1972 Miami Dolphins: The inside story of the only perfect season in NFL The Dolphins' only appearance was a 1997 preseason contest against the Denver Broncos in Mexico City at the fabled Estadio Azteca, which pitted two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Marino and John Elway. This would be the final score of the first half, as Miami halted another scoring attempt by Buffalo when cornerback Tim Foley intercepted Shaw at Miami's 20-yard line. Career stats: 157 REC, 1,823 RYDS, 11.6 AVG, 16 TD, 1972 stats: 13 REC, 137 RYDS, 10.5 AVG, 2 TD, 1972 postseason stats: 5 REC, 50 YDS, 10.0 AVG, 0 TD. [61] Prior to the implementation of position scheduling in 1978, opponents were set by the NFL on a rotating basis. Truth is, the 1973 Dolphins defense probably was just as good as the 1972 version, if not better. Cheyenne Roundtree 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. Still an athlete, the 76-year-old is trying his hand at masters golf as the competitive bug never escaped him. Miami added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter via an 8-yard rush by running back Hubert Ginn. [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. Minutes later, Houston quarterback Dan Pastorini muffed the ball in punt formation; the Dolphins recovered again and Mercury Morris scored four plays later. The game ended with a 3721 victory for the Dolphins. , updated Morrall passed for 162 yards, while Del Gazio passed for 145. league's $1 billion concussion settlement. Later in the first quarter, New York's Rocky Thompson fumbled during a kickoff return, with the ball recovered by Miami running back Charles Leigh. [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. His specialty is corn and soybeans, and farming has replaced football as Den Herders passion. One publication even named him as the most outstanding blocker in the entire league, and Don Shula praised Little for not only his play but his influence on younger teammates. [24][25], The Jets received the opening kickoff and quickly marched 65 yards downfield, taking a 70 lead when a Cliff McClain fumble was recovered by guard Randy Rasmussen in the end zone. Ask the 1972 Miami Dolphins NBC's Bob Costas predicted this month that the sport would collapse over time barring new technology. Bottom line: The perfect season almost ended perfectly until Garo Yepremian got in trouble for trying to do too much. The 49ers happen to have a direct connection to that team. He then was traded to the Dolphins for a first-round pick and played for three seasons, including their perfect 17-0 season of1972 when he caught 16 passes for 279 yards and four TDs. Morrall, a thirty-eight-year-old who spent much of his career backing up stars including Griese, Johnny Unitas, and Bobby Layne, was named MVP in 1968 under Shula when the pair led the Baltimore Colts to the NFL championship. The agency has applied for federal funding to create a database in order to investigate sport injuries and brain diseases more in-depth. Jake Scott, former Miami Dolphins safety who was MVP at 1972's Super Bowl VII, died Thursday after a fall at the age of 75. . Anderson returned the ball to the New England 4-yard line before fumbling. Denver agreed to an audition, and the 5-foot-10 dynamo nicknamed The Magician made the starting lineup on October 6. Earl Morrall, who played quarterback for the '72 Dolphins, died in 2014. [54] Consequently, Miami remained undefeated and advanced to Super Bowl VII. Also of note, running back Larry Csonka surpassed 1,000rushing yards on the season during this game. [48], Miami extended their lead further in the second quarter, when wide receiver Paul Warfield caught a 34-yard pass from quarterback Earl Morrall. [33] The fourth quarter began with a 45-yard field goal by Leypoldt, cutting Miami's lead to 1716. The Bills also made out pretty good in that trade, using the first-round pickto selectJoe Delamielleure, who developed intoa Hall of Fame guard. Later, the 2007 New England Patriots also earned an undefeated and untied regular season record. 1972 Dolphins ranked as second-best team of Super Bowl era by CBS Bill Stanfill, a defensive lineman for the 1972 Miami Dolphins, died in 2016 at age 69. The 1972 Miami Dolphins are STILL the only undefeated NFL team in the How Many Super Bowls Has The Miami Dolphins Won | StatMuse The team was led by third-year head coach Don Shula and achieved the only perfect season in NFL history. In that game, Bob Griese threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Howard Twilley and Jim Kiick . In 2006, he said the current Dolphins "do not have a soul" after a sluggish start to the season and said then-coach Nick Saban should be impeached. He started just eight games during the regular season but was a constant presence in the playoffs, starting all three postseason games. 