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Lawrence Timothy "Buck" Shaw (March 28, 1899 – March 19, 1977) was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach for Santa Clara University, the University of California, Berkeley, the San Francisco 49ers, the United States Air Force Academy and the Philadelphia Eagles. He attended the University of Notre Dame, where he became a star player on Knute Rockne's first unbeaten team. He started his coaching career with one year as head coach at North Carolina State and four years as a line coach at Nevada in Reno.

Key Information

At Santa Clara, he compiled an impressive .803 record; his first two teams posted consecutive Sugar Bowl wins over LSU. After war-time service, his only team at California went 4–5–1 in 1945. In 1946, Shaw became the San Francisco 49ers' first head coach in the old All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and continued through 1954; they entered the National Football League (NFL) in from 1950.

After two seasons as the first Air Force Academy varsity head coach (1956–1957), he returned to the NFL in 1958 with Philadelphia. In 1960, he led the team to an NFL Championship victory against Vince Lombardi, who said of Shaw, "That right there is a good man...an honest man." He stepped down after three seasons, following their win in the championship game over Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers; Shaw ended up being the only coach to have beaten Lombardi in a playoff game. Nicknamed "the Silver Fox", Shaw had a winning record in ten of his twelve seasons as a professional football coach while reaching the Championship Game in two different leagues and winning 62% of his games.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Lawrence "Buck" Shaw was born in Mitchellville, Iowa, ten miles (16 km) east of Des Moines, to cattle ranchers Tim and Margaret Shaw. One of five children (brothers Bill, Jim, and John, and sister Mary), the family moved to Stuart when Shaw was ten, where high school football had been abolished because of a fatality. He played only four games as a prep after the sport was brought back in 1917, his senior year.

College

[edit]

Shaw enrolled at Creighton University in Omaha in the fall of 1918 and went out for football; he played one game before the rest of the schedule wiped out by the flu epidemic. He transferred to the University of Notre Dame in 1919. Shaw apparently loved track and field competition. In fact it was track, not football that attracted him to Notre Dame. He enrolled at South Bend and went out for the track team. However, Shaw fell into the hands of coach Knute Rockne and became one of the greatest tackles and placekickers in Notre Dame history.

At the 1921 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Shaw was 5th in the shot put, earning All-American honors representing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish track and field team.[2]

Shaw was a starter for Rockne from 1919 to 1921, first at left tackle and then in 1920 and 1921 as right tackle opening holes for George Gipp. He finished his playing career being selected an All-American by Football World Magazine. Shaw also set a record by converting 38 of 39 extra points during his varsity career, a mark that stood until 1976, more than 50 years after he graduated. Shaw is a member of the all-time "Fighting Irish" football team.

Coaching career

[edit]

College

[edit]

In the spring of Shaw's senior year at Notre Dame, Rockne came to Shaw with a couple of letters from schools seeking coaches, one from Auburn University in Alabama, and another from the University of Nevada in Reno.

Although he started his coaching career at North Carolina State in 1924, he apparently did not want to go further south to Auburn. He heard from a friend at Notre Dame who was from Nevada that American football was new out there; they'd been playing rugby before. In a 1970 interview, Shaw said, "It sounded like an interesting challenge, so I took the Nevada job as line coach."

Shaw was at Nevada for four years, then took a job with an oil firm and wanted to stay out of the coaching field, but was talked into becoming an assistant coach at Santa Clara University by his old teammate, Clipper Smith. He was line coach under Smith from 1929 to 1935; during the first season, the stock market crashed. "I had a heck of a time getting on my feet," explained Shaw, "Santa Clara could only afford to hire us on a seasonal basis in those years, and I was working for Standard Oil when I became head coach in 1936 after Clipper resigned to go to Villanova".

