Both teams scored a field goal in the second quarter, from 49-yards and 25-yards by Jim Bakken of the Cardinals and Garo Yepremian of the Dolphins, respectively. In 2016, Stanfill had a bad fall, and complications arose, which led to his death at 69. Bruce Laird of the Colts was returning a punt but fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Hubert Ginn of the Dolphins at Baltimore's 20yard line. The 60-year-old spent a decade playing in the NFL and believes the constant bone-crunching challenges he suffered during his career are responsible for his declining health. The Giants defense forced the Dolphins to kick a 37-yard field goal, increasing their lead to 106. However, the Dolphins then scored another touchdown on a drive capped off by a 27-yard pass from Morrall to Stowe. Dr. David B. Ross, who heads a neurobehavioral facility in Plantation, Florida, says that Kiick 'has holes in his brain.'. Las mejores ofertas para 1972 Miami Dolphins 'Undefeated Season' / Super Bowl Champions Commemorative estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos nuevos y usados Muchos artculos con envo gratis! THE 1972 MIAMI DOLPHINS ROSTER NUMBER, NAME, POSITION: CURRENT STATUS, '72 HIGHLIGHT 1. Manny Fernandez, who played defensive lineman for the team, says he has had eight back surgeries as well as other operations. By Shortly thereafter, Dolphins quarterback Earl Morrall was intercepted by Bills safety Tony Greene and returned for a touchdown, narrowing Miami's lead to 1613. TEAM DATE ROUND TM OPP . On Washington's subsequent drive, Jake Scott intercepted Billy Kilmer's pass. In the Divisional Round the year prior, Miami defeated Kansas City at Kansas City Municipal Stadium in double overtime, the longest game in NFL history. Bill Stanfill, a defensive lineman for the 1972 Miami Dolphins, died in 2016 at age 69. Bottom line: The '72 Dolphins, with backup Earl Morrall at quarterback for most of the season, were not a pass-heavy team. Please check your email for a confirmation. Miami led the league in total offense, total defense, scoring offense, and scoring defense, the only team ever to do so. However, with only about one minute remaining by then, the Dolphins won the game by a score of 2423. Although it appeared that the Patriots may have recovered the fumble, the officiating crew ruled that they did not. The study published in the journal Radiology foundmeasurable brain changes in teen players after a single season of ball - even without a concussion diagnosis. Before heading west, Warfield returned to his native Ohio and was Browns owner Art Modells special assistant in addition to serving as the teams director of player relations. At the time, the announced crowd of 104,209 fans was the third-largest in NFL history, with the . (Ursula Seemann / Sun Sentinel) These 1972 Miami Dolphins who passed away will always be remembered for being part of the only. https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/27/dolphins-marlin-briscoe-passes-away/, One free agent each NFL team should re-sign in 2023, Texas LB says he'd love to play with former teammate with Dolphins, Here are all the available free agent cornerbacks in 2023, Here are all the available free agent linebackers in 2023, Vikings GM explains why he hired Brian Flores as defensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel explains why Dolphins fired OL coach Matt Applebaum, Dolphins' 2023 home and away opponents set, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Later, the 2007 New England Patriots also earned an undefeated and untied regular season record. A look at what happened to the members of the Miami Dolphins 1972 team after their achieved perfection with an undefeated season and Super Bowl title. He started just eight games during the regular season but was a constant presence in the playoffs, starting all three postseason games. [9][10] Wilson also signed Manny Fernandez and traded for Nick Buoniconti, Larry Little, and Paul Warfield. In Miami, he recorded 133 receptions for 2,171 yards and 18 touchdowns. Fleming had his best game of the season in the AFC championship game, posting 50 receiving yards, more yards than he had in his previous seven games combined. [56][57] However, they occasionally had Diet Cokes together, such as in 2005 when Bob Griese and Shula watched the Chargers win over the Colts, the last undefeated team that season. The Dolphins made the playoffs for the first time in 1970, and in 1971, Miami won its first playoff game after defeating Kansas City in the longest game in league history. After his rookie season, Briscoe asked for his release and moved to wide receiver. More than 90 percent of NFL players have brain disease, claims Bennet Omalu, a neuropathologist who had his story about discovering brain trauma and the NFL portrayed by Will Smith in the