American · Stow, Ohio, USA · Born 25 December 1946Dolphins Hall of Fame fullback and Super Bowl VIII MVP, the power runner behind Miami's 1972 perfect season and its ball-control dynasty of the early 1970s.
Born on 25 December 1946 in Stow, Ohio, Larry Csonka was a consensus All-American at Syracuse University before the Miami Dolphins made him their first-round draft pick in 1968. He overcame two concussions early in his career, which nearly ended his playing days, before establishing himself as the powerful centerpiece of Miami's rushing attack. Csonka rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of Miami's three consecutive Super Bowl seasons from 1971 to 1973, with his best production coming during the franchise's perfect, undefeated 1972 season, when he gained 1,117 yards. Renowned for his sure hands, he fumbled only 21 times across 11 seasons. Csonka earned All-AFC honors four times and All-Pro recognition in 1971, 1972 and 1973, along with five Pro Bowl selections. His finest single-game performance came in Super Bowl VIII, where he was named the game's Most Valuable Player as Miami defeated Minnesota. Csonka surprised the football world by leaving Miami in 1975 to join the Memphis Southmen of the short-lived World Football League, later playing for the New York Giants before returning to the Dolphins for a final season in 1979. He retired with 8,081 rushing yards and 68 touchdowns, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Being the powerful centerpiece of the Miami Dolphins' perfect 1972 season and winning Super Bowl VIII MVP
How They Played
Powerful, hard-charging fullback with sure hands and a low fumble rate
Lasting Impact
One of the great power fullbacks of the NFL's ball-control era
American Athletes