Bob Heinz, a member of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins’ “No-Name Defense” dead at 79.
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FinatikStaffOPBob Heinz, a member of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins’ “No-Name Defense” and winner of two Super Bowl rings, has died at the age of 79.
Heinz was born and raised in Milwaukee but went out West to play his college football at the University of the Pacific. After an excellent college career, he was a second-round pick of the Dolphins in 1969.
The Dolphins defense that Heinz joined was known as the No-Name Defense, a term given to them by Cowboys coach Tom Landry, who called them “a bunch of no-names.” Some players might have taken offense, but the members of the Dolphins’ defense embraced it as a term that showed they were greater as a unit than any of them would have been individually.
Heinz was a starting defensive tackle on both the 1972 Dolphins team that remains the only undefeated, untied team in NFL history, and the 1973 Dolphins, who repeated as Super Bowl champions. He missed the entire 1975 season with an injury, but returned in 1976 and 1977. He finished his NFL career with one season in Washington in 1978.
Lots of people will tell you what they think about you and what you shouldn't and should do. Not everyone's thoughts are worth consideration. Don't take criticism from anyone who you wouldn't also go to for advice.
KeyFinForum VeteranI hate that...but it's life. I've shared here before that i grew up about 10 houses away from Manny Fernandez and I met much of those early 70's teams as a young kid from parties at Manny's house. I just saw dads and kids, I didn't realize they were pro football players, but my father and other neighbors really appreciated the parties and meeting the team. By the time I was old enough to realize what was going on, Manny had moved away. He was a neighbor from like 1978 to 1982ish? In '78 I was five years old.
Manny would throw epic parties for July 4th, Halloween, etc and have all kinds of games for the kids, bouncy houses, etc. And inevitably, a football game would break out in his backyard at some point with the fathers rooting us on.
Anyway, these were great guys and they'd hang out partying with the neighborhood dads until the wee hours of the morning. My dad felt like he was a part of the team, all the dads did since Manny's house was the party house and everyone was openly welcome.
Winning football games at any level comes down to winning in the trenches.