Concussion. Minutes later, Houston quarterback Dan Pastorini muffed the ball in punt formation; the Dolphins recovered again and Mercury Morris scored four plays later. To also illustrate how much the game has changed, Griese threw for 88 yards in the Super Bowl as the Dolphins relied on the run game. That followed a successful business career of owning 30 The Athletes Foot sporting good stores throughout the country. Another key cog of that Dolphins team, running back Jim Kiick, is so ill that he is incapable of caring for himself. [1], Running backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season. [47] After Joe Orduna of the Giants returned the opening kickoff for 38yards, New York began a five play, 50-yard drive. Kidwiler Collection / Diamond Images/Getty Images. [48], Miami extended their lead further in the second quarter, when wide receiver Paul Warfield caught a 34-yard pass from quarterback Earl Morrall. The team compiled a postseason mark of 3-0. But he eventually cleaned himself up without the help of a formal rehab program. Tackles were not officially tracked back then, but Buoniconti unofficially had 162 tackles, a then-team record. Kiick is part of the league's $1 billion concussion settlement, which could result in a payout as high as $620,000, but the familys journey to that point has been costly in its own right. Many players and coaches helped the Dolphins achieve glory, and in football retirement, some of them even exceeded their success on the gridiron. His specialty is corn and soybeans, and farming has replaced football as Den Herders passion. Bottom line: After impressing for three seasons as a backup, Mercury Morris was promoted to starting halfback in 1972 and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns. One of the participants is the son of former Minnesota Vikings player Greg DeLong. NFL experience: 14 years (1966-67, 1970-81), 1972 postseason stats: 7 FGM, 7 FGA, 100 FG%. When he shook hands with Obama, the President said,"I know you. At least seven players from that team either have suffered or are currently suffering from cognitive disease that experts believe were caused by repeated head trauma suffered during their days on the gridiron, according to the Miami Herald. Miami increased their lead further early in the second quarter with a pair of Yepremian field goals from 17yards and 16yards. They were able to defeat the Steelers 21-17 by taking advantage of the defense's mistakes, and Bob Griese returned. Then, in the second quarter, Dolphins running back Jim Kiick fumbled the ball, recovered by Alvin Wyatt of the Bills. With neither team able to accumulate more points after that drive, the game ended as a 30-16win for the Dolphins. Unfortunately, on Monday, the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson shared that former Dolphins wide receiver Marlin Briscoe, a member of the '72 team, passed away at 76 years old due to heart failure. How great? He died at age 73 in 2016. He put his signature on Super Bowl VII by recording a sack on the final play of the game, taking down Redskins quarterback Billy Kilmer as Washington was looking to tie the game. Forty five years later, key members of the legendary squad are now paying a dear price for their sacrifice. Look back at his long-standing career, his passion for preparation and more. [55], There is an urban legend that every season, whenever the last remaining undefeated NFL team loses its first game, all the surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins open bottles of champagne in celebration. At this point, the Dolphins led by 377. Denver agreed to an audition, and the 5-foot-10 dynamo nicknamed The Magician made the starting lineup on October 6. They found that having a concussion was associated with lower cortical thickness in brain regions that are the first to be affected in Alzheimer's disease. He forced the team to watch film of the loss twice while at training camp. Leypoldt then kicked a 34-yard field goal, allowing the Bills to lead 137 at halftime. In Super Bowl VIII, against the Minnesota Vikings, Briscoe caught two passes for 19 yards. Miami led St. Louis 70 following the first quarter. He also ran for 1,000 yards, but not without some controversy. Yes, it was the 1972 Dolphins who went on a perfect season including winning the playoffs and super bowl Is Actor Brian Wilde still alive or dead? The comments below have not been moderated, By Denver created a diversity coaching fellowship in his honor before the 2021 season. 22:54 GMT 13 May 2017. . Later in the quarter, Dolphins cornerback Lloyd Mumphord intercepted Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart and returned the ball for a touchdown. 