Devine was also the head coach of the National Football League (NFL)'s Green Bay Packers from 1971 to 1974, tallying a mark of 25–27–4.

His time at the school was interrupted after enlisting in the Army Air Corps during World War II, where Devine became a B-29 flight officer.

Following two undefeated seasons at the school, Devine accepted an assistant position at Michigan State University in 1950 under head coach Clarence Munn.

Devine's team led the nation in total offense and scoring in his final season, averaging just under 40 points per game in the latter category.

In 1960, the Tigers began the year unranked, but after shutting out SMU 20–0, in the season opener, moved up to 16th and continued to head upward in the weekly rankings.

After an Orange Bowl victory over Navy on January 1, 1961, Missouri finished the year ranked fifth in a season which saw upwards of four teams claim a share of the national title.

While never again reaching that level, Missouri maintained its strength throughout the 1960s, with Devine taking on the added duties of athletic director in 1967 after Faurot stepped down from that post.

During his three years in the latter role, Devine made a key hire when he selected Norm Stewart to head the fortunes of the school's men's basketball squad.

The Nittany Lions entered the game with a 28-game winning streak and extended the string by intercepting seven Tiger passes in a 10–3 defensive battle.

After suffering his first losing season in 1970, Devine left Missouri on January 14, 1971, to become the head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, succeeding Phil Bengtson.

Devine's career in Green Bay got off to a painful start when he suffered a broken leg following a sideline collision in the season opener, a 42–40 loss to the New York Giants.

[1] After finishing 4–8–2 in 1971, Devine headed a brief resurgence that "The Pack is Back" by dethroning the four-time division champion Minnesota Vikings in 1972 to reach the playoffs, the Packers' first post-season in five years.

After a three-game losing streak knocked the Packers out of the playoffs, Devine resigned on December 16, 1974, to become the head coach at the University of Notre Dame.

His lasting achievement came midway through this run when the Fighting Irish won the 1977 national championship, led by junior quarterback Joe Montana.

The regular season was highlighted by the Irish's 21–17 come-from-behind win over Clemson at Death Valley when Devine repeatedly gave the middle finger salute to the raucous home crowd.

The championship season was completed with a convincing 38–10 win in the 1978 Cotton Bowl Classic over previously top-ranked Texas, led by Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell.

Earlier in the season, before the annual game against USC on October 22, Devine changed the team's home jerseys from navy blue & white to kelly green & gold, which would remain for the rest of his time at the school.

After a 5–2 start in his first season, rumors of incompetence were circulated and that Devine would be dismissed and replaced by Don Shula or even Ara Parseghian (who went so far as to say he would not return to coaching under any circumstances).

Notre Dame linebacker Bob Crable ran onto the backs of offensive lineman Tim Foley and defensive end Scott Zettek and was able to block the kick, preserving a 12–10 Irish victory.

In the film, Devine is portrayed in a somewhat unfavorable light, acting as a hindrance to Daniel Ruettiger's dream of dressing for Notre Dame or appearing in a game.