50 years ago, the Miami Dolphins accomplished the only undefeated season in NFL history, as they went 17-0 and won the Super Bowl. The Washington NFL franchise had the final shot at stopping the 1972 Miami Dolphins from completing the league's only Perfect Season but came up short with a 14-7 loss in Super Bowl VII. 1 : Yepremian, Garo: 57 : Kolen, Mike: 11 : Del Gaizo, James: 58 : Jenkins, Alfred: 12 : Griese, Bob: 59 : Swift, Doug: 13 : Scott, Jake: 62 : Langer, Jim: 15 That followed a successful business career of owning 30 The Athletes Foot sporting good stores throughout the country. He is one of his many teammates suffering from brain disorders that they claim are due to football. 1971 Miami Dolphins Roster & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com Nick Buoniconti: The Decline of a Dolphins Legend | The MMQB with Peter King, Footballs toll: At least seven members of 1972 Dolphins affected by cognitive impairment, Cognitive: memory loss, mental decline, confusion in the evening hours, disorientation, inability to speak or understand, making things up, mental confusion, or inability to recognize common things, Behavioral: irritability, personality changes, restlessness, lack of restraint, or wandering and getting lost, Mood: anxiety, loneliness, mood swings, or nervousness, Psychological: depression, hallucination, or paranoia, Muscular: inability to combine muscle movements or unsteady walking. By Miami led St. Louis 70 following the first quarter. At least seven players from that team either have suffered or are currently suffering from cognitive disease that experts believe were caused by repeated head trauma suffered during their days on the gridiron, according to the Miami Herald. Later in the third quarter, Yepremian kicked a 18-yard field goal. What The 1972 Dolphins Look Like Now - YouTube Before heading west, Warfield returned to his native Ohio and was Browns owner Art Modells special assistant in addition to serving as the teams director of player relations. Wilson led the Dolphins to just fifteen wins in four seasons before being fired and replaced by Baltimore Colts head coach Don Shula. [51], Near the beginning of the third quarter, Browns safety Thom Darden had a significant punt return of 38yards, which ultimately set up the drive in which Browns quarterback Mike Phipps scored a rushing touchdown. On the fifth play following the interception, Miami scored on a 14-yard pass from Morrall to wide receiver Marlin Briscoe. However, four failed attempts at reaching the end zone gave the Bills possession again. 50 years on, the 1972 Miami Dolphins' undefeated season remains It was believed that Morris had run for 991 yards, but the Dolphins petitioned the NFL to overturn a -9-yard rushing play and rule it a fumble on a lateral instead. The center has posthumously examined the brains of six members of the 1972 Dolphins, who were 17-0. He said he made a mistake in starting tackle football at 9 years old and joined an initiative for tackle football to be banned for those under 14 years old. Twilley last worked as a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he went to college. With the victory, the Dolphins also clinched the AFC East title. After regaining possession later in the first quarter, the Dolphins managed to reach the Bills 7-yard line. The story of the '72 Dolphins is consistent with that of many other players who have suffered through agonizing physical and cognitive disabilities during their retirements. They also led the league in both points scored and fewest points allowed. A former basketball player, the 6-foot-6 Den Herder disrupted the passing game with more than sacks, often wreaking havoc by batting passes at the line of scrimmage. He recorded another two picks in the postseason with both coming in the divisional playoffs against the Browns. He became a touchdown vulture by the time the playoffs rolled around and scored four of the Dolphins seven touchdowns in the postseason. Obama, a Chicago resident and Bears fan,[67] had called the 1985 Bears the greatest team ever, but during the Dolphins' visit, he called his own words into question, also noting that the 1985 Bears' only defeat came at the hands of the Dolphins. He also completed all three of his passes that season - on trick plays. Bottom line: Back when teams had two-back backfields, fullbacks were still in vogue, and Larry Csonka was the best of his era. Related:Don