What do you think?
Rate this book
Perfection: The Inside Story of the 1972 Miami Dolphins' Perfect Season
The inside story of the only undefeated team in NFL history, the 1972 Miami Dolphins—by the Hall of Fame quarterback who led it to victory Hall of Fame quarterback and long-time ABC college football announcer Bob Griese is a living football legend. Now, on the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Miami Dolphins' incredible championship season, Griese tells the behind-the-scenes story of the team both on and off the field as it achieved a feat no other team has ever succeeded in perfection. You'll see Griese shocked in his first meeting with Joe Robbie as the Dolphins owner balanced big contract figures and a staggering number of drinks. You'll hear Griese meeting Don Shula for the first time and being ordered to start staying in the pass pocket rather than scrambling. "Build me a pocket and I'll stay in it," Griese told Shula. You'll understand the friendship and on-field relationship developed between Griese and Paul Warfield after they became the Dolphins' first inter-racial roommates. You'll follow Griese through a storied season that began with him wondering just how good the Dolphins actually were and ended with him awarding the game ball in the winning Super Bowl locker room. Along the way you'll
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2012
6 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 17, 2025
A great read about the Dolphins' perfect season. Griese is able to give an inside tract about the thoughts of the team. Also, where everyone came from and how they were able to come together for such a dominant season. Talks about being hurt and seeing his 38 year old back up Earl Morrall go 11-0 as a starter.
Highly recommended, does a great job of going through the season. Also, he gave most of the players the spotlight with bios and how they helped the team.
Highly recommended, does a great job of going through the season. Also, he gave most of the players the spotlight with bios and how they helped the team.
January 23, 2021
Reading this book was for a nostalgic look back at a team I followed and cheered for as an 11 year old. I remember collecting football trading stamps from the Sunoco gas station ( a promotion at the time), fixated on ensuring I had all the players on this 72 Dolphins team. The book wasn’t spectacular, just a recounting by QB Bob Griese ( with some help by Sun Sentinel sports reporter Dave Hyde) on that magical season. ( What triggered me to read this book was hearing an interview with Hyde recently on the radio where he told stories of this 72 team). It’s interesting to read the account from Griese’s perspective since he only played 5-6 of that years 17 games ( due to a leg injury that led to Earl Morral replacing him). Book walks through the season game by game but rather than dwell a lot on what transpired in these games in detail , it uses each game to frame stories ( looking back and forward from 72) of the various players and coaches including opponents at the time. Stark contrast in many ways to NFL game today- the money, the lack of dedication to the play and especially the way these guys played through injuries. No “concussion protocol “ in those days. An interesting trip down memory lane, but nothing to recommend unless you were a Miami Dolphins fan back in the day. Fifty years later and still no team has repeated the “perfect season” and likely never will ( especially with “resting” players and such).
December 18, 2022
Good recollection of how a team is more than just 1 person.
July 27, 2025
Well written and an easy read. If you like 70's football you'll enjoy it.
July 13, 2022
The Miami Dolphin's 17-0 perfect season in 1972 is also a look back at what professional football was about in the early 1970's - running the ball and defense. Bob Griese was a cerebral quarterback but he did not put up gaudy stats. In fact, most of the season Griese was on the sideline injured while a 37 year old Earl Morrall lead the team, or at least managed the game by handing off to Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kiick.
Isn't it truly amazing that he Miami Dolphins went undefeated with a backup quarterback at the helm most of the season? In today's NFL that would almost certainly be impossible.
Griese's retelling of that 1972 team is an interesting inside look at historically one of the best teams in football. The only drawback to the book is that it really doesn't have a lot of new material in it. Much of these stories have been told in other places through various medium. Nevertheless it is still an entertaining look back a great team.
There were a few key themes in the book that I found particularly interesting. First was the fact the running game with Larry Csonka smashing people and the No Name Defense lead by linebacker Nick Buoniconti were really the heart and soul of the team and the reason for the undefeated season?. Running the ball and defense wins championships. Where did that go in today's NFL? Unfortunately, for players like defensive tackle Manny Fernandez, who definitely should have been the MVP of Super Bowl VII and in the Hall of Fame, suffered because nobody really paid attention to the individuals and they didn't get as much public credit for their efforts as they deserved. The middle linebacker position was already a glamour position because of players like Sam Huff and Dick Butkus so Buoniconti became the face of the defense.
Second was team unity. Griese recounts that Marv Fleming, a tight end from Green Bay, came to the team and noticed the segregation between black and white players. There was not racial tension on the team, but that was alien to Fleming in Green Bay. He took charge of making sure the players integrated the locker room and to some degree their social lives, which likely helped team chemistry. In other places Griese talks about team unity and its importance to their accomplishments.
A third theme is a reminder of just how crazy and brutal the game was in the 1970's even though players were not making all that much money at the time. Getting out of hospital beds to go play in a game, playing with injuries that would keep some players today on the sideline for weeks, and the pain pills and other pills to get players though the game. While Griese does not go into excruciating detail on this, he clearly acknowledges it.
