Former Dolphins running back Larry Csonka. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Member of 1972 Dolphins apologizes for losing cool over perfect season rant

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jun 14, 2024 10:43 AM ET

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to complete an undefeated season with a Super Bowl win, an accomplishment they are still — to this day — extremely vocal about.

One of the key members of that team, running back Larry Csonka, offered us another reminder on Thursday when he went on an epic rant about the '72 team being named the greatest NFL team ever. It wasn't that Csonka was mad about the honor; he was mad there was ever any debate about it.

I did lose my cool here but I stand by my point - we achieved perfection and are the only team to do so in the first 100+ years of professional football. My teammates and I already knew this whether the NFL recognized it or not. That said, I am grateful the NFL finally ratified… pic.twitter.com/3FiFSaQipa
— Larry Csonka (@Larry_Csonka39) June 13, 2024

The '72 Dolphins finished the season 17-0 (including playoffs) and remain the only perfect team in NFL history. They still get together and drink champagne to celebrate when the final undefeated NFL team loses its first game every season.

The closest any team ever came to matching their milestone was the 2007 New England Patriots, who went 16-0 during the regular season. They then won both playoff games before being upset by Eli Manning and the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

The Dolphins might be brash about their accomplishment, but they have every reason to be.

Csonka rushed for 1,117 yards during the 1972 season (Mercury Morris also rushed for 1,000 yards on that team) and finished his career with 8,081 total yards and 68 total touchdowns (64 rushing, four receiving). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 1987 class.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

More must-reads: