Larry Csonka established himself as one of the most punishing runners in NFL history, powering the Miami Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl championships and remaining the franchise's all-time leading rusher. Born on December 25, 1946, in Stow, Ohio, Csonka attended Stow High School, where he became a running back by accident when he was substituted on the kickoff return team as a defensive end. After running over two tacklers, he discovered his calling: "I got a tremendous feeling carrying the ball. I loved it." At Syracuse University (1965-1967), he rushed for a school-record 2,934 yards, breaking marks held by Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, and Floyd Little while earning unanimous All-American honors in 1967.
Drafted eighth overall by Miami in 1968, Csonka overcame his early career concussions to become the cornerstone of Don Shula's ball-control offense. Over eleven NFL seasons, he accumulated 8,081 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns, earning five Pro Bowl selections (1970-1974) and three first-team All-Pro honors (1971-1973). He remains Miami's all-time leading rusher with 6,737 yards and 53 touchdowns, with his number 39 retired in 2002.
Csonka's playing strengths defined battering-ram football: a massive 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame among the era's biggest backs; choosing to run through defenders rather than around them; exceptional ball security, fumbling only 21 times in 1,891 career carries; powerful legs dragging tacklers 5-10 yards after contact; legendary toughness, breaking his nose ten times while playing with blood pouring from it.
His greatest moments showcased dominance and durability: his Super Bowl VIII MVP performance, rushing 33 times for a then-record 145 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota, earning the Professional Football Writers Association Super Athlete of the Year; in Super Bowl VII, rushing for 112 yards, including a memorable 49-yard run where he turned toward Washington cornerback Pat Fischer to deliver a punishing forearm rather than avoid him; the historic 1972 perfect 17-0 season, rushing for 1,117 yards while combining with Mercury Morris to form the NFL's first 1,000-yard rushing duo.
After a brief WFL stint with the Memphis Southmen in 1975, Csonka played three seasons with the New York Giants (1976-1978) before returning to Miami in 1979, rushing for a career-high 12 touchdowns and winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Following his retirement, he became a motivational speaker, hosted hunting and fishing shows for NBC Sports Network, and served as an analyst for American Gladiators (1990-1993). Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989, Csonka lives in Alaska, where he hosted North to Alaska from 1998 to 2013. He published his memoir "Head On" in 2022.