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. How many players from the 1972 Dolphins are still alive - Answers He has shunned many anniversary celebrations for the '72 Dolphins team as well as celebrations honoring Super Bowl MVPs. 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. Bottom line: The '72 Dolphins, with backup Earl Morrall at quarterback for most of the season, were not a pass-heavy team. and 1972 Dolphins ranked as second-best team of Super Bowl era by CBS Schedule Teams AFC East Bills Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC. Miami increased their lead further early in the second quarter with a pair of Yepremian field goals from 17yards and 16yards. MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 12, 1972: (L to R) Quarterback Earl Morrall #15 and head coach Don Shula, of the Miami Dolphins, on the sidelines during a . Cacophony breaks out, and three members of the 1972 Dolphins, Larry Little, Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka, are shown casually sitting at a table together uniquely dressed in aqua-colored formal coats, and all three are drinking champagne, laughing at the chaos happening around them.[59]. 1972 Miami Dolphins football Roster on StatsCrew.com 22:16 GMT 13 May 2017 On Miami's ensuing drive, a 22-yard pass from wide receiver Marlin Briscoe to Jim Mandich set up another 51-yard Yepremian field goal. The Steelers responded with a touchdown drive of their own, ending with a 12-yard pass from Bradshaw to Al Young. Throughout the contest, Browns quarterback Phipps was intercepted five times by the Dolphins defense. Subsequently, Miami's next drive stalled at Washington's 34-yard line. 1 team in NFL history. Bottom line: The origin of the greatest season in NFL history started with the Dolphins only loss during the calendar year of 1972. In 2017, at the age of 71, and 37 years after his last NFL game, Little signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Dolphins to officially retire as a member of the team. The 1972 Miami Dolphins took on the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. 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. On the fourth play after the fumble, Morris managed to run 14yards to the end zone. No ties. The Dolphins scored first, with a 40-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian in the first quarter. He chose to follow the career path of his parents and went to medical school. Fans in the Miami area could not view the team's home games on television, as 1972 was the final year in which all NFL home games were blacked out on local television even if the stadium had sold out. [55], There is an urban legend that every season, whenever the last remaining undefeated NFL team loses its first game, all the surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins open bottles of champagne in celebration. Our goal was not to go to the Super Bowl but to win it.. 16 is Zach Sieler, Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill says he received death threats after first podcast episode, Marlin Briscoe first Black starting quarterback AFL, former Dolphins WR. 2022 Allen & Ginter Mel Ott Metal Mini #109 SSP #'d/3 San Francisco Giants RARE! Bottom line: Some 45 years before Nick Foles went from backup to Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Earl Morrall nearly did the same. Leon Sandcastle Kansas City Chiefs Custom Football Card. That means the 1972 Miami Dolphins still reign as the only NFL team. Where Are the 1972 Miami Dolphins Now? | Stadium Talk [55], Super Bowl VII quickly became a defensive battle between both teams, with the Dolphins and Redskins each starting with two drives that ended with punts. They reached their conclusion by scanning the brains of 160 wounded war veterans after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Commanders vs. Eagles final score: Philadelphia loss keeps 1972 [28] In the third quarter, Morrall's second touchdown pass increased the lead to 243. [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. However, Cleveland failed to score in the first half, leaving Miami with a 100 at the intermission. 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,. He became a touchdown vulture by the time the playoffs rolled around and scored four of the Dolphins seven touchdowns in the postseason. 1972 Dolphins champagne celebration: Do ex-Miami players toast the Instead, he discusses the harrowing ordeal he went through after retiring. Morrall remained a vital part of Miamis sports and political scenes after his retirement from the Dolphins. Two other members of the team defensive back Tim Foley and running back Hubert Ginn have also suffered from cognitive impairment, according to teammates. Both teams each had one more drive, but neither of them resulted in a score. Curt Knight's subsequent field goal attempt of 32yards missed. They are the only team in NFL history to go undefeated and untied in the regular season and postseason. 