Super Bowl VII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1972 season. The Dolphins defeated the Redskins by the score of 14–7, winning their first Super Bowl, and became the first and still the only team in modern NFL history to complete a perfect undefeated season. They also remain the only Super Bowl champion to win despite having been shut out in the second half of the game. The game was played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, the second time the Super Bowl was played in that city. At kickoff, the temperature was 84 °F (29 °C), making the game the warmest Super Bowl.
Super Bowl VIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Minnesota Vikings and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1973 season. The Dolphins conquered the Vikings by the score of 24–7 to win their second consecutive Super Bowl, the first team to do so since the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowls I and II, and the first AFL/AFC team to do so.
Larry Richard Csonka is an American former professional football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins for the majority of his career, along with the New York Giants for three years. He also had a short stint with the Memphis Southmen in the WFL. Nicknamed "Zonk", Csonka is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time. Csonka is mostly remembered for his success during his tenure with the Dolphins, which included being a member of their 17–0 perfect season in 1972, and winning Super Bowl championships in 1972 and 1973, the latter of which he was named Super Bowl MVP when he ran for a then-record 145 yards. He was also a commentator for the original run of American Gladiators.
Donald Francis Shula was an American professional football player and coach who served as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1963 to 1995. He played seven seasons as a defensive back in the NFL. For most of his career, Shula was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He is the winningest head coach in NFL history with 347 career victories and 328 regular season victories.
Robert Glenn Baumhower is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide under coach Bear Bryant from 1973 to 1976 and professionally for Miami under coach Don Shula. He later became a restaurateur.
Mike Shula is an American football coach who is the senior offensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was the school's head coach from 2003 to 2006. He was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 1999, the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2017, and the New York Giants from 2018 to 2019.
Jordan Alan Gross is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes, earning consensus All-American honors. He spent his entire career with the Panthers, who selected him eighth overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, and became their sideline reporter.
James John Langer was an American professional football player who was a center and guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings. BBC Sport reported him as one of the greatest centers in NFL history. Langer was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1987.
Monte Dale Clark was an American football player who served as head coach for the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions. He played college football at USC.
Hugh Donell Green is an American former football linebacker who played for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1981 to 1991. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers as a defensive end, and was recognized as a three-time consensus All-American. Green was selected in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft, and played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins.
Daryn Wayne Colledge is a former American football offensive guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He was selected in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and won Super Bowl XLV with them over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Colledge then played for the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. From Alaska, he played college football at Boise State University.
The Epic in Miami was the National Football League AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins that took place on January 2, 1982 in the Miami Orange Bowl. The game, won by the Chargers in overtime, 41–38, is one of the most famous in National Football League lore because of the enormity of scoring, the conditions on the field, the performances of players on both teams, and the numerous records that were set. This partially initiated a Dolphins-Chargers rivalry.
Jon William Giesler is a former American football player. He played 10 seasons, principally at the offensive left tackle position, for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1988. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1975 to 1978.
Brian Douglass Holloway is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders from 1981 to 1988. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal. He is the father of David Holloway, who also played professional football.
Solomon Wayne Moore was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for nine seasons with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played both college football and basketball for the Lamar Cardinals. He was a member of the Dolphins' undefeated team in 1972.
John Thomas "Sandy" Sandusky, Jr. was an American football player and coach. He played seven seasons as an offensive and defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1950s for the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers before starting a 36-year career as an assistant coach. He was head coach of the Baltimore Colts for part of the 1972 season.
Paul Fuapapa Soliai is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers.
Gregory S. Mark is a former American football defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami. Mark played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. Mark was a defensive line coach for the Hurricanes from 1996 to 2005.
Alfred Joseph Jenkins is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for three seasons for the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Houston Oilers.
Samuel Callaghan Brenner is a former American football center. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Brenner played college football at Utah.