1:52 Bob Kuechenberg, a key member of the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins team, has died at age 71, the team announced Sunday morning. While we all celebrate the 50th anniversary of the perfect season, we remember Briscoe and his legacy. [24] Later, the Bills capped off a touchdown-scoring drive with a 6-yard pass from quarterback Mike Taliaferro to fullback Jim Braxton. The center has posthumously examined the brains of six members of the 1972 Dolphins, who were 17-0. After seven more plays, Miami scored on a 9-yard pass from quarterback Earl Morrall to wide receiver Howard Twilley. Before settling into retirement, Langer worked in the truck accessory business and was a radio analyst for St. He was MVP in 1968. [33] The fourth quarter began with a 45-yard field goal by Leypoldt, cutting Miami's lead to 1716. Anderson returned the ball to the New England 4-yard line before fumbling. St. Louis finally responded again in the fourth quarter via a 2-yard rush by running back Leon Burns. You'll now receive the top Dolphins Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Miami Dolphins 50 years on, the 1972 Miami Dolphins' undefeated season remains undefeated Don Shula is carried off the field by his players after the 1972 Miami Dolphins completed. In Shula's first season, the Dolphins went 104 and reached the playoffs for the first time. On the fifth play following the interception, Miami scored on a 14-yard pass from Morrall to wide receiver Marlin Briscoe. That's probably appropriate, as they remain the only team in the Super Bowl era to go undefeated, finishing with a perfect. Until now, doctors only considered severe traumatic brain injury a key risk factor for developing neurodegenerative diseases. [48], In the final week of the regular season, the Dolphins returned home for their second matchup against the Colts. They reached their conclusion by scanning the brains of 160 wounded war veterans after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Miami annihilated New England both offensively and defensively. The Dolphins led 16-0 after the first half. The team was blown out by the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl of the 1971 season, which came in January of 1972, and Don Shula went to extreme measures to make sure that didnt happen again. Now, he is voicing his upset, accusing the league of not doing enough to protect former players and seemingly sweeping the issue under the rug, 'waiting for us to die'. No ties. Bottom line: Jake Scott led the '72 Dolphins in interceptions during the regular season and his penchant for picking off quarterbacks continued in the postseason. [37], Following their win against the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins hosted the New England Patriots at the Orange Bowl for Week 9. He started working for Amway and worked his way up to owning a distributorship in the Orlando area. His other Super Bowl appearance came in 1971, albeit ending in a Dolphins' loss to the . Picture 1 of 1. He chose to follow the career path of his parents and went to medical school. Redskins defensive lineman Bill Brundige blocked Yepremian's 42-yard field goal attempt. However, in the final minutes of the game, Miami executed a six play, 80-yard drive capped by an 8-yard rush by running back Jim Kiick. Del Gazio threw two touchdown passes in the final quarter a 51-yard pass to Briscoe and a 39-yard pass to Jim Mandich. The 1972 Miami Dolphins took on the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. In 1983 the Dolphins drafted quarterback Dan Marino, who would go on to set major career NFL passing records and be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Teamed with the "Marks Brothers"wide receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duperand working behind a line anchored by centre Dwight Stephenson, Marino ran an offense that often ranked at the top of the league. Yepremian then kicked a 46-yard field goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. [38] Don Shula became the 9th head coach in NFL history to win at least 100 regular season games, but the first to do so in only 10 seasons. Consequently, the Browns took a 1413 lead over the Dolphins. They posted a record of 65151, and were also the fastest franchise to win a Super Bowl after franchise inception and joining the NFL (seven years after starting in the AFL, three years after becoming a member of the NFL). Even though hes in his late 70s, Fleming is still a kid at heart and even enjoys skateboarding near his home near Venice Beach, California. Like his backfield mate, Mercury Morris, Csonka also is a motivational speaker, who's available for personal appearances. L. 3-24. Many of the Dolphins players on that team then hit back at Kuechenberg, including team leaders Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas. Jason Jenkins, the Dolphins' senior vice president of communications and community affairs, died Saturday, the team announced