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. Subsequent rule changes have since changed the playoff structure so that this would never happen again. Mark Gastineau, a former New York Jets defensive line backer, revealed earlier this year he is suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease following his NFL career. 2022 record: 9-8 (2nd in AFC East) Home Roster Statistics Schedule Draft Splits Transactions Injuries History. Heinz grew up in the Bay Area and returned there after retiring. Posthumous studies of three more 1972 Miami Dolphins football players have shown they suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma only detectable after death, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported on Friday.. Jim Kiick, Nick Buoniconti and Jake Scott were all found to suffer from the most severe Stage 4 of the disease by the CTE Center . Leader Of A Generational Defense, Zach Thomas Gets The Call To Canton. The 1972 Miami Dolphins. Wilkins, four years and 290 tackles later, has one year left on his rookie deal after the team picked up his fifth-year option . [7][8], The Miami Dolphins franchise was founded in 1966 under head coach George Wilson. However, this does not constitute any record; the 1975 Minnesota Vikings, who began 100 and finished 122, played 14 opponents with an average winning percentage of .332, and nine of their games were against teams 410 or worse.[63]. The team was led by third-year head coach Don Shula and achieved the only perfect season in NFL history. State officials hope to track brain injuries among high school sports to discover whether more needs to be done to improve player safety and protect athletes. 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. The Dolphins shut out the Baltimore Colts, Shula's former team, to reach Super Bowl VI, where they lost 243 to Dallas. Kiick is part of the league's $1 billion concussion settlement, which could result in a payout as high as $620,000, but the familys journey to that point has been costly in its own right. In the fourth quarter, Dolphins cornerback Curtis Johnson intercepted a pass from Snead, which eventually led to Yepremian kicking a 31-yard field goal. "[64] Asked why the team had not been invited by President Richard Nixon in 1973, Larry Csonka stated that he did not feel neglected as it had not been a regular occurrence at the time. Undefeated NFL teams: 1972 Dolphins pop champagne as Eagles' quest for Please check your email for a confirmation. Kidwiler Collection / Diamond Images/Getty Images. Lead author, Dr Jasmeet Hayes, said: 'Our results suggest that when combined with genetic factors, concussions may be associated with accelerated cortical thickness and memory decline in Alzheimer's disease relevant areas. He was the second defensive player to be named Super Bowl MVP, and he is still just one of two safeties to win the award. Thomas is the 11th player or coach from the Miami Dolphins to earn the game's greatest honor. The Miami Dolphins chose a hard reset after a 7-9 record in 2018. Shortly thereafter, Dolphins quarterback Earl Morrall was intercepted by Bills safety Tony Greene and returned for a touchdown, narrowing Miami's lead to 1613. He had been hospitalized with circulation issues in his legs. His illness means he can no longer tie his own shoelaces or dry himself after a shower. It's an incredibly rare thing for an NFL team to remain undefeated throughout the entirety of a season. At training camp in 1972, he made his team watch the entire Super Bowl twice and years later said, "What I stressed in the locker room was that we wanted to make sure this wouldnt happen again. Miami has decisions to make on their quarterback. No reason was given why Heinz sold the ring, but it went for $68,004. The Patriots scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the first being an 8-yard pass from quarterback Brian Dowling to running back John Tarver and the second being a 1-yard rush by Dowling. 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 . Larry Little Miami Dolphins 1972 17-0 Custom Card | eBay Don Shula, all-time NFL wins leader, dies at age 90 - Yahoo! A posthumous examination of his brain by researchers showed traces of advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the. He was more of a blocker than a receiver and ranked just seventh on the team in receiving yards despite starting all 14 games. [31] Miami scored a touchdown on the opening drive, capped off by a 5-yard run by Mercury Morris. Larry Csonka (@Larry_Csonka39) / Twitter As all Super Bowls (except Super Bowl I) have sold out, none have been blacked out since. 