Shula's Legendary Career in Photos, NFL experience: 14 years, all with Dolphins (1967-80), Career stats: 1,926 CMP, 3,429 ATT, 25,092 YDS, 192 TD, 172 INT, 77.1 RAT, 1972 stats: 53 CMP, 97 ATT, 638 YDS, 4 TD, 4 INT, 71.6 RAT, 1972 postseason stats: 11 CMP, 16 ATT, 158 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 95.3 RAT. The team was led by third-year head coach Don Shula and achieved the only perfect season in NFL history. Miami won the game by a score of 3110. [56][57] However, they occasionally had Diet Cokes together, such as in 2005 when Bob Griese and Shula watched the Chargers win over the Colts, the last undefeated team that season. Foley, who later went into broadcasting, got an early start on his second career by interviewing Redskins players before his Dolphins faced them in the game, much to the chagrin of Redskins coach George Allen. The Dolphins led by a score of 137 at halftime. 1972 Miami Dolphins Season - YouTube The antecedent drive included several long runs and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Bills. His specialty is corn and soybeans, and farming has replaced football as Den Herders passion. His other Super Bowl appearance came in 1971, albeit ending in a Dolphins' loss to the . The 1972 Dolphins are STILL the only undefeated NFL team in the history of the world. 1972 Miami Dolphins Roster | The Football Database. Briscoe was among the 1972 Dolphins being honored at the White House in 2013. 1972 Miami Dolphins Roster | The Football Database Free shipping for many products! The CTE Link Between Players from the 1972 Miami Dolphins - The New Thus, he posted career lows in all of the major statistics as backup Earl Morrall was the primary starter. [7][8], The Miami Dolphins franchise was founded in 1966 under head coach George Wilson. Miami now led by 243 after the third quarter. Just perfection. Miami then tied the game after Morrall threw a 9-yard pass to Csonka. Their Hall of Fame quarterback missed eight weeks in the middle of the season, yet they still remained perfect. Larry Ball Signed 1973 Style Custom Card Miami Dolphins 1972 17-0. Garo Yepremian, kicker: Died in Pennsylvania in 2015, at age 70, after a bout with high grade. Outside of academic and athletic recognition, Little is involved with his foundation, which raises funds to help children learn to swim. Now details are emerging about Buoniconti's teammates on that vaunted '72 Dolphins squad. The ball was too big for the 5-foot-7 Yepremian, and it slipped out of his hands and right to a Redskins defender. He was more of a blocker than a receiver and ranked just seventh on the team in receiving yards despite starting all 14 games. A player-by-player look at the 1972 Dolphins and what they did after There might have been better, or even more memorable, teams than those Dolphins, but nobody can argue with 14-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the postseason. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MIAMI DOLPHINS - 50th ANNIVERSARY Of 1972 PERFECT SEASON COMMEMORATIVE TICKET at the best online prices at eBay! The. A Garo Yepremian 33-yard field goal allowed Miami to take an early 30 lead. Scott was Super Bowl MVP when the Dolphins went undefeated during the 1972 season and beat Washington, 14-7. 1972 Perfect Season Roster - 72 Dolphins The Dolphins sacked Tarkenton five times and intercepted him three times. 2022 Allen & Ginter Mel Ott Metal Mini #109 SSP #'d/3 San Francisco Giants RARE! NFL experience: 9 years (1969-74, 1976-78), Years with Dolphins: 8 years (1969-74, 1976-77). It was his only catch of the game and the most important in his 11-year NFL career. A late San Diego touchdown made the final score 2410 as the Dolphins moved to 50. He chose to follow the career path of his parents and went to medical school. While we all celebrate the 50th anniversary of the perfect season, we remember Briscoe and his legacy. 