Undefeated - Paperback

by Mike Freeman (Author)

"[Freeman is] an excellent storyteller."

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.

How did one team defy the odds to achieve what no other in NFL history has managed?

• A Legendary Coach: Go inside the locker room with Don Shula, the demanding leader who forged a team of champions from the ashes of a humiliating Super Bowl loss.
• The Perfect Season: A game-by-game chronicle of the Dolphins' unprecedented 17-0 run, from miraculous finishes to the injuries that tested their resolve.
• The No-Name Defense: Discover the story behind the league's most underestimated defensive unit, a group of unsung heroes who systematically dismantled their opponents.
• An Unforgettable Roster: Meet the gridiron greats who made it happen--from the punishing runs of Larry Csonka and the explosive speed of Mercury Morris to the cool precision of Bob Griese.

Front Jacket

Each year, every football team sets out to play a perfect season. Only one has ever succeeded in beating the odds.

The Miami Dolphins of the late 1960s were a laughingstock, a franchise where careers went to die. Then came Coach Don Shula. In just a few short years--through hard work, long practices, and his no-nonsense attitude--Shula transformed the team into a championship franchise. Led by such greats as Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Nick Buoniconti, Larry Little, Mercury Morris, and Jake Scott, the team was undefeated in the 1972 regular season and went on to win Super Bowl VII. Along the way, the Dolphins became the team of the 1970s, with Miami as a fascinating backdrop.

Based on years of research and interviews, Undefeated, by award-winning journalist Mike Freeman, examines what is perhaps the single greatest accomplishment in team sports history: the unforgettable season in which the Dolphins didn't lose a single game. There has never been a football team like those Miami Dolphins, and there may never be again.

Back Jacket

Each year, every football team sets out to play a perfect season. Only one has ever succeeded in beating the odds.

The Miami Dolphins of the late 1960s were a laughingstock, a franchise where careers went to die. Then came Coach Don Shula. In just a few short years--through hard work, long practices, and his no-nonsense attitude--Shula transformed the team into a championship franchise. Led by such greats as Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Nick Buoniconti, Larry Little, Mercury Morris, and Jake Scott, the team was undefeated in the 1972 regular season and went on to win Super Bowl VII. Along the way, the Dolphins became the team of the 1970s, with Miami as a fascinating backdrop.

Based on years of research and interviews, Undefeated, by award-winning journalist Mike Freeman, examines what is perhaps the single greatest accomplishment in team sports history: the unforgettable season in which the Dolphins didn't lose a single game. There has never been a football team like those Miami Dolphins, and there may never be again.