at halftime of its preseason game against the Eagles. They are the only team in NFL history to go undefeated and untied in the regular season and postseason. The antecedent drive included several long runs and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Bills. The Miami Dolphins chose a hard reset after a 7-9 record in 2018. After retirement, Little coached football in the 1980s and 1990s as the head coach at Bethune-Cookman University, his alma mater, and North Carolina Central and in the World Football League for the Ohio Glory. But the Dolphins failed to capitalize and both teams exchanged punts, while Kilmer threw another interception to Nick Buoniconti, who then returned the ball for 32yards, with two minutes remaining in the half. Career stats: 157 REC, 1,823 RYDS, 11.6 AVG, 16 TD, 1972 stats: 13 REC, 137 RYDS, 10.5 AVG, 2 TD, 1972 postseason stats: 5 REC, 50 YDS, 10.0 AVG, 0 TD. The Miami Dolphins legend led the team to the Perfect Season of 1972, going 17-0 to become the only NFL team to complete He is best known for backing up Larry Csonka and returning kicks for the Miami Dolphins' back to back Super Bowl champions in the 1972 and 1973 seasons. [24][25], The Jets received the opening kickoff and quickly marched 65 yards downfield, taking a 70 lead when a Cliff McClain fumble was recovered by guard Randy Rasmussen in the end zone. Paul Warfield led the team in receptions and receiving yards. He unofficially had 10 sacks that season and another 3.5 sacks in the postseason. [51], Near the beginning of the third quarter, Browns safety Thom Darden had a significant punt return of 38yards, which ultimately set up the drive in which Browns quarterback Mike Phipps scored a rushing touchdown. However, in the game's final quarter, Anderson landed on the ball after Jets running back Cliff McClain fumbled it at New York's 27-yard line. He admittedly doesnt do much these days at 71 years old but enjoys time with his seven grandchildren. The Dolphins were told heart failure was the cause of death. ROUND TM OPP RESULT W TD 1DWN OFF OPP OFF 3DWN% 4DWN% Miami Dolphins: 1/16/1972: Super Bowl: MIA. With Baltimore unable to score throughout the game, Miami won 160. [3], The Dolphins went 140 in the regular season and won all three postseason games to finish 170, the only undefeated and untied season in NFL history. The list is likely longer, since not all 50 men on the roster of that team have stayed in contact with the organization. Langer, a native of Minnesota, returned to his home state at the end of his career to play for the Vikings, and he still resides just outside of Minneapolis. [30], The Dolphins remained at home during week 6 for a game against the intradivisional rival Buffalo Bills. The Redskins came into the game as a three-point favorite, surprisingly. Since retiring from the NFL in 1980, Griese has dabbled in real estate and splits his time between South Florida and North Carolina. Pastorini completed three of ten passes for minus-ten yards in the first half. The Dolphins scored first, after rookie safety Charlie Babb blocked Browns placekicker Don Cockroft's punt at the Cleveland 17-yard line and returned the ball for a touchdown. [2], The Dolphins' early-1970s defensive unit was termed the "No-Name Defense" by Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry given its lack of high-profile players (the unit's only Hall of Famer, linebacker Nick Buoniconti, achieved much of his success with the New England Patriots and was not inducted until 2001). [46], The Dolphins traveled to Yankee Stadium in New York to face the New York Giants in Week 13. Because, for the first time in a long time, the 1972 Miami Dolphins can officially pop the champagne. [7][8], The Miami Dolphins franchise was founded in 1966 under head coach George Wilson. [19], The Orange Bowl's new Poly-Turf field and intermittent rains led to slippery conditions for Miami's Week 2 meeting with Houston. The NFL's rules at the time forced the undefeated Dolphins (140) to play the Steelers (113) in Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game. The Dolphins did not allow the Patriots to score throughout the game. Bottom line: The perfect season almost ended perfectly until Garo Yepremian got in trouble for trying to do too much. Yepremian, who was born in Cyprus to Armenian parents, was a motivational speaker after retiring. Kuechenberg died in January 2019 at the age of 71. However, this does not constitute any record; the 1975 Minnesota Vikings, who began 100 and finished 122, played 14 opponents with an average winning percentage of .332, and nine of their games were against teams 410 or worse.