Larry Csonka best known a fullback for the Miami Dolphins in their glory days of the early 1970’s turns 66 today. Larry Csonka went to college at Syracuse where he was one of the many great running backs to come out of Syracuse during that era- Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little and Csonka. He was a first round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 1968.

Larry Csonka was a key member of the undefeated Miami Doophins of 1972. The Dolphins relied on the run and they had three backs- Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick who carried the load for them that year. There was nothing tricky about Csonka. He was a bull.  6’3″ 237. He got the ball and ran straight forward. I can’t recall him being stopped many times for a loss {Morris was the outside speed back} Csonka was one of the toughest players ever. During his career in high school, college and the pro’s he had his nose broked ten times.

Csonka played on the back to back Dolphins Super Bowl Champions in 1973-74. He bolted for the Memphis Southmen of the WFL in 1975 and returned to the NFL after the WFL folded. He played for the New York Giants in 1976-78 before going back to the Dolphins to finish his career in 1979. Csonka ran for 8081 yards in his career, a 4.3 average per carry. He scored 68 touchdowns. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.