Following their earlier achievements, Miami Dolphins have not won a Super Bowl Trophy in almost half a century. Although, they have won 14 division championships since the NFL was established back in the 1960s. Their success in Super Bowls has forever held them back. Their wins back in the 1970s will forever be one of the brightest moments having won back-to-back Super Bowls.
The wins came at the hand of a former player who quit the league to serve his country. Since passing away back in 2015, the Dolphins legend has continued to hold his own despite the movements seen since.
Miami Dolphins star quit the NFL and the Lions
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Back in the 1960s, Garo Yepremian was a free agent at the start of the season having moved from the UK. But after trying out for the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons, he would go on to bag his first contract in the NFL as a kicker. His kicking abilities from soccer bode well for him as it was crucial in convincing the Lions to bring him on.
Yepremian’s first kick would seal victory for the Lions as they would manage to avoid defeat by the skin of their teeth. But after completing his second season in the NFL, he decided to quit the league and join the army, even if it meant the Lions wouldn’t take him back. Even when the management requested for the kicker to return, Yepremian stood firm with his decision. Juggling the roles in army and the NFL would help his conscience but couldn’t avoid the repercussions brought with it.
His eventual return to NFL inevitably saw the Lions skip him and opted against resigning him. The American hero’s loyalty and patriotism cost him the 1969 season as he sat out the year without a team willing to sign him. But the year next was about to change the chapter for the Cypriot born footballer turned Kicker. The Dolphins signed him, and as they say, the rest is history.
Garo Yepremian – Dolphins hero
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Garo Yepremian’s arrival instilled a change in the atmosphere for the Miami Dolphins. By the time he settled and gelled with the team, the other factors played a pivotal factor in turning the former army man into one of the Dolphins greats. With Shula as the head coach and NFL-AFL merger complete, the Dolphins won no less than 10 games in 1970 and ’71.
They would top it off by winning the Super Bowl in 1972 and 1973. Something they have not managed to achieve ever since. Although he is famous for almost bottling it rather than winning it, he’d play a crucial part in helping the dolphins reach the Super Bowl on both occasions.
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Winning the Super Bowl, the NFL title and also serving the US army. Garo Yepremian stood out and acted as the perfect citizen of the country despite being born in Cyprus. He earned tributes from the NFL and his former team as he passed away half a decade ago.
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