recognized by their local NFL club for the prestigious award – named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. The coaches were judged based on areas Coach Shula exceled at most during his career – character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success. 

“We are honored to celebrate the 32 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year nominees, as each embodies the integrity, commitment and character of Coach Shula,” said Roman Oben, Vice President of Football Development. “High school football coaches serve as leaders and role models dedicated to shaping the lives of young high school players both on and off the field and this group represents the very best from across the country every year.”

For the first time, the NFL will recognize two winners, one from the AFC and NFC conferences. These two winners will be invited to the Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas on February 5 and will be recognized in special ways during the NFL’s week-long celebration of football. Throughout the week, coaches will receive VIP access and accommodations to attend the Pro Bowl Games practices for both AFC and NFC teams, on-field access at Sunday’s Pro Bowl Games, and a chance to interact and engage with various members of the football community.

The NFL Foundation and Nike have teamed up to provide the two winners with a $15,000 award to their high school football programs and a $10,000 cash award. The other 30 club nominees will all receive a $1,000 cash award. They will also attend Super Bowl LVII in Arizona as special guests of the NFL. The Don Shula Award winners will be announced in the week prior to the Pro Bowl Games, the multi-day AFC vs. NFC competition that will culminate in an action-packed flag game, featuring Pro Bowl players at Allegiant Stadium and will air on ESPN and ABC on February 5. The winners will also be recognized and walk the red carpet at the 12th annual NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on February 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET on FOX. 

The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year winner is selected by a panel of distinguished individuals:

• Tony Dungy, Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach and current NBC analyst
• Scott Hallenbeck, Executive Director of USA Football
• Peyton Manning, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and current ESPN contributor
• Roman Oben, Super Bowl XXXVII champion and NFL Vice President of Football Development
• Scott Pioli, NFL analyst and former front-office executive
• Michael Robinson, NFL Legend and NFL Network analyst
• Dave Shula, NFL Legend, former NFL head coach and son of the late Coach Shula
• Bobby Taylor, former All-Pro cornerback and NFL Strategic Advisor for Football Development
• Aaron Thomas, Aplington-Parkersburg High School Principal and son of the school's late football coach, Ed Thomas
  

Below is a full list of the 2022 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year nominees: