The Miami Dolphins’ 2019 season is now 67 days away — and to mark to occasion we remember one of Miami’s great offensive linemen — Ring of Honor member Bob Kuechenberg.
Kuechenberg, who wore number ’67’ with the Dolphins during his 15 year run with the team from 1970 to 1984. Originally drafted as a 4th-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969, Kuechenberg thrived with the Dolphins and went on to be named to 6 Pro Bowls and was twice named a 1st-team All-Pro (1975, 1978). Playing alongside Hall of Famers in Jim Langer, Dwight Stephenson and Larry Little, Kuechenberg himself has had several brushes with the Hall — he was a top-15 finalist for a majority of the 2000s.
Unfortunately, the man known as “Kooch” did not live to see himself join his teammates in Canton, Ohio — he passed away in January of this year at the age of 71. When he passed, many former Dolphins heaped praise to Keuchenberg — but no nostalgia will match Don Shula’s recollection of “Kooch” from the Dolphins’ Super Bowl victory over the Vikings.
“He was one of the key performers on our championship team, leading by example every time he stepped on the field,” Shula said. “That was especially true in Super Bowl VIII, when he dominated Alan Page the entire game despite playing with a broken arm, a performance that was one of the keys to victory over the Vikings.”
Pushing around Alan Page with a broken arm should be grounds for enshirement, as far as we’re concerned.
