Remembering Nick Buoniconti: Hall of Famer, Philanthropist

MIAMI, FL — Pro Football Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti was remembered this week as a legendary linebacker who was part of the "No-Name Defense" that helped the 1972 Miami Dolphins become the only football team to this day that has gone undefeated for an entire season and still won the Super Bowl.

Buoniconti, who passed away Tuesday at age 78, certainly made a name for himself on and off the field as a the leader of the "No-Name Defense" on the field and the driving force of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis off the field, an endeavor he undertook with his son, Marc, who idolized his father and suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury that led to Buoniconti's tireless work on behalf of the charity.

“Nick was special to me in every way," said legendary Dolphins Coach Don Shula, who was at the helm of the team's perfect season. "He was someone I greatly admired. His love for his wife, Lynn, his children, grandchildren, friends, teammates, family and the community was evident."

Shula called Buoniconti's work with The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis "groundbreaking" and said his former player made a huge difference in the lives of many. "I am thankful to have had Nick in my life," said Shula. "I will miss him.”

The team played in three consecutive Super Bowls during Buoniconti's seven years as a Dolphin. and came away with two rings to show for it.

Former Dolphins wide receiver and Senior Vice President of Special Projects & Alumni Relations Nat Moore said Buoniconti transcended the game.

“He was a great football player, a true Hall of Famer, but he was much more than that," observed Moore. "He was a lawyer and a successful business leader. Most of all, he was a family man. The work he did with the Miami Project following the tragic accident with Marc will never be matched. My thoughts are with his wife, Lynn, and children, Marc, Nick and Gina. He will be missed and always in our hearts.”

Buoniconti's on-field story was no less of an inspiration. He was not immediately drafted after playing for Notre Dame. Even his college coach told pro scouts that Buoniconti was too small to play professionally at a mere 5 feet 11 inches tall and 220 pounds.

But as the Hall of Fame later noted, the Springfield, Massachusetts native “played bigger than his size.” He not only played big, he earned accolades as the Dolphins Most Valuable Player three times in 1969, 1970, and 1973.

He also played in two Pro Bowls and was named to the AFL All-Star game. He would later earn a spot as a linebacker on the Dolphins’ Silver Anniversary all-time team before taking his place on the Dolphins Honor Roll at Hard Rock Stadium. Buoniconti was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Former Miami Dolphins safety Dick Anderson said that Buoniconti's presence on the field was like having another coach out there.

“You combine him with our defense coach, Bill Arnsparger, and you know why he always bragged that we made just 11 mental errors on defense during the entire prefect season of 1972," recalled Anderson. "We just had to go where they told us to go and make the play."

Anderson praised Buoniconti's later work with the charity that helped raised $200-300 million and made the project one of the world’s leading neurological research centers.

“The main thing I always remember about Nick is that we were both traded to the Dolphins the same year and were bonded ever since then," recalled fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Little, who like Buoniconti came to the Dolphins in 1969. "He came from Boston and I was with San Diego. We had a great relationship and always kidded each other. We were both captains of the 1972 team and he would always call the coin toss and got it right every time."

Little remembered one time when he asked to call the coin toss instead of Buoniconti.

"I got it wrong. He never let me forget that," Little explained. "He was a great guy and a great person. He was always a fierce competitor. It’s really a sad day for me.”

Buoniconti was a charter inductee in the Dolphins Walk of Fame and was voted one of the Dolphins all-time top 50 players in 2015.

Pro Football Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka, who was part of the team's highly touted offense that gave rise to the moniker "No-Name Defense," also remembered Buoniconti as larger than life.

“He was the consummate team captain, the heartbeat of our team," said Csonka. "I’ll miss Nick, his wisdom and class. Because of Nick, the world’s a much better place. My sincerest condolences to Lynn and family. RIP brother, #85.”