Shaw's first two Bronco teams (1936 and 1937) went a combined 18–1, including back-to-back wins in New Orleans over local favorite LSU in the Sugar Bowl in January 1937 and 1938. Possibly the first major coach to "phone-it-in" when because of an illness, he did not travel with the team but coached them to victory over the telephone. Santa Clara dropped football after the 1942 war-time season, and Shaw stayed on campus for two years to assist the Army's physical education program on campus.

Shaw, while waiting for the professional All-America Football Conference to get off the ground, managed to build up the University of California squad, defeating a Frankie Albert-led St. Mary's Pre-Flight team, 6–0. It was a losing season overall for the Bears, but they had a good bunch of players, Shaw and his staff remarked after the 1945 season.

San Francisco 49ers

[edit]

Shaw was the San Francisco 49ers' first head coach, working with such pro luminaries as Frankie Albert, Y. A. Tittle and Hugh McElhenny. In 1944 and 1945, before World War II ended, the Morabito brothers, Victor and Tony, began organizing the San Francisco 49ers for entry into a new professional league, the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Shaw and his assistant, Al Ruffo, were hired by the 49ers, but then were permitted to accept a one-year contract at California when the AAFC league kickoff was delayed until 1946.

In 1946, Shaw took over the 49ers, and with the left-handed Frankie Albert leading and directing the attack, the team placed second to the Cleveland Browns four times (1946–1949) in the Western Division of the AAFC. In 1950, the 49ers along with the Browns and the Baltimore Colts merged with the rival NFL.

While the Browns quickly emerged as one of the NFL's best teams and the first Colts franchise folded after one season as the league's worst, the 49ers were a solidly upper-mid-level team during their first years in the league. A rough 3–9 record in 1950 was followed with records of 7–4–1 in 1951, 7–5 in 1952, and 9–3 in 1953.[3] As coach Shaw entered the 1954 campaign, his 9th season with the club, expectations of team owner Tony Morabito for a conference championship were acute.[4]

Unfortunately for Shaw and the 49ers, their 1954 draft was an extremely poor one, with 1st round quarterback Bernie Faloney opting to play in Canada and only 9th round guard Ted Connolly providing a significant addition to the roster.[4] After a fast start, with four wins and a tie, star halfback Hugh McElhenny was lost for the year with a separated shoulder in a game against the Bears.[5] McElhenny had been having a sensational season, racking up 515 yards with an 8.0 average during the opening five games.[5] Without him, the gold-diggers went into an immediate tailspin, dropping four of their next five games en route to a 7–4–1 third-place finish in the NFL's Western Conference.[5]

Despite a record of 71–39–4 over his nine years as head coach of the 49ers, Buck Shaw was fired on December 13, 1954.[6] Shaw offered friendly words to his successor, ex-St. Mary's star Norman "Red" Strader: "I wish him the best of luck — and luck is what you need in this game."[7]

Falcons and Eagles

[edit]

After his termination in San Francisco, Shaw returned to the college ranks, becoming the second varsity head football coach at Air Force Academy. As the field commander at Air Force, Shaw guided the Falcons to a 6–2–1 mark in 1956 and a 3–6–1 record in 1957.

In 1958, Shaw took over a last-place Philadelphia Eagles team and started a rebuild of his own. He immediately dealt Buck Lansford, Jimmy Harris, and a first-round draft choice to the Los Angeles Rams for 32-year-old, nine-year veteran quarterback Norm Van Brocklin. The move proved inspired.

Shaw and Van Brocklin led the Eagles to the NFL championship in 1960 with a 17–13 victory at Franklin Field over Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers, the only time the Lombardi-era Packers lost a postseason game. The contest ended on a game-saving tackle of Green Bay's Jim Taylor inside then ten-yard line. It was made by center/linebacker "sixty-minute-man" Chuck Bednarik, who because of early season injuries at linebacker revived, at Shaw's request, the long-discarded concept of two-way football.