3. [39], In the third quarter, Morrall threw a 16-yard pass to Marlin Briscoe, increasing the Dolphins lead to 380. However, the Dolphins cut the Jets lead to 1714 just before halftime on a drive that ended with a 1-yard run by running back Mercury Morris. [53], The Steelers retook the lead, 107, early in the third quarter when Roy Gerela kicked a 14-yard field goal. The Dolphins scored first, with a 40-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian in the first quarter. Jake Scott (1945-2020), 1972 Super Bowl MVP with the Miami Dolphins [49], With the Dolphins defeating the Baltimore Colts, they finished the regular season with a perfect winloss record of 140. In the fourth quarter, Dolphins cornerback Curtis Johnson intercepted a pass from Snead, which eventually led to Yepremian kicking a 31-yard field goal. Miami won the game with a score of 23-0 and improved to 70 at the halfway point of the regular season. Seven members of '72 Dolphins suffered brain injuries Miami Dolphins 50 years on, the 1972 Miami Dolphins' undefeated season remains undefeated Don Shula is carried off the field by his players after the 1972 Miami Dolphins completed. Kiick has been living in a South Florida assisted living facility since 2016 after displaying erratic behavior for several years. Twilley scored the first points of the game on a 28-yard touchdown reception that gave the Dolphins a lead they never relinquished. Many members of the only undefeated team in NFL history also found success in football retirement. Miami added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter via an 8-yard rush by running back Hubert Ginn. In 1972, the Miami Dolphins created NFL history by having a perfect season. The game then continued to be a defensive battle between the two teams. He was runner-up for AFL rookie of the year after passing for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing for 308 yards and three scores. At least 10 players from that team have died five of them from cancer. The NFL's rules at the time forced the undefeated Dolphins (140) to play the Steelers (113) in Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game. Shula won an NFL-record 347 games, including playoff games. However, the Dolphins then scored another touchdown on a drive capped off by a 27-yard pass from Morrall to Stowe. This ultimately set up a 35-yard field goal by Buffalo's John Leypoldt. [31] Miami scored a touchdown on the opening drive, capped off by a 5-yard run by Mercury Morris. Forty five years later, key members of the legendary squad are now paying a dear price for their sacrifice. Truth is, the 1973 Dolphins defense probably was just as good as the 1972 version, if not better. [32], The Dolphins then traveled to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore for a match against the Colts on October29. [11] Wilson was initially resentful of the Dolphins' success, believing his firing was premature and Shula had inherited a "ready-made team. Briscoe was originally drafted out of Nebraska-Omaha in the 14th round of the 1968 draft by the Denver Broncos, becoming the first black starting quarterback in professional American football. Another member of 1972 Miami Dolphins has died - Yahoo! Earl Morrall, who played quarterback for the '72 Dolphins, died in 2014. Briscoe, an Omaha, Nebraska native, was a star quarterback at Omaha University before the Denver Broncos drafted him as a cornerback in the 14th round in 1968. Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated profiled the decline of the Dolphins' rugged captain, Nick Buoniconti. Anderson returned the ball to the New England 4-yard line before fumbling. Another member of 1972 Miami Dolphins has died - Yahoo! At this point, the Dolphins led by 377. However, in the waning minutes of the first quarter, Miami engineered a scoring drive capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass from Griese to Twilley. On New York's subsequent drive, Joe Namath found Jerome Barkum for a 52-yard gain which gave the Jets first-and-goal at the one-yard line. "[12] However, tension between Wilson and Shula lessened after the team won Super Bowl VII, and Wilson congratulated Shula and invited him to play at his golf course.[13]. On the Chiefs' first drive, Miami safety Dick Anderson recovered an Ed Podolak fumble, leading to a seven-play, 57-yard drive capped by a 14-yard touchdown from Bob Griese to Marlin Briscoe. Unfortunately, on Monday, the Miami Heralds Barry Jackson shared that former Dolphins wide receiver Marlin Briscoe, a member of the 72 team, passed away at 76 years old due to heart failure. Breaking down the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated season Career stats: 1,379 CMP, 2,689 ATT, 20,809 YDS, 161 TD, 148 INT, 74.1 RAT, 1972 stats: 83 CMP, 150 ATT, 1,360 YDS, 11 TD, 7 INT, 97.1 RAT, 1972 postseason stats: 13 CMP, 24 ATT, 139 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 67.9 RAT. , updated A look at the 1972 Dolphins roster, 50 years later | Miami Herald Nearly as big a part of Sunday night as the game itself between the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Dolphins' perfect season. 