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. The 1972 Dolphins Defense's Place in History - Sports Illustrated Miami 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. Now DeLong is speaking out to say he would have seriously reconsidered his football career if he had known the risks. [51], Because home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation prior to the 1975 postseason, the Dolphins traveled to Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game on December31 despite being undefeated. Fifty years later, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are still the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated. Later in the third quarter, Yepremian kicked a 18-yard field goal. Mike Kolen, a starting linebacker for both Dolphins' Super Bowl-winning teams, told the Herald that he was recently diagnosed with initial stages of Alzheimer's. Briscoe was among the 1972 Dolphins being honored at the White House in 2013. Briscoe was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. 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. An All-Pro that season, Briscoe ranked second in the league in catches (57) and yards (1,036). Late in the second quarter, Morrall attempted to throw a lateral pass, but fumbled and Buffalo defensive tackle Don Croft secured the ball. His other Super Bowl appearance came in 1971, albeit ending in a Dolphins' loss to the . This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Marlin Briscoe first Black starting quarterback AFL, former Dolphins WR, iSelect Smart 360 Term | Cover Till 99 yrs of Age, Top 25 Miami Dolphins players countdown: No. They posted a record of 65151, and were also the fastest franchise to win a Super Bowl after franchise inception and joining the NFL (seven years after starting in the AFL, three years after becoming a member of the NFL). 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. 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 The NFL's rules at the time forced the undefeated Dolphins (140) to play the Steelers (113) in Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game. 0: 0: 10: 185: 352: Miami Dolphins: 1/14/1973: Super Bowl: MIA @ WAS. A study at Wake Forest School of Medicine has been examining the brains of high school football players. He went to Buffalo where, in 1970, he turned into one of the best receivers in the newly merged NFL. The undefeated season of 17-0(including playoffs) You got some footage from a MNF game included here along with the NFL Films coverage. It is also in Ohio where Shula has an endowment in his name at his alma mater, John Carroll University. Shula coached the only perfect season in NFL history and is the all-time winningest coach in league history. The Dolphins clinched the AFC East title in Week 10 with Morrall at quarterback. [48], In the final week of the regular season, the Dolphins returned home for their second matchup against the Colts. He admittedly doesnt do much these days at 71 years old but enjoys time with his seven grandchildren. The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's seventh season and third in the National Football League (NFL). Just perfection. [60], An enduring controversy is based on the argument that the 1972 Dolphins played a soft schedule not possible under the current scheduling formula. Warfield, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, is one of the oldest living members from that '72 team and has been enjoying retirement in Southern California for the past few years. By the end of the first half, the Dolphins led by a score of 1713. CDC BUILDING DATABASE ON SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSIONS. After the Dolphins were penalized four times on that drive (a loss of 33 yards), Garo Yepremian kicked a 54-yard field goal,[32] the longest in franchise history until Pete Stoyanovich's 59-yard field goal in 1989. [40] Miami totaled 482yards, far higher than New England's 169yards. The study published in the journal Radiology foundmeasurable brain changes in teen players after a single season of ball - even without a concussion diagnosis. Bottom line: Doug Swift was the Dolphins' biggest playmaker among their linebacker group, and he finished tied for second on the team with three interceptions. [28], Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese broke his ankle early in the first quarter on a sack by Ron East and Deacon Jones. Consequently, the Browns took a 1413 lead over the Dolphins. Dolphins cornerback Curtis Johnson blocked a punt by David Lee of the Colts and recovered the football at Baltimore's 22-yard line. He became a multi-millionaire from his post-football career, and his earnings dwarfed what he earned during his 11-year playing career. The Miami Dolphins have won twice in Super Bowls all-time. The ball was too big for the 5-foot-7 Yepremian, and it slipped out of his hands and right to a Redskins defender. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. One of the participants is the son of former Minnesota Vikings player Greg DeLong. An unabashed country boy, Den Herder retired back to his farm in his hometown of Sioux City, Iowa. Studies Show Three More '72 Dolphins Had Brain Disease Linked to