After winning the 1960 championship, the 61-year-old Coach Shaw retired, saying "I wanted to get out while I was ahead." In the quiet Green Bay dressing room, losing coach Lombardi expressed well wishes, stating, "Seeing he's going to retire, that's a nice note for him to go out on." Shaw was the oldest head coach to win an NFL championship for over 39 years, until Dick Vermeil's victory with the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV in early 2000.

Later life and legacy

[edit]

After retiring from coaching, Shaw returned to California to work for a paper products company, and spent the later years of his life in Menlo Park. He and his wife had two married daughters who also lived in California.

In 1962, led by Sal Sanfilippo (SCU '30, J.D. SCU '32), former players, friends, and fans of Shaw banded together to form the Bronco Bench Foundation to raise money for and build a football stadium on the Santa Clara University campus in his honor. On September 22, 1962, the first football game, a contest between Santa Clara and UC Davis, was played in Buck Shaw Stadium.

Shaw died of cancer on March 19, 1977, aged 77, at Stanford University's Branch Convalescent Hospital.[8][9]

Head coaching record

[edit]

College

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AP#
NC State Wolfpack (Southern Conference) (1924)
1924 NC State 2–6–2 1–4–1 18th
NC State: 2–6–2 1–4–1
Nevada Wolf Pack (Far Western Conference) (1925–1928)
1925 Nevada 4–3–1 3–1 2nd
1926 Nevada 4–4 3–1 2nd
1927 Nevada 2–6–1 1–3 5th
1928 Nevada 0–7–1 0–4–1 6th
Nevada: 10–20–3 7–9–1
Santa Clara Broncos (Independent) (1936–1942)
1936 Santa Clara 8–1 W Sugar 6
1937 Santa Clara 9–0 W Sugar 9
1938 Santa Clara 6–2
1939 Santa Clara 5–1–3 14
1940 Santa Clara 6–1–1 11
1941 Santa Clara 6–3
1942 Santa Clara 7–2 15
Santa Clara: 47–10–4
California Golden Bears (Pacific Coast Conference) (1945)
1945 California 4–5–1 2–4–1 6th
California: 4–5–1 2–4–1
Air Force Falcons (Independent) (1956–1957)
1956 Air Force 6–2–1
1957 Air Force 3–6–1
Air Force: 9–8–2
Total: 72–49–12

Professional (AAFC/NFL)

[edit]
Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
SF 1946 9 5 0 .643 2nd in Western Division - - -
SF 1947 8 4 2 .667 2nd in Western Division - - -
SF 1948 12 2 0 .857 2nd in Western Division - - -
SF 1949 9 3 0 .750 2nd in AAFC 1 1 .500 Lost to Cleveland Browns in AAFC Championship Game
SF 1950 3 9 0 .250 T-5th in National Conference - - -
SF 1951 7 4 1 .636 T-2nd in National Conference - - -
SF 1952 7 5 0 .583 3rd in National Conference - - -
SF 1953 9 3 0 .750 2nd in Western Conference - - -
SF 1954 7 4 1 .636 3rd in Western Conference - - -
SF 49ers AAFC-NFL Total 71 39 5 .621 1 1 .500
PHI 1958 2 9 1 .182 5th in NFL Eastern Conference - - -
PHI 1959 7 5 0 .583 2nd in NFL Eastern Conference - - -
PHI 1960 10 2 0 .833 1st in NFL Eastern Conference 1 0 1.000 Beat Green Bay Packers in NFL Championship Game
PHI NFL Total 19 16 1 .543 1 0 1.000
Professional Total 90 55 5 .621 2 1 .666
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Buck Shaw