[63]. Just perfection. The 1972 Dolphins consisted mostly of the same core of players that it possessed from 1970 through 1974 and was the most dominant NFL team during that stretch. The franchise began from scratch and the first metaphorical building block was selecting Christian Wilkins with the No. He had a career high in rushing yards in 1972 as the Dolphins, as a team, set the leagues single-season rushing mark. [50], For the first round of the playoffs, the Dolphins remained in Miami to take on the wild card Browns on December24. Using MRI imaging, the researchers measured the thickness of their cerebral cortex in seven regions that have been pegged at the 'ground zero' for Alzheimer's disease. Bottom line: The 1972 Dolphins were much more than a collection of talented individuals. Anderson was so popular as a player that after retiring in 1978, he was immediately elected to the Senate in Florida. He and his wife formed a foundation for brain tumor research in 2001 after their daughter-in-law was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 12, 1972: (L to R) Quarterback Earl Morrall #15 and head coach Don Shula, of the Miami Dolphins, on the sidelines during a . Marlin Briscoe, who became the first Black starting quarterback in the American Football League more than 50 years ago and was a member of the Miami Dolphins' two Super Bowl championship teams,. [20], A nine-play, 76-yard drive to open the second half pushed Miami further ahead. Miami won the game by a score of 3110. Tittle during a 21-year career. A few minutes after this transpired, Dolphins cornerback Curtis Johnson blocked a punt by Spike Jones of the Bills. Are any of the 1972 Dolphins still alive? It was his only catch of the game and the most important in his 11-year NFL career. The Dolphins led by a score of 137 at halftime. NFL experience: 9 years (1969-74, 1976-78), Years with Dolphins: 8 years (1969-74, 1976-77). However, the Dolphins blocked Pete Gogolak's extra point attempt. Morrall was replaced in the second half of the AFC championship game, and Griese took back the reins in the Super Bowl, but the Dolphins never would have even gotten to that point without Morrall filling in. Research published last week confirmed the strongest ever link between sports concussions and Alzheimer's disease. 2022 record: 9-8 (2nd in AFC East) Home Roster Statistics Schedule Draft Splits Transactions Injuries History. Garo Yepremian's extra point allowed the Dolphins to take a 70 lead. Miami won by a score of 2014. vs: DAL. Dallas Cowboys' running back Duane Thomas takes the hand off and runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins during Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium. This would be the final score of the first half, as Miami halted another scoring attempt by Buffalo when cornerback Tim Foley intercepted Shaw at Miami's 20-yard line. [35], For week 8, the Dolphins traveled to War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo to take on the Bills on November5. [11] Wilson was initially resentful of the Dolphins' success, believing his firing was premature and Shula had inherited a "ready-made team. [23], Minnesota quickly regained possession by intercepting Bob Griese, but two sacks of Tarkenton kept Minnesota out of field goal range and the game at 146. Bottom line: Even though he was a great player and a six-time Pro Bowler, Bob Kuechenbergs legacy was sometimes overshadowed by his mouth and the controversial comments he made. However, Scott intercepted another pass from Kilmer. Larry Ball Signed 1973 Style Custom Card Miami Dolphins 1972 17-0. [31] Miami scored a touchdown on the opening drive, capped off by a 5-yard run by Mercury Morris. Three players of the 1972 "perfect season" Miami Dolphins Nick Buoniconti, Jake Scott and Jim Kiick agreed to donate their brain in death to further research of chronic traumatic encephalopathy . "[12] However, tension between Wilson and Shula lessened after the team won Super Bowl VII, and Wilson congratulated Shula and invited him to play at his golf course.[13]. Briscoe was originally drafted out of Nebraska-Omaha in the 14th round of the 1968 draft by the Denver Broncos, becoming the first black starting . He also served as the teams emergency punter and had four punts during the regular season, averaging 36.8 yards, just three yards fewer than the teams regular punter. 