Bob Griese

Robert Allen “Bob” Griese (February 3, 1945-) frequently scored all of Purdue’s points as the Boilermakers’ quarterback, kicker and punter, twice earned All-American honors and finished runner-up to Steve Spurrier for the 1966 Heisman Trophy Award. Griese led the Boilermakers to a 14-13 victory in the 1966 Rose Bowl over the hometown University of Southern California. He won the coveted 1966 Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s college football top passer. The Miami Dolphins drafted Bob with the fourth overall pick of the 1967 NFL/AFL Common Draft out of Purdue. As a rookie, Bob started 10 of 12 games, threw for 2,005 yards and 15 touchdowns and earned his first of eight AFC-NFC Pro Bowl selections as well as his first of two straight AFL All-Star honors. After the Dolphins struggled for three seasons at the start of Bob’s career, Miami hired Don Shula as head coach, turning the franchise around immediately. Griese and Shula proceeded to lead the Dolphins to three consecutive AFC Championships (1971-1973) and back-to-back victories in Super Bowls VII and VIII.

Bob played his entire career with the Dolphins (1967-1980) and threw for more than 2,000 yards seven times during his 14-year career. In 1971, Bob was named the NFL Newspaper Enterprise Association MVP after he threw for 2,089 yards and 19 touchdowns on 145 completions in 263 attempts. Early in 1972, Griese suffered a broken leg ending his season, a season in which Earl Morrall took over and proceeded to guide the Miami Dolphins to the NFL’s only undefeated season in history. Bob had another career year in 1977 when he threw for 2,252 yards and a league leading 22 touchdowns on 180 completions in 307 attempts. He was named the 1977 NFL Bert Bell Award winner as Player of the Year. Bob Griese ended his career with 25,092 passing yards, 1,926 completions, 3,429 attempts and 192 touchdowns. He was twice named to the NFL All-Pro First Teams and scored a total of 42 points on seven rushing touchdowns. Bob Griese was in ducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Following his playing days, Bob spent over two decades in the broadcast booth calling NFL and college football games.