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw (March 28, 1899 – March 19, 1977) was an player and coach, best known for his innovative leadership at and his professional success with the and . An All-American tackle at the in 1921, Shaw transitioned to coaching after graduation. His tenure at Santa Clara from 1936 to 1942 produced a remarkable 47–10–2 mark, including back-to-back victories over LSU in 1937 and 1938, establishing him as one of the era's top college mentors. Shaw's professional career began in 1946 as the inaugural of the in the (AAFC), where he guided the team to a 71–39–4 record over nine seasons, including a league championship game appearance in 1949 before the franchise joined the . He had previously coached at the in 1945 (4–5–1 record). After leaving the 49ers, he had a stint at the U.S. from 1956 to 1957 (9–8–2 record) before concluding his NFL tenure with the from 1958 to 1960, compiling a 19–16–1 record and culminating in a 17–13 victory over the in the 1960 Championship—the franchise's last NFL title until their victory in in 2018. Shaw was named Coach of the Year in 1960, during which his quarterback earned league MVP honors. Renowned as a "player's coach" for his emphasis on sportsmanship, discipline, and player development, Shaw influenced generations of athletes and coaches, including future NFL figures like Bill Walsh. His legacy endures through inductions into the College Football Hall of Fame (1972), the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (1985), and the Santa Clara University Athletics Hall of Fame (1962), as well as the naming of Buck Shaw Stadium on the Santa Clara campus in 1965.

Early life and playing career

Early life

Lawrence Timothy "Buck" Shaw was born on March 28, 1899, in Mitchellville, , to cattle ranchers Tim and Margaret Shaw. He grew up as one of five children in a farming , with three brothers—William, James, and John—and one sister, Mary. When Shaw was ten years old, his family relocated to Stuart, , where his parents continued their work in ranching and small-scale agriculture. Life on the farm left little time for extracurricular activities during his early years, limiting his exposure to organized sports amid the demands of rural labor. Shaw attended Stuart High School, where he first engaged with athletics as a senior in 1917, playing in just four football games. During his high school years, he also developed a strong interest in , participating in events that highlighted his athletic potential and carried over into his higher education. This passion for track prompted his transition to the for further studies and athletics.

College playing career

Lawrence Timothy "Buck" Shaw enrolled at the in 1919, initially drawn by opportunities in before being persuaded by head coach to join the football team. He quickly established himself as a starting tackle, playing left tackle in 1919 and right tackle in 1920 and 1921. Shaw's contributions were pivotal to Notre Dame's dominant run under Rockne, as the Fighting Irish compiled a 28-1 record across his tenure, including undefeated 9-0 seasons in both 1919 and 1920 that earned recognition. In 1921, the team finished 10-1, with their sole loss coming in a 10-7 upset to ; Shaw provided key blocks that opened lanes for star back in major victories during Gipp's tenure, such as the 13-7 win over in 1920, while also handling kicking duties and converting 38 of 39 extra points—a school record that stood until 1976. His performance that year earned him All-American honors from Football World Magazine. In addition to football, Shaw earned varsity letters in , competing in the shot put and placing fifth at the 1921 NCAA Championships with a mark that secured All-American recognition. This dual-sport involvement enhanced his physical conditioning and versatility, qualities that later informed his coaching philosophy, particularly Rockne's emphasis on disciplined, multifaceted athlete development.

College coaching career

Early college positions

After concluding his playing career at Notre Dame under , Lawrence "Buck" Shaw transitioned directly into coaching, drawing on his experience as a tackle to emphasize strong line play in his early roles. Shaw began his head coaching career at in 1924, where he led to a 2–6–2 record in the . His debut victory came in a 14–0 shutout against , but the team struggled overall, managing only one other win amid a series of close losses and ties. Despite the modest results, Shaw's tenure marked his entry into program leadership at a competitive Southern program. Seeking new opportunities, Shaw moved to the University of Nevada as in 1925, a position recommended by his former mentor Rockne, and compiled a 10–20–3 overall record in the Far Western Conference over four seasons. His first year showed promise with a 4–3–1 mark, including a 3–1 conference finish that placed second, as the Wolf Pack achieved their first since 1922 through disciplined line control and regional recruitment from the West. The 1926 campaign balanced at 4–4, maintaining a strong 3–1 conference showing, but performance declined sharply thereafter, with a 2–6–1 record in 1927 marked by low scoring (just 16 points in the first six games) and a winless 0–7–1 finish in 1928 amid heavy defeats to larger programs like Saint Mary's and Stanford. Shaw focused on building fundamentals in these smaller-resource environments, adapting Rockne-inspired strategies to foster tough, physical play despite limited talent pools and facilities. He resigned after the 1928 season, having instilled a foundation for Nevada's program while navigating the challenges of inconsistent results and regional competition.

