The Miami Dolphins organization is in mourning this week after finding out a historic player from the franchise’s past has sadly lost his life.
Former Dolphins linebacker Mike “Captain Crunch” Kolen died Wednesday, his alma mater Auburn University announced.
Mike Kolen, a linebacker who started all three Super Bowls for the Miami Dolphins, was 76 years old.
The Dolphins linebacker was on the team that recorded the National Football League’s only perfect season.
Kolen played eight seasons for the Dolphins after being selected by Miami in the 12th round of the 1970 NFL Draft. In 1972 and 1973, the Dolphins won back-to-back Super Bowls thanks to Kolen being part of Miami’s “No Name Defense.”
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In 2016, Kolen would go on to publish The Greatest Team: A Playbook for Champions, a novel about his journey in football and life. The following year, the former Dolphins linebacker revealed to the Miami Herald that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Former Miami Dolphins LB Mike Kolen Was A Legend In College
He was just as much a legend in college with the Auburn Tigers as Kolen would reportedly return to his alma mater each spring for decades to present the Mike Kolen Award at A-Day to Auburn’s leading tackler from the previous season.
Kolen earned All-SEC recognition as a linebacker for the Tigers’ bowl teams of 1968 and 1969. He started 25 games for the Tigers from 1967-1969 and led Auburn in tackles in 16 of those games. He earned All-SEC honors as a junior and senior.
His “Captain Crunch” nickname came about after he was named a two-time All-SEC selection and one-time All-American. He would go on to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
His presence will certainly be missed.
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