Larry Csonka is once again getting calls about another team that is trying to join his 1972 Miami Dolphins as the NFL’s only perfect teams. Csonka, a Hall of Fame running back who powered Miami to back-to-back world titles in addition to helping the ’72 Dolphins go 17-0, sees similarities between that team and the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs, who will put their 9-0 record to the test Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
“It’s fun to talk about a team that’s showing signs that kind of reminds me of the Dolphins,” Csonka said during an interview with CBS Sports. “The attention to detail, their willingness to not care about their own statistics but about winning, is reminiscent, and I kind of get a kick out of that quarterback and that coach. It brings back memories.”
Csonka sees one specific similarity between his team and the modern day Chiefs, who in addition to trying to go undefeated are also vying to become the first team in history to win three straight Super Bowls.
“When you watch Kansas City, you see perhaps not perfect execution, but a lot better than anybody else is doing,” he said. “You see the fundamentals being executed. … You don’t see the basic fundamental breakdowns that lead to defeat. When you see something like that, then you recognize that they have that competitive edge.”
As far as the Chiefs’ prospects of remaining undefeated, Csonka said that it’s a “coin flip” while adding that “the right people have to come forward at the right time.” He then alluded to last week’s blocked field goal attempt that sealed Kansas City’s 16-14 win over Denver as an example of that. In fact, the ’72 Dolphins — whose success was largely due to someone routinely stepping up in big moments — received a similar play in the playoffs when safety Charlie Babb blocked a punt that set up a score in Miami’s 20-14 win over Cleveland.
“Someone steps up and does more than what they’re being called on to do,” Csonka said. “And that was a characteristic of the ’72 Dolphins. I see similarities in Kansas City. They’re intriguing to watch. Fundamentally, they don’t mess up that much at all. In crisis situations, just like the game ended last week, with a blocked kick at the end of the game, made the difference. That’s reminiscent.”
While Kansas City’s close win against Denver brought back memories for Csonka, it led to some criticism from fans and media members who think the Chiefs should be winning games more decisively. That is another thing the Chiefs share with the ’72 Dolphins, who won more than their share of close games.
“Some days we were dominant, but 50-60% of the time, our butts were right in there sweating with everybody else,” Csonka said. “It was down to the wire. That perseverance, and being fundamentally correct is a discipline. I see some of that discipline in Kansas City and it’s reminiscent in the ’72 season and back when I played.”
Csonka, who recently wrote a book chronicling his fascinating life and career, was the driving force behind Miami’s powerful offense that led the league in scoring in 1972. He was to the Dolphins what Patrick Mahomes currently is to the Chiefs. They may play different positions, but Csonka and Mahomes share a similar mentality in that winning mattered above all else.
“He reminds me of some of the guys that I played with in ’72,” Csonka said of Mahomes, who is just one of five starting quarterbacks in NFL history to win three Super Bowls. “He does not care about statistics. He cares about mistakes, improper alignment, being off count, that drives him crazy. He is something of a perfectionist in the way he approaches how he plays. He doesn’t have to lead the league in stats. He wants to win. I think that’s a commonality that falls on a great team.
“He is so competitive, that inspires you to do a little better yourself. That’s a damn great thing to have.”
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