0: 0: 10: 185: 352: Miami Dolphins: 1/14/1973: Super Bowl: MIA @ WAS. At training camp in 1972, he made his team watch the entire Super Bowl twice and years later said, "What I stressed in the locker room was that we wanted to make sure this wouldnt happen again. Twilley last worked as a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he went to college. BJ. He was diagnosed with dementia and when his family reached out to the NFL for help, they constantly got the runaround. The Miami Dolphins have won twice in Super Bowls all-time. However, in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins put together another scoring drive that included a 26-yard pass from Morrall to Morris and then 4-yard rush by Morris for the touchdown. He also played for the Cleveland Browns and . State officials hope to track brain injuries among high school sports to discover whether more needs to be done to improve player safety and protect athletes. Subsequently, Miami's next drive stalled at Washington's 34-yard line. The Dolphins opened the season against the Chiefs in the first regular season game at Arrowhead Stadium. . NFL experience: 8 years, all with Dolphins (1969-76). [53] Although this narrowed the Dolphins lead to 2117, the Steelers did not score again as the Dolphins intercepted Bradshaw twice in the final minutes of the game. Despite his poor record, many of Wilson's acquisitions contributed to the Dolphins' success in the early 1970s. He died in 1972. The agency has applied for federal funding to create a database in order to investigate sport injuries and brain diseases more in-depth. Briscoe, an Omaha, Nebraska native, was a star quarterback at Omaha University before the Denver Broncos drafted him as a cornerback in the 14th round in 1968. Shula studied philosophy as an undergraduate, and The Don Shula Chair in Philosophy supports the universitys philosophy department by presenting programs to philosophers and the general public. Kuechenberg also was one of the few players from the 72 team who refused an invitation from Barack Obama to visit the White House, and he acknowledged it was due to political reasons. Bottom line: Doug Swift was the Dolphins' biggest playmaker among their linebacker group, and he finished tied for second on the team with three interceptions. He also took up broadcasting a year after leaving the game and currently calls games for Dolphins radio broadcasts alongside former teammate Jimmy Cefalo. 1972 was the seventh consecutive season that Warfield averaged at least 20 yards per reception, and he caught three of the teams seven completions in the Super Bowl. Neither team scored in the third quarter. Shortly thereafter, Don Shula replaced Morrall with Griese at quarterback. Earl Morrall, who played quarterback for the '72 Dolphins, died in 2014. He was in his second NFL season when the Dolphins struck perfection, and he was the youngest starter on the team at the age of 23. That player then returned the fumble for Washington's only score of the game. This play is sometimes referred to as "Garo's Gaffe". [46], With the win, the Dolphins became only the third team in NFL history to win at least 12 consecutive games, after the 1934 Chicago Bears and 1969 Minnesota Vikings. 1 team in NFL history. He started all 14 regular-season games and both games in the AFC playoffs. No losses. Morrall replaced an injured Bob Griese in Week 5 of the 1972 season and reeled off 11 straight wins all the way to the Super Bowl. Truth is, the 1973 Dolphins defense probably was just as good as the 1972 version, if not better. Ariel Zilber For Dailymail.com, Rise of the CANNABIS allergy: 36 million Americans are allergic to marijuana - including other people's - causing asthma, inflammation and rashes, Chance the Rapper teaches Twitter followers how to detect inflammatory breast cancer after his aunt dies of the notoriously difficult-to-spot disease, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Washington was favored by 1-point, despite Miami entering the game undefeated and the Redskins having three regular season losses. In 2017, at the age of 71, and 37 years after his last NFL game, Little signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Dolphins to officially retire as a member of the team. Marlin Briscoe, who became the first Black starting quarterback in the American Football League more than 50 years ago and was a member of the Miami Dolphins' two Super Bowl championship teams,. 'We're the players who built the game, but have been forgotten,' he said. No reason was given why Heinz sold the ring, but it went for $68,004. At half time, Miami led St. Louis by a score of 103. NFL, via Associated Press Earl Morrall, the backup quarterback and oldest member of the 1972. Since 1978, the NFL has staged 12 games in Mexico, including five regular-season matchups. Our goal was not to go to the Super Bowl but to win it.. They also scanned seven control regions - regions that tend not to be affected. Shula coached the only perfect season in NFL history and is the all-time winningest coach in league history. Heinz grew up in the Bay Area and returned there after retiring. [68] Bob Kuechenberg, Jim Langer, and Manny Fernandez all refused to attend because of their political differences with the Obama administration. This is where the stars of the only perfect team in NFL history are now. Shula would later go on to say: I think that's when we all came together for what was going happen for the next two years.