Santa Clara University

Lawrence "Buck" Shaw joined the football staff in 1929 as line coach under Maurice "Clipper" Smith, where he helped build a strong defensive foundation that contributed to consistent success, including the Broncos' 7–2–1 record in 1934. Drawing from his earlier line coaching experiences at the , Shaw emphasized disciplined blocking and tackling techniques that became hallmarks of Santa Clara's program. Shaw was promoted to head coach in 1936 following Smith's departure to Villanova, and over the next seven seasons through 1942, he compiled an impressive 47–10–4 record, including a 16-game winning streak and multiple national rankings in the poll. His teams achieved undefeated marks in 1937 (9–0) and demonstrated defensive prowess, such as allowing just nine points over the entire 1937 regular season. Under Shaw's leadership, Santa Clara secured victories in the first two Sugar Bowls, defeating 21–14 in the 1937 edition and 6–0 in the 1938 rematch, establishing a perfect 2–0 bowl record for the program during his tenure. These triumphs highlighted Shaw's strategic acumen, particularly in key moments like Nello Falaschi's pass in the 1937 game. Shaw excelled in player development, mentoring talents like All-American Nello Falaschi, who led the Broncos to national prominence and later played professionally, while fostering a culture of resilience amid the financial hardships of the and the school's small enrollment of under 500 male students. Despite budgetary constraints that often forced players to leave for economic reasons, Shaw's program-building efforts elevated Santa Clara to a West Coast powerhouse, regularly competing against larger institutions like Stanford and .

Later college positions

Following World War II military service in the from 1942 to 1945, which interrupted his coaching career, Buck Shaw returned to as at the for the 1945 season. Amid post-war rebuilding efforts in the , his Golden Bears team compiled a 4–5–1 record, laying groundwork for subsequent successes under future coach Pappy Waldorf, including a 9–1 mark in 1947 and three Rose Bowl appearances from 1948 to 1950. After a decade leading the in professional football from 1946 to 1954, Shaw briefly resumed college coaching as the inaugural varsity head coach at the in 1956. His , competing as an independent, achieved a 6–2–1 record in the 1956 debut season and followed with a 3–6–1 mark in 1957, for an overall 9–8–2 tally during his two-year tenure. Shaw departed by mutual consent after 1957 to return to the with the .

Professional coaching career

San Francisco 49ers

Lawrence "Buck" Shaw was hired in 1946 as the inaugural head coach of the , a new franchise in the (AAFC), leveraging his college coaching experience at to evaluate and recruit local talent. Under Shaw, the 49ers posted a 9–5 record in their debut 1946 season, finishing second in the AAFC Western Division. The following year, 1947, they improved slightly to 8–4–2, again securing second place in the West despite a competitive field led by the . Shaw's teams peaked in 1948 with a franchise-best 12–2 mark, establishing a potent offense that ranked first in scoring while finishing second in the division. In 1949, the 49ers went 9–3 and earned a playoff berth, defeating the New York Yankees 17–7 in the divisional round before falling 21–7 to the Browns in the AAFC Championship Game. Following the AAFC's merger with the () in 1950, Shaw continued as , guiding the 49ers through a turbulent transition that included roster changes and the loss of key players to dispersal drafts. The initial NFL season proved challenging, with a 3–9 record and a fifth-place finish in the National Conference, as the team adjusted to stiffer competition and integrated . Recovery came in 1951 (7–4–1, second in National) and 1952 (7–5, third in National), showcasing Shaw's ability to rebuild amid ongoing instability. The campaign marked a high point in the NFL era, with a 9–3 record and second-place finish in the Western Conference, driven by a balanced attack. Shaw's final season in 1954 ended at 7–4–1, placing third in the West, before he departed the franchise. Over nine seasons, Shaw compiled a 71–39–4 regular-season record with the 49ers, achieving a .623 that laid the foundation for the team's early identity in professional football. He developed standout players such as Frankie Albert, who led the AAFC in passing yards in 1948 and anchored the offense through the league's final years, and running back Joe Perry, signed in 1948 and later inducted into the for his explosive "Million Dollar Backfield" contributions starting in the early 1950s. These efforts helped establish the 49ers in a competitive market, navigating financial pressures and rival leagues to secure the franchise's place in the post-merger.