1972 Dolphins champagne celebration: Do ex-Miami players toast the 1972 Miami Dolphins Roster & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com via Sports Logos.net About logos 1972 Miami Dolphins Roster & Players Previous Season Next Season Record: 14-0-0, 1st in AFC East Division ( Schedule and Results ) Coach: Don Shula (14-0-0) Points For: 385 (27.5/g) 1st of 26 Points Against: 171 (12.2/g) 1st of 26 [2], The Dolphins' early-1970s defensive unit was termed the "No-Name Defense" by Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry given its lack of high-profile players (the unit's only Hall of Famer, linebacker Nick Buoniconti, achieved much of his success with the New England Patriots and was not inducted until 2001). The Miami Dolphins of the National Football League ended the 1972 season with a record of 14 wins and 0 losses, finishing first in the NFL's East Division of the American Football Conference. Feb 3. He has also suffered falls, memory loss, and confusion. Bottom line: The perfect season almost ended perfectly until Garo Yepremian got in trouble for trying to do too much. On the sixth play following the interception, Dolphins running back Jim Kiick reached the end zone on a 2-yard run. That was evident in 2013 when President Obama invited the '72 Dolphins to the White House. Within a few plays, the Jets scored another touchdown via a 28-yard pass from Namath to wide receiver Rich Caster. [9][10] Wilson also signed Manny Fernandez and traded for Nick Buoniconti, Larry Little, and Paul Warfield. In three seasons (28 games, 20 starts) with Miami, he caught 57 passes for 858 yards (15.1 average) and eight touchdowns. The 1972 Dolphins went 17-0, which included three postseason wins. Outside of that, he says he plays golf about three times a week and does word puzzles to keep his mind sharp. [3], The Dolphins went 140 in the regular season and won all three postseason games to finish 170, the only undefeated and untied season in NFL history. NFL experience: 11 years, all with Dolphins (1970-80). [68] Bob Kuechenberg, Jim Langer, and Manny Fernandez all refused to attend because of their political differences with the Obama administration. He became a multi-millionaire from his post-football career, and his earnings dwarfed what he earned during his 11-year playing career. The 1972 Dolphins became the third team in the history of the NFL to complete a regular season undefeated and untied, after the 1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears, while the 1948 Cleveland Browns achieved a 140 record as a member of the All-America Football Conference. In all, nine DolphinsCsonka, Morris, Warfield, Little, Norm Evans, Buoniconti, Stanfill, Anderson, and Scottwere selected to the Pro Bowl, and Little, Morrall, Stanfill, and Anderson were named first-team All-Pro. His daughter, Angela Marriott, told The Associated Press that Briscoe, 76, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Norwalk, California. He would go on to play nine seasons, including three with the Dolphins. Yes, because the Patriots were a few plays away from boasting the 2007 Lombardi trophy. The 1972 Miami Dolphins won the AFC Eastern division and AFC championships and then defeated the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII to complete an unblemished 17-0-0 record. Jake Scott, member of undefeated Dolphins team and Super Bowl VII MVP Bottom line: The 1972 Dolphins were much more than a collection of talented individuals. Lloyd Mumphord blocked a Jan Stenerud field goal attempt on Kansas City's ensuing drive. MIAMI Jim Kiick, the versatile running back who helped the Miami Dolphins achieve the NFL's only perfect season in 1972, died Saturday at age 73 following a battle with Alzheimer's. Subsequently, Miami's next drive stalled at Washington's 34-yard line. 0: 0: 10: 185: 352: Miami Dolphins: 1/14/1973: Super Bowl: MIA @ WAS. To also illustrate how much the game has changed, Griese threw for 88 yards in the Super Bowl as the Dolphins relied on the run game. He suffered from numerous health ailments after his playing days and had three surgeries to fuse vertebrae in his spine. The chain had 22 restaurants across the United States, including in Shulas home state