Perfect Memories: A ’72 Dolphins 50th anniversary celebration | Miami Herald

Miami Dolphins

Perfect Memories: A ’72 Dolphins 50th anniversary celebration

Dolphins coach Don Shula is carried off the field by many, including Nick Buoniconti, after the Dolphins Super Bowl VII win that finished the 17-0 Perfect Season. Running back Charlie Leigh (23) is in the foreground. Herald File Photo

By MIAMI HERALD SPORTS

Updated March 25, 2023 10:28 AM

Fifty years ago, the Miami Dolphins became the first NFL franchise to have a perfect season, an accomplishment that has never been matched. Join us each week as we look back at a legendary team that put South Florida on the sports map.

September 17, 1972

Miami Dolphins 20 — Kansas City Chiefs 10

Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula and linebacker Nick Buoniconti (85) celebrate the team’s 14-7 Super Bowl victory over Washington Redskins in Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 1973, completing Miami’s 17-0 season

Greg Cote

Zero to perfect: 50 years later, how Shula’s Dolphins made Miami matter as a sports town

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Larry Csonka said the ‘difference was simple: Griese’ in ’72 opener against Chiefs

Bob Griese attends the Don Shula Celebration of Life event hosted by the Miami Dolphins at the Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Barry Jackson

Six questions with Hall of Famer Bob Griese

Left tackle Terron Armstead, shown at a press conference on March 24, 2022, says it’s great to get a chance to talk to ‘all those greats’ from the 1972 Dolphins, to ‘get any knowledge. How did they approach the game, how did they see the game?’

Miami Dolphins

Fifty years after undefeated season, current Dolphins hold 1972 team in reverence

Miami Dolphins’ star safety Jake Scott

Miami Dolphins

Dolphins opened ’72 season with a dominating 20-10 victory against the Chiefs

A ’72 Dolphins 50th anniversary special: A look at all 45 players from that team

Barry Jackson

A look at the 1972 Dolphins roster, 50 years later

September 24, 1972

Miami Dolphins 34 — Houston Oilers 13

North side Orange Bowl, with Northwest Seventh Street in the foreground.

Miami Dolphins

Take a nostalgic trip inside the Orange Bowl — the ‘72 Dolphins perfectly imperfect home

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Orange Bowl turf slicker than Oilers for Miami Dolphins

Former Miami Dophins’ team of 1972, Tim Foley (25) and Larry Seiple (20) are driven on the field for a halftime appreciation during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sun., Dec. 16, 2012, in Miami.

Barry Jackson

Five questions with punter Larry Seiple

Old Dolphins running mates Larry Csonka (left) and Jim Kiick in a portrait taken in 2002

Miami Dolphins

Dolphins hold off Oilers in a soggy home opener at the OB

October 1, 1972

Miami Dolphins 16 — Minnesota Vikings 14

Former Miami head coach, Howard Schnellenberger in this Dec. 23, 2014 photo

Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins gateway to Hurricanes for Schnellenberger, perfect season’s ‘last [coach] standing’

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Dolphins originals prove great company for quarterback Griese vs. Vikings

Washington Redskins running back Larry Brown is stopped in his tracks by Miami’s Manny Fernandez during action Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles on January 14, 1973.

BARRY JACKSON

Five questions with former Dolphins 1972 standout Manny Fernandez

Coach of the perfect season, Don Shula with quarterback Bob Griese during halftime ceremony celebrating the undefeated 1972 team as the Miami Dolphins host the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday, December 22, 2019

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins need a fourth-quarter comeback to edge Vikings in closest call of the season

October 8, 1972

Miami Dolphins 27 — New York Jets 17

Don Shula Sports Legend Award Honoree, LeBron James, of the Miami Heat, poses with Don Shula, left, and Pat Riley, President of the Miami Heat,

Miami Dolphins

Heat’s Pat Riley opens up on his respect for Don Shula: ‘He was just an inspiration to me’

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Without a label, Dolphins’ defense still sticks it to the Joe Namath’s Jets

Dick Anderson (10) completes a 62-yard TD return with a deflected Unitas pass to give the Dolphins 14-0 lead in the 1971 AFC title game.

BARRY JACKSON

Six questions with safety Dick Anderson

Jim Kiick of the Miami Dolphins goes head first over Glen Edwards of the Pittsburgh Steelers as he scores in the third quarter of their AFC championship game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 31, 1972.

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins hold Jets to 152 yards passing in a 27-17 win

October 15, 1972

Miami Dolphins 24 — San Diego Chargers 10

Larry Csonka speaks during the Don Shula Celebration of Life event hosted by the Miami Dolphins at the Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Greg Cote

Dolphins icon Larry Csonka reflects on a life of adventure, perfection

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

‘Old man’ Morrall tunes hearing aid in '72 Dolphins’ rout of Chargers

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jim Del Gaizo

BARRY JACKSON

Five questions with backup QB Jim Del Gaizo

Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, left, talks with quarterback Earl Morrall during a practice session in Long Beach, Calif.

