Undrafted and cut by the Browns, then goes on to a HoF career with the Dolphins.
RIP.
Posted on 09/07/2019 6:04:29 AM PDT by Rummyfan
Jim Langer died late last month at the age of 71. Langer was the center for the great Miami Dolphins teams of the 1970s, including the unbeaten 1972 team.
Langer played defense at South Dakota State. He was not selected in the 1970 draft, which lasted 17 rounds, but he signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent. They promptly cut Langer, but Don Shula picked him up and by 1972 he was Miami’s starting center.
Langer went on to become an all-pro four times. He played in six pro-bowls. In 1975, he was named Miami’s most valuable player, a rare honor for a center.
Langer was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, his first year of eligibility.
I’ve watched the NFL for 60 years, admittedly more during the first 30 than the second. I’ve never seen the center position played better than Langer played it during his prime.
Langer must have been a political conservative because when President Obama honored the undefeated 1972 Dolphins, Langer declined to join the team at the White House. He explained:
We’ve got some real moral compass issues in Washington…I don’t want to be in a room with those people and pretend I’m having a good time. I can’t do that. If that [angers] people, so be it.
Langer stayed at home in Minnesota and went fishing with his grandson. Bob Kuechenberg, his roommate and fellow member of Miami’s offensive line, also declined Obama’s invitation. So did Manny Fernandez, the great defensive tackle.
As the magical 1972 season went on, Kuechenberg would say to Langer: “Obviously we’re going to have to lose a game.” When Langer responded “I suppose,” Kuechenberg would ask “When?”
“Not this week,” was Langer’s reply.
RIP
Undrafted and cut by the Browns, then goes on to a HoF career with the Dolphins.
RIP.
I lived in south Florida in those years. What a wonderful time.....Butch and Sundance, Mercury.....
Every season I pay attention to the standings until every team has lost a game, thus preserving the Dolphins’ record. Then I pretty much ignore it.
May Jim’s family find God’s comfort.
Ahh...that ‘72 season. I lived in Miami then and went to all the home games. Flipper did his (her?) thing in the big tank. People forget that it was Earl Morrall who led the team all season replacing the injured Griese. And during the Super Bowl the kicker Garo attempted to throw the ball after it had been blocked. I maxed out my credit card taking my 11 year old son out to that game. It was a BIG party on our plane going home.
OG’s Kuech and Little wore #60’s jerseys too.
I thought Centers wore in the #50’s?
Any thoughts?
I believe he was originally signed as an offensive guard.
I loved that team until they met my Cowboys and got their comeuppance.
That 72 SB was truly a moment when Tom Landry outcoached Shula. He ran misdirections inside the entire first half, then, assuming the Dolphins would adjust, ran pitches and sweeps the second half.
People forget two things about that game. First, Mike Ditka—the Bears great-—caught his only Super Bowl TD pass in that game (and Forrest Gregg won another Super Bowl, but with the Cowboys), and second, the Cowboys should have scored again but Calvin Hill fumbled on the goal line (something of a Cowboy tradition going back to the 1970 SB against the Colts, which cost them the game).
Regardless, that team with Csonka and Kiick was just great. They just destroyed the Colts in a playoff game I think the following year in which they controlled the ball for I think all but about 4 minutes of the 1st half. It was the most amazing display of clock control I’ve ever seen.
The league determined as early as 1973 what the number were for certain positions.
1 - 19: Quarterbacks, punters, and kickers
20 - 49: Running backs and defensive backs
50 - 59: Centers (or 60-79 if this range is taken)
60 - 79: Defensive linemen and offensive linemen
80 - 89: Receivers and tight ends (or 40-49 if this range is taken)
90 - 99: Defensive linemen and linebackers
This original system stood until 2004. Then the NFL changed it up to allow wide receivers and tight ends a bit more versatility—they, too, could claim numbers between 10 and 19 beginning in 2004.
Then, in 2010, a rule was passed to allow defensive linemen to wear numbers 50 through 59. The NFL Competition Committee made another change in 2015, allowing linebackers to use numbers 40 through 49 for the first time. This called the “Brian Bosworth rule.”
To my knowledge and what I can find, this is what stands today in the NFL. And it is far simpler than some other sports.
rwood
That 72 SB was truly a moment when Tom Landry outcoached Shula. He ran misdirections inside the entire first half, then, assuming the Dolphins would adjust, ran pitches and sweeps the second half.
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I was at that SB in New Orleans. Being their 1st SB, it was a learning experience for the Dolphins. The Cowboys dominated and popped the Dolphins bubble. Next year the Dolphins ran the table and finished the season undefeated with their 1st SB win.
Larry “Chicken Man” Little was my favorite but I liked all the linemen on the Dolphins. Of course, back in the early 70s, your OLs were 250-270 pounds not 330 like they are today.
RIP.
Griese’s 29 yard-loss on that sack was when you knew it wasn’t going to be the Dolphins’ day.
A fantastic moment for the best DT in NFL history.
A better moment than in the previous SB, when he tossed his helmet in the air.
A good guy.
5.56mm
Definitely.
Too bad he didn’t get one good year with Randy White, Harvey Martin, and Too Tall Jones.
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