Philadelphia Eagles

Buck Shaw was appointed head coach of the on February 14, 1958, taking over a franchise that had not posted a winning record since its 1949 NFL championship and had cycled through four coaches in the interim. In his first season, the Eagles finished with a 2–9–1 record, struggling amid ongoing roster adjustments. Shaw's tenure marked a gradual turnaround, as the team improved to 7–5 in 1959, tying for second in the NFL Eastern Division, before achieving a breakthrough 10–2 regular-season mark in 1960 that secured the division title and earned a playoff berth. Over three seasons, Shaw compiled an overall record of 19–16–1 with the Eagles. Central to the Eagles' resurgence was Shaw's strategic emphasis on a balanced attack, featuring a defense that ranked first in the league in turnovers forced and an offense that placed third in scoring. He empowered veteran quarterback , acquired from the in 1958, by granting him autonomy over play-calling, much as Shaw had done with experienced signal-callers in prior roles. Van Brocklin's leadership, combined with a robust ground game from running backs like Clarence Peaks, Billy Barnes, and Ted Dean, alongside wide receiver Tommy McDonald, fueled the offense, while defensive stalwarts anchored the unit against high-powered opponents. This approach transformed the Eagles from perennial also-rans into contenders, culminating in the on December 26 at , where defeated Vince Lombardi's [Green Bay Packers](/page/Green_Bay Packers) 17–13. Key moments included Van Brocklin's 35-yard touchdown pass to McDonald and Dean's fourth-quarter go-ahead score, with the defense holding firm to seal the victory—Philadelphia's first title in 11 years. For his efforts in guiding the Eagles to the championship, Shaw was named the 1960 UPI Coach of the Year. However, at age 61, he announced his retirement immediately after the season, citing the physical and mental toll of coaching as reasons to step away on a high note: "At 61 years old I believe I've had it and it is nice to leave on a pleasant note and quit while you're ahead." This decision ended Shaw's professional head coaching career, which he concluded with a 1–0 postseason record in .

Later life and legacy

Retirement and post-coaching activities

After retiring from coaching following the , Shaw transitioned to a civilian career in the paper products industry, serving as vice president for sales promotion at a corrugated box company based in . He began this role in 1961 and continued working in , drawing on his extensive professional network from decades in athletics. Shaw spent his later years residing in , where he enjoyed a quieter life away from the demands of football. His championship success with the Eagles garnered ongoing invitations to speak at athletic events, reflecting the enduring impact of his coaching tenure.