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins overcome loss of Bob Griese to roll past Chargers

October 22, 1972

Miami Dolphins 24 — Buffalo Bills 23

Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula lets out with a roar as the gun sounds to give his team a 14-7 Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins in Los Angeles, Jan. 14, 1973.

Miami Dolphins

From Shula to Buoniconti to Scott, Morrall and Kiick, ’72 Dolphins honor men who have died

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Pope: Shula, ’72 Dolphins lost their poise, but not the game against the Bills

Larry Little

BARRY JACKSON

Six questions with Dolphins Hall of Famer Larry Little

Miami Dolphins Eugene “Mercury” Morris (22) scores the winning touchdown Sunday, Oct. 23, 1972 in the Orange Bowl against Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins overcome sloppy first half to edge Bills 24-23

October 29, 1972

Miami Dolphins 23 — Baltimore Colts 0

Miami Dolphins official mascot Dolfan Denny boogies during a game against the New England Patriots.

Miami Dolphins

‘A fixture in the Orange Bowl:’ A look back at Dolfan Denny, the Dolphins’ original super fan

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

‘72 Dolphins, Csonka have little compassion for Colts

Miami Dolphins of ’72 team Larry Ball, left, is greeted by Jim Kiick, right, as fellow teammate Eugene Edward Mercury Morris looks on.

BARRY JACKSON

Six questions with trivia answer Larry Ball

The Dolphins held the Colts to 192 total yards in a 23-0 shutout win in Baltimore.

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins shut out Colts to go 7-0 as Shula gets a win in Baltimore

November 5, 1972

Miami Dolphins 30 — Buffalo Bills 16

Former Miami Dolphins players talk to the press during an event held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1972 perfect season at the Seminole Hard Rock Guitar Hotel on Oct. 22, 2022, in Hollywood, Florida

Miami Dolphins

1985 Dolphins forever connected to perfect 1972 team after giving 12-0 Bears first and only loss

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Kiick cautions against overconfidence after ’72 Dolphins’ 8-0 start

A ’72 Dolphins 50th anniversary celebration: Five questions with Mercury Morris

BARRY JACKSON

Five questions with Mercury Morris

Larry Csonka finds running room on a day that 254 of the Dolphins’ 327 total yards came on the ground.

Miami Dolphins

'72 Dolphins complete regular-season sweep of stubborn Buffalo Bills

November 12, 1972

Miami Dolphins 52 — New England Patriots 0

Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula sprints across the Orange Bowl turf on Jan. 2, 1972

Miami Dolphins

Don Shula coming to Miami and 17-0 should never have happened. It was crazy luck. Or fate

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Pope: Del Gaizo gets last laugh on Patriots as Shula wins 100th in a 1972 Dolphins cakewalk

1972 Dolphins defensive back Charlie Babb reminisces

BARRY JACKSON

Five questions with Miami Dolphins ’72 alum Charlie Babb

Larry Csonka (39) pushes ahead in the Dolphins’ 52-0 shutout of the New England Patriots

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins coast to a 52-0 shutout against the Patriots in a milestone win for Shula

November 19, 1972

Miami Dolphins 28 — New York Jets 24

In this Aug. 3, 2001, file photo, Nick Buoniconti, former Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins linebacker, gives two thumbs up while being introduced at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Civic Dinner in Canton, Ohio

Miami Dolphins

Nick Buoniconti never stopped fighting. The late Dolphin’s final battle is still going

Edwin Pope

Edwin Pope

Pope: ’72 Dolphins on a run as team clinches playoff berth, moves to 10-0 behind Morrall

Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula and linebacker Nick Buoniconti (85) celebrate the team’s 14-7 Super Bowl victory over Washington Redskins in Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 1973, completing Miami’s 17-0 season. Club owner Joe Robbie is seen in dark suit and tie.

BARRY JACKSON

Five questions with 1972 Dolphins alum Al Jenkins

Defensive lineman Ed Galigher (85) of he New York Jets grabs fullback Larry Csonka (39) of the Miami Dolphins in 1972

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins overcome halftime deficit, outlast Joe Namath’s Jets to go 10-0

November 27, 1972

Miami Dolphins 31 — St. Louis Cardinals 10

Running back Jim Kiick dealt with short-term memory issues and spent his final years in assisted living.

Miami Dolphins

Perfection, pain and progress: Inside the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ fight against CTE

1972 Dolphins vs St. Louis

Edwin Pope

Pope: ‘Monday Night Football’ comes to town, and even Cosell can’t overshadow ’72 Dolphins

Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Paul Warfield autographs a football before the start of an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

BARRY JACKSON

’72 Dolphins 50th anniversary celebration: Five questions with Hall of Fame WR Warfield

Dolphins running back Jim Kiick scores on a 1-yard run in the first quarter of a 31-10 victory at the Orange Bowl against the St. Louis Cardinals on Nov. 27, 1972

Miami Dolphins

1972 Dolphins rout Cardinals 31-10 in front of a national TV audience at the Orange Bowl

December 3, 1972

Miami Dolphins 37 — New England Patriots 21

Former Miami Dolphins football quarterback Bob Griese, left, President Barack Obama and 1972 Dolphins Coach Don Shula, right, hold a signed jersey in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, during a ceremony honoring the Super Bowl VII football Champion Miami Dolphins.