As mentioned earlier another very important point is just how vital it was to play together as a team. That is what makes championship football. Jim Kiick wasn't happy about getting demoted so Don Shula could get the speedier Mercury Morris on the field, but when he got his chances he made the most out of them. And when Earl Morrall was taken out of a game in the playoffs and then Griese handed the starting job going forward, he might not have liked it but he took it well and Griese acknowledges how much that meant to him and the team at the time. And of course on the field, a tight knit group of players who played well together as units.
This book is full of great stories about the players taking us through the season a week at a time, with certain larger points being made in each chapter. And clearly going 17-0 wasn't easy. The Dolphins had some close calls in a few games. But they achieved perfection, and cling tenaciously to their legacy to this day.
Isn't it truly amazing that he Miami Dolphins went undefeated with a backup quarterback at the helm most of the season? In today's NFL that would almost certainly be impossible.
Griese's retelling of that 1972 team is an interesting inside look at historically one of the best teams in football. The only drawback to the book is that it really doesn't have a lot of new material in it. Much of these stories have been told in other places through various medium. Nevertheless it is still an entertaining look back a great team.
There were a few key themes in the book that I found particularly interesting. First was the fact the running game with Larry Csonka smashing people and the No Name Defense lead by linebacker Nick Buoniconti were really the heart and soul of the team and the reason for the undefeated season?. Running the ball and defense wins championships. Where did that go in today's NFL? Unfortunately, for players like defensive tackle Manny Fernandez, who definitely should have been the MVP of Super Bowl VII and in the Hall of Fame, suffered because nobody really paid attention to the individuals and they didn't get as much public credit for their efforts as they deserved. The middle linebacker position was already a glamour position because of players like Sam Huff and Dick Butkus so Buoniconti became the face of the defense.
Second was team unity. Griese recounts that Marv Fleming, a tight end from Green Bay, came to the team and noticed the segregation between black and white players. There was not racial tension on the team, but that was alien to Fleming in Green Bay. He took charge of making sure the players integrated the locker room and to some degree their social lives, which likely helped team chemistry. In other places Griese talks about team unity and its importance to their accomplishments.
A third theme is a reminder of just how crazy and brutal the game was in the 1970's even though players were not making all that much money at the time. Getting out of hospital beds to go play in a game, playing with injuries that would keep some players today on the sideline for weeks, and the pain pills and other pills to get players though the game. While Griese does not go into excruciating detail on this, he clearly acknowledges it.
As mentioned earlier another very important point is just how vital it was to play together as a team. That is what makes championship football. Jim Kiick wasn't happy about getting demoted so Don Shula could get the speedier Mercury Morris on the field, but when he got his chances he made the most out of them. And when Earl Morrall was taken out of a game in the playoffs and then Griese handed the starting job going forward, he might not have liked it but he took it well and Griese acknowledges how much that meant to him and the team at the time. And of course on the field, a tight knit group of players who played well together as units.
This book is full of great stories about the players taking us through the season a week at a time, with certain larger points being made in each chapter. And clearly going 17-0 wasn't easy. The Dolphins had some close calls in a few games. But they achieved perfection, and cling tenaciously to their legacy to this day.
December 4, 2012
I got this book along with "Undefeated. Inside the 1972 Miami Dolphins" as gifts from my brother who knows I am (or used to be) a huge Dolphins fan. The 1971 game on Christmas between Miami and Kansas City is the reason I am a Dolphins fan. I watched it with my Dad when I was a little tyke. The 1972 team always hold a special mystique as they are the only team to go through the entire season and WIN the Super Bowl undefeated and untied.
Both of the books are quick reads and are made for Miami fans and those of the NFL in general. I would say Griese's book would be more for the former while Undefeated is geared to the latter. I like Bob and have always thought he was a good announcer. The book is detailed and goes game by game through the season, even the games Griese missed while out with a broken leg. Some good stories and anecdotes drive the book. Griese's ego gets in the way sometimes. I know most good players in any sport have to have an ego but at times Griese shows his a bit too much, which was surprising to me. Their going undefeated was truly a team effort and we know, Griese missed a lot of games that season and Earl Morrall had to play QB. Yes, he was a great player but he was nowhere near as good a QB as say, er Dan Marino. But he won the ring and should get a lot of credit for that.
Read if you're a Dolphins fan. If you like the NFL and how the game was played in the 70's, read Undefeated. But you could probably read both in a weekend.
Both of the books are quick reads and are made for Miami fans and those of the NFL in general. I would say Griese's book would be more for the former while Undefeated is geared to the latter. I like Bob and have always thought he was a good announcer. The book is detailed and goes game by game through the season, even the games Griese missed while out with a broken leg. Some good stories and anecdotes drive the book. Griese's ego gets in the way sometimes. I know most good players in any sport have to have an ego but at times Griese shows his a bit too much, which was surprising to me. Their going undefeated was truly a team effort and we know, Griese missed a lot of games that season and Earl Morrall had to play QB. Yes, he was a great player but he was nowhere near as good a QB as say, er Dan Marino. But he won the ring and should get a lot of credit for that.
