Undefeated: Inside the Miami Dolphins' Perfect Season

by Mike Freeman

Overview

“[Freeman is] an excellent storyteller.”
—Sports Illustrated

The 1972 Miami Dolphins, under the expert leadership of legendary coach Don Shula, remain to this day the only team in the National Football League ever to enjoy a perfect season with no defeats and no ties. Now, 40 years after sports history was made, acclaimed sports writer Mike Freeman celebrates the Dolphins’ singular achievement in Undefeated. A riveting story filled with heartbreaking injuries, miraculous finishes, and tested relationships—featuring a roster of gridiron greats, including Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Mercury Morris, Nick Buoniconti and others—Undefeated follows a underdog team on its remarkable run: 14 regular season victories, 2 postseason wins, and a Super Bowl championship. It is a book no football fan will want to miss. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062009838
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/15/2013
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	202,595
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Mike Freeman is an NFL Insider for CBSSports.com. Before that, he was an NFL writer, investigative reporter, and columnist for the New York Times; a columnist for the Florida Times-Union; and a sports reporter, features writer, and investigative writer for the Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Dallas Morning News. He lives in New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Introduction: President Nixon on the Line xiii

Part 1 Wreckage

1 "I Don't Ever Want to Feel This Way Again" 1

2 Truce 13

3 The Start of Redemption 21

4 The Three Wise Men 29

5 Revenge of the Nameless 51

6 The Duke of Earl 57

Part 2 From the Ashes

7 Melting Pot 73

8 The Man who Fired Flipper 92

9 Shula's Backbone 109

10 The Beginning 121

11 Guts 148

Part 3 The Greatest Team

12 Unbeatable 169

13 "The Money Season" 177

14 Steel Hurtin' 184

15 Gonzo Dolphins 212

16 Shoe Shiners 229

17 Perfect 250

Afterword: Perfection's End 273

Author's Note 281

Acknowledgments 294

Notes 297

Bibliography 299

What People are Saying About This

Andrea Kremer

“Well researched and fast paced, UNDEFEATED reveals the psyche of the only unbeaten team in the history of the NFL. Untold stories from the locker rooms, meeting rooms, and on the field are placed in the historical context of the unsettled seventies. Lest we forget - no names, no more.”

Jim Trotter

“An entertaining and meticulous journey back in time, illuminating the men and personalities who, in some cases, are as memorable as the team’s 17-0 record.”

Jeff Pearlman

“A marvelous, engrossing trip back to a period when football was played with love and passion and the Miami Dolphins were not merely fantastic, but unstoppable. Mike Freeman is one of the nation’s best sports writers, and he proves it once again here. A dazzling read.”

Christine Brennan

“A richly-detailed and riveting account of one of the great accomplishments in the history of American sports. It’s a book that’s just as good as the team it chronicles.”

Editorial Reviews

A marvelous, engrossing trip back to a period when football was played with love and passion and the Miami Dolphins were not merely fantastic, but unstoppable. Mike Freeman is one of the nation’s best sports writers, and he proves it once again here. A dazzling read.” — Jeff Pearlman, author Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton

“An entertaining and meticulous journey back in time, illuminating the men and personalities who, in some cases, are as memorable as the team’s 17-0 record.” — Jim Trotter, Sports Illustrated

“A richly-detailed and riveting account of one of the great accomplishments in the history of American sports. It’s a book that’s just as good as the team it chronicles.” — Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist, ABC News commentator, author, Best Seat in the House

“Well researched and fast paced, UNDEFEATED reveals the psyche of the only unbeaten team in the history of the NFL. Untold stories from the locker rooms, meeting rooms, and on the field are placed in the historical context of the unsettled seventies. Lest we forget - no names, no more.” — Andrea Kremer, multi Emmy award winning journalist and HBO Real Sports correspondent

“In this homage to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, Freeman’s classic book will enthrall readers with the extraordinary story of a team that went through 14 regular season games and two playoff games to capture Super Bowl VII.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

An entertaining and meticulous journey back in time, illuminating the men and personalities who, in some cases, are as memorable as the team’s 17-0 record.

Jim Trotter

A richly-detailed and riveting account of one of the great accomplishments in the history of American sports. It’s a book that’s just as good as the team it chronicles.

Christine Brennan

Well researched and fast paced, UNDEFEATED reveals the psyche of the only unbeaten team in the history of the NFL. Untold stories from the locker rooms, meeting rooms, and on the field are placed in the historical context of the unsettled seventies. Lest we forget - no names, no more.

Andrea Kremer

A marvelous, engrossing trip back to a period when football was played with love and passion and the Miami Dolphins were not merely fantastic, but unstoppable. Mike Freeman is one of the nation’s best sports writers, and he proves it once again here. A dazzling read.

Jeff Pearlman

Keyed to the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Dolphins, this book recalls the only NFL team to go through an entire season without losing. Despite that unique accomplishment, this exceedingly smart, disciplined and dedicated team is generally underappreciated in history because of its lack of superstars and its weak schedule. In detailing the assembly and accomplishments of the Dolphins, Freeman (national columnist, CBSsports.com) relies heavily on the coach, Don Shula, and exalts his legacy above all. All key players are profiled and prevailing issues such as race relations are explored, but there is not much game action in the book. VERDICT Timed well and professionally written, this work will be in demand as the definitive book on a signature team.

Library Journal