Miami Dolphins

What made the 1972 Dolphins perfect? ‘It was a beautiful team’

Miami Dolphins Manny Fernandez (75) pressures Redskins QB Billy Kilmer in Superbowl VII on January 4, 1973

Edwin Pope

Pope: Even though ’72 Dolphins are perfect so far, Fernandez has to defend his team’s record

Former Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Doug Crusan attends a gala at the Seminole Hard Rock Guitar Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Miami Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season.

BARRY JACKSON

Five questions with left tackle Doug Crusan

Larry Csonka (39) pushes ahead in the Dolphins’ 52-0 shutout of the New England Patriots

Miami Dolphins

1972 Dolphins avoid any letdown, go on the road to throttle the Patriots 37-21

December 10, 1972

Miami Dolphins 23 — New York Giants 13

Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, left, with Joe Thomas. As Dolphins director of player personnel in 1966-71, Thomas signed five future Hall of Famers among the treasure trove of talent Shula inherited when he joined the Dolphins in 1970.

Miami Dolphins

A blueprint for perfection: How the 1972 Dolphins were built (and what we can learn)

The Dolphins held off the Giants 23-13 on Dec. 10, 1972, on a muddy field at Yankee Stadium.

Edwin Pope

Pope: Warfield catches Giants in his web of moves as ’72 Dolphins go 13-0

Former Miami Dolphins Ed Jenkins (28) reacts to the crowd during a ceremony celebrating the Miami Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season during the half time of an NFL football game between the Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

BARRY JACKSON

Five questions with a Miami player in the stands

Mercury Morris scored on a 12-yard run to give the Dolphins a 7-6 lead against the Giants. The Dolphins would not trail again in the game.

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins find their footing in time to outlast the Giants, go to 13-0

December 16, 1972

Miami Dolphins 16 — Baltimore Colts 0

Miami Dolphins President and CEO Tom Garfinkel talks to the media during the phase one stadium tour and food showcase Sun Life Stadium on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in Miami Gardens.

Miami Dolphins

For past Dolphins writers, perfect 1972 team left indelible mark on future generations

Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula poses with quarterbacks Earl Morrall and Bob Griese on Jan. 3, 1973 in Miami.

Edwin Pope

Griese expresses no doubt: healthy Morrall should start for ’72 Dolphins

Former Miami Dolphins team of 1972, Mike Kolen (57) and Howard Kindig (54) are driven on the field for a half time celebration at an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Miami

BARRY JACKSON

5 questions with Kindig, who was talked out of retiring

The Dolphins forced six turnovers - three fumbles and three interceptions - as the Baltimore Colts did not cross the 50-yard line in a 16-0 shutout.

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins rely on defense to shut out Colts, complete unbeaten regular season

December 24, 1972

Divisional Playoff: Miami Dolphins 20 — Cleveland Browns 14

Joey Cornblit, known simply as “Joey”, launched his professional Jai Alai career as a 17-year-old in 1972 at the Miami Jai Alai Fronton.

Miami Dolphins

Dolphins weren’t only show in town in 1972. Jai alai, horse racing, UM shared the stage

Paul Warfield accounted for 60 of the Dolphins’ 80 yards on the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter of the Dolphins’ 20-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the 1972 AFC Divisional playoff game.

Edwin Pope

Uptight Warfield finally gets loose in ’72 Dolphins’ playoff victory against Browns

Linebacker Bill Swift recorded two interceptions in the playoff game against the Browns. The second clinched the victory.

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins need a fourth-quarter drive to beat the Browns to open the playoffs

December 31, 1972

AFC Championship : Miami Dolphins 21 — Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Larry Csonka (standing) and Jim Kiick were colorful characters who would be naturals in the social media era.

Miami Dolphins

Perfection gone viral? What Dolphins’ 1972 season might have been like in social media age

The Steelers were too busy retreating to set up a punt return to notice Larry Seiple running on a fake punt that put the Dolphins in position for their first touchdown.

Edwin Pope

Pope: Steelers forgot about the ’72 Dolphins’ forgotten man in AFC Championship Game

Jim Kiick vaults over the Steelers’ Glen Edwards for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins return to the Super Bowl as Griese returns to beat Steelers in AFC Championship

January 14, 1973

Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins 14 — Baltimore Colts 13

More than 10,000 Dolphins fans welcomed the team at Miami International Airport following their win in Super Bowl VII.

Miami Dolphins

‘The city went crazy’: How Dolphins fans, Miami celebrated Super Bowl VII, perfect season

The Redskins' Mike Bass runs past Garo Yepremian toward the end zone after the blocked field-goal attempt.

Edwin Pope

Pope: ’72 Dolphins Super Bowl victory was almost perfect — except for that field-goal try

Two Redskin blockers, right, cant keep Manny Fernandez, Miami Dolphin 75, from pressuring Redskins QB Billy Kilmer

Miami Dolphins

‘72 Dolphins complete perfect season, give Don Shula his first Super Bowl title

This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Perfect Memories: A ’72 Dolphins 50th anniversary celebration."