of Ohio. New York responded with an 80-yard drive that included several short passes from Namath, before eventually ending with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by fullback John Riggins. They were able to defeat the Steelers 21-17 by taking advantage of the defense's mistakes, and Bob Griese returned. The Dolphins scored first, after rookie safety Charlie Babb blocked Browns placekicker Don Cockroft's punt at the Cleveland 17-yard line and returned the ball for a touchdown. Marlin Briscoe, who became the first Black starting quarterback in the American Football League more than 50 years ago and was a member of the Miami Dolphins' two Super Bowl championship teams,. Bottom line: Even though he was a great player and a six-time Pro Bowler, Bob Kuechenbergs legacy was sometimes overshadowed by his mouth and the controversial comments he made. [50], For the first round of the playoffs, the Dolphins remained in Miami to take on the wild card Browns on December24. They . Fifty years later, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are still the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated. Legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula dies at 90 Buoniconti said he wouldn't have played football if he had known about the risks it posed to his brain health. Career stats: 212 REC, 3,064 RYDS, 14.5 AVG, 23 TD, 1972 stats: 20 REC, 364 RYDS, 18.2 AVG, 3 TD, 1972 postseason stats: 4 REC, 61 YDS, 15.3 AVG, 1 TD. The Dolphins defense limited the Patriots to just 77net passing yards and 92rushing yards, including four sacks against Plunkett for a loss of 40yards. Sign up for the Dolphins Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. No ties. [6], The 1972 Dolphins ranked number 1 on the 100 greatest teams of all-time by the NFL on its 100th anniversary. [23] A short Vikings punt was followed by a six-play Miami drive and a three-yard touchdown pass from Griese to Mandich to give the Dolphins a 1614 win. [48], In the final week of the regular season, the Dolphins returned home for their second matchup against the Colts. [24] Later, the Bills capped off a touchdown-scoring drive with a 6-yard pass from quarterback Mike Taliaferro to fullback Jim Braxton. NFL experience: 13 years (1964-74, 1976-77), Career stats: 427 REC, 8,565 RYDS, 20.1 AVG, 85 TD, 1972 stats: 29 REC, 606 RYDS, 20.9 AVG, 3 TD, 1972 postseason stats: 7 REC, 149 RYDS, 21.3 AVG, 0 TD. Miami would ultimately win the game by a score of 2824 and improve to 100. Miami engineered another four-play scoring drive on its following possession, using a 30-yard Paul Warfield reception to set up a short Larry Csonka touchdown and give the Dolphins a 200 halftime lead. Yepremian then kicked a 46-yard field goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Picture Information. He admittedly doesnt do much these days at 71 years old but enjoys time with his seven grandchildren. Shula studied philosophy as an undergraduate, and The Don Shula Chair in Philosophy supports the universitys philosophy department by presenting programs to philosophers and the general public. That player then returned the fumble for Washington's only score of the game. Please check your email for a confirmation. A player-by-player look at the 1972 Dolphins and what they did after A few plays later, at 3rd and 15 on Baltimore's 27-yard line, Morrall threw the ball to wide receiver Marlin Briscoe, who then threw a pass to wide receiver Paul Warfield at the 1-yard line. Our goal was not to go to the Super Bowl but to win it.. New England responded late in the second quarter via a 36-yard pass from quarterback Jim Plunkett to wide receiver Tom Reynolds. . "[4][5] 50 years later, on October 23, 2022, the 1972 Dolphins were honored at halftime during a Sunday Night Football game featuring the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, the same matchup that occurred for the 1972 AFC Championship Game. [46], The Dolphins traveled to Yankee Stadium in New York to face the New York Giants in Week 13. He owned a chain of steakhouses called Shulas Restaurants that started in South Florida but were expanded into several other states. Another member of 'perfect' 1972 Dolphins has passed away [30], The Dolphins remained at home during week 6 for a game against the intradivisional rival Buffalo Bills. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox!

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