Honors and death

Lawrence "Buck" Shaw died on March 19, 1977, in , at the age of 77 from cancer. His interment details remain unknown. Shaw received numerous posthumous honors for his contributions to football. In 1962, he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame, coinciding with the naming of the university's new stadium in his honor—Buck Shaw Stadium—which served as the home for Broncos and soccer. In , following a renovation, the stadium was renamed , with the playing field still known as Buck Shaw Field. Ten years later, in 1972, Shaw was enshrined in the for his distinguished coaching record at Santa Clara, where he amassed 47 wins (47–10–4 record) and led the team to two victories. In 1985, he was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his broader impact as an player at Notre Dame and his pioneering role in football on the West Coast. Shaw's legacy endures through his influence on West Coast football, particularly his overlooked achievements in the (AAFC), where he coached the to a 38–14–2 record from 1946 to 1949, including a game appearance. A 2022 biography by Kevin Carroll portrays Shaw as a quintessential "player's coach," adept at building team cohesion and mentoring young athletes, which contributed to his success across college and professional levels while helping establish professional football's foothold in . Advocates continue to push for his induction into the via the seniors committee, citing his 90–55–5 professional coaching record—including an championship with the in 1960—but he has not been selected as of the class of 2025.

Head coaching record

College

Buck Shaw compiled an overall college head coaching record of 72–49–12, yielding a of .587, with a perfect 2–0 bowl record in the Sugar Bowls of (21–14 victory over LSU) and 1938 (6–0 victory over LSU). The following table breaks down his records by institution:
InstitutionYearsW–L–TPctConference/Affiliation
NC State19242–6–2.300
Nevada1925–192810–20–3.348Far Western Conference
Santa Clara1936–194247–10–4.803Independent
California19454–5–1.450
Air Force1956–19579–8–2.526Independent
No adjustments for ties or forfeits are noted in historical records for these seasons.

Professional

Buck Shaw's professional head coaching career in the (AAFC) and (NFL) resulted in an aggregate regular season record of 90–55–5, yielding a .618 . His playoff record stood at 2–1 (.667). These figures encompass his tenures with the and , spanning the AAFC's existence and the post-merger NFL era. The following table summarizes Shaw's professional head coaching records by team and league:
TeamLeagueYearsRegular Season (W–L–T)Win %Playoffs (W–L)Notes
AAFC1946–194938–14–2.7291–1Reached 1949 AAFC Championship (lost 21–7 to )
NFL1950–195433–25–2.5680–0No playoff appearances; AAFC folded and merged into in 1950, with 49ers joining as an
1958–196019–16–1.5421–0Won 1960 NFL Championship (17–13 over )
Shaw's 49ers teams in the AAFC demonstrated consistent strength, finishing second in the Western Division each year and qualifying for the in 1949, though they fell short of the title. The 1950 AAFC–NFL merger integrated select AAFC franchises like the 49ers into the established , preserving Shaw's prior records separately while adapting to the league's structure and competition. With the Eagles, Shaw engineered a turnaround, culminating in the 1960 Championship victory that established his legacy in professional football; for this achievement, he was named the United Press International (UPI) Coach of the Year.

References

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  7. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/index.html
  8. http://trojanforcestats.us/NCAA-Meet-Results/NCAAresults1921.pdf
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  11. https://ahsfhs.org/college/teams2/gamesbyyear.asp?Team=Nevada&Year=1925
  12. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/santa-clara/1934.html
  13. https://magazine.scu.edu/magazines/summer-2022/what-we-can-learn-from-buck-shaw/
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  25. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1949.htm
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  38. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/index.htm
  39. https://allstatesugarbowl.org/sports/2022/4/15/how-santa-clara-and-lsu-met-in-the-1937-sugar-bowl.aspx
  40. https://allstatesugarbowl.org/sports/2022/4/15/how-santa-clara-and-lsu-met-in-the-1938-sugar-bowl.aspx
  41. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina-state/1924-schedule.html
  42. https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/ranking-every-head-coach-in-nevada-football-history-from-worst-to-best
  43. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/santa-clara/index.html
  44. https://ahsfhs.org/college/teams2/coaches.asp?Coach=Lawrence%20T.%20Buck%20Shaw&Team=Washington%20State
  45. https://www.usafa.edu/breaking-barriers-air-forces-70th-birthday-july-achievements/
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