Read if you're a Dolphins fan. If you like the NFL and how the game was played in the 70's, read Undefeated. But you could probably read both in a weekend.
October 4, 2013
1972 was such a different time in so many ways. It's a snapshot into the 1970's way of thinking and the issues of the day.
It's an amazing story of how the Miami Dolphins, almost completely unknown at that time, rocketed to national fame in just a few short years culminating in a stunning no loss year. Bob Griese's game by game approach for telling how they pulled this off details how each player figured into creating perfection.
Everyone remembers Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris, but I was fascinated with the technical detail describing Paul Warfield. That kind of detail is amazing.
Moving down the season we find Howard Cosell, with some interesting observations about just how powerful he had become. The dawning of Monday Night Football and how money became an issue. The in's of out's of the political wranglings and so forth.
Don Shula also deserves the praise Greise bestows.
I wasn't Dolphins fan in '72 and I hated how they beat my Vikings. All is forgiven. This is a riveting read whether you're a Dolphins fan or not.
It's an amazing story of how the Miami Dolphins, almost completely unknown at that time, rocketed to national fame in just a few short years culminating in a stunning no loss year. Bob Griese's game by game approach for telling how they pulled this off details how each player figured into creating perfection.
Everyone remembers Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris, but I was fascinated with the technical detail describing Paul Warfield. That kind of detail is amazing.
Moving down the season we find Howard Cosell, with some interesting observations about just how powerful he had become. The dawning of Monday Night Football and how money became an issue. The in's of out's of the political wranglings and so forth.
Don Shula also deserves the praise Greise bestows.
I wasn't Dolphins fan in '72 and I hated how they beat my Vikings. All is forgiven. This is a riveting read whether you're a Dolphins fan or not.
October 9, 2012
If I could rate it better, it would be 3.5 stars.
I thought all the personal insights on the players was well done. Learning the background of the players, coaches, owner(s) and other personnel was very entertaining reading. Some of the back ground stories were very amusing while other stories were very interesting or sad depending on the person. Either way, the team was certainly made up of quite a bunch of characters.
The only part of the book that I didn't like was the mumbo-jumbo of the play calling (D36 split post is definitely football legalese...who cares?!) and the monotonuous watching of game films (back and to the left...back and to the left...baaaaaaack and to the left) to learn of the smallest of details could only be important to type-A sports enthusiast.
That aside, it was a good read for you are into sports history (which I am)...and a great read, if you are a Dolphins' fan (which I am not).
I thought all the personal insights on the players was well done. Learning the background of the players, coaches, owner(s) and other personnel was very entertaining reading. Some of the back ground stories were very amusing while other stories were very interesting or sad depending on the person. Either way, the team was certainly made up of quite a bunch of characters.
The only part of the book that I didn't like was the mumbo-jumbo of the play calling (D36 split post is definitely football legalese...who cares?!) and the monotonuous watching of game films (back and to the left...back and to the left...baaaaaaack and to the left) to learn of the smallest of details could only be important to type-A sports enthusiast.
That aside, it was a good read for you are into sports history (which I am)...and a great read, if you are a Dolphins' fan (which I am not).
July 24, 2013
This wasn't bad. 'Still Perfect' by David Hyde was a better, more in depth portrait of the perfect team, and the build up to it.
This is described as an insiders view of that team. That's partially true. The stories that come directly from Griese are fun to read. By and large, though, you can tell the co author did most of the writing. The book jumps around a lot, even though each chapter is prefaced by the game Miami played that week. A lot of the chapters barely mention the game, and usually swerve into a mini biography for many of the players and coaches. It's not terrible. But, since I'm a native Floridian football fan, I've known this story forever. If you only want to read one book about this team, I'd recommend 'Still Perfect' over this.
This is described as an insiders view of that team. That's partially true. The stories that come directly from Griese are fun to read. By and large, though, you can tell the co author did most of the writing. The book jumps around a lot, even though each chapter is prefaced by the game Miami played that week. A lot of the chapters barely mention the game, and usually swerve into a mini biography for many of the players and coaches. It's not terrible. But, since I'm a native Floridian football fan, I've known this story forever. If you only want to read one book about this team, I'd recommend 'Still Perfect' over this.
January 2, 2014
While most sports books are enhanced by player stories, they felt like a distraction instead on enhancement here. I was looking for more news of what was going on with the team each week more than mini biographies. Okay bok, but not what I was looking for.
November 7, 2014
Bob Griese's highly enjoyable first-hand account of the Dolphins perfect 1972 season. Lots of great details and stories as he looks at what made that team so special.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews