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The Football Diner Big Interview:
Bob Griese
interviewed by Michael E Lawrence
24/10/2007
Bob Griese: a living legend, one of a kind, the quarterback of the only franchise in NFL history to record to an unparalleled, unbeaten, ‘perfect’ season. In 1972, the Miami Dolphins, behind Griese and reserve Earl Morrall, finished the regular season with fourteen wins and zero losses, before barrelling through a post season that culminated in a Super Bowl VII win over the Washington Redskins. At the time, Bob told us, he and the Dolphins really didn’t think that much of it, presuming someone else would repeat the feat sooner or later.
35 years on, and still no team has.
In 1973, Griese and the Dolphins went on to win their second consecutive Super Bowl, beating the Minnesota Vikings. In his fabled career, the Dolphins’ quarterback was voted to the Pro Bowl six times and was named All-AFL and All-Pro twice. Head Coach Don Shula called him the most unselfish player I have ever been around.
Now a renowned broadcaster of NCAA games across America, Bob took pause from his busy preparation schedule to talk all things Dolphins (and a few things Bears) at the Diner, which couldn’t have been more delighted to have the honour of interviewing such a gracious, humble, true great of the game.
FD
Bob, first up, huge thanks for making time to talk to us. Are you still very much a Dolphins fan after all these years?
 Bob
Oh very much so there are two teams I support now: the Dolphins and the Bears, since my son Brian is playing quarterback for the latter.
FD
Of course! Has it been tough to watch Miami struggle this year?
Bob
It’s been a tough year, the Dolphins are in transition. After Nick Saban decided he wasn’t cut out to be a coach at the NFL level and walked away, (owner) Wayne Huizenga brought in the new staff under Cam Cameron. And obviously, every time you change the system it affects the players. Plus, there’ve been injuries – Ronnie Brown’s now hurt for example – and our best wide receiver, Chris Chambers has been traded.
FD
Would you say your still close to the organisation, still involved?
Bob
Sure I’m still pretty involved. I have regular conversations with Cam about the season, he’s a good friend, and it’s tough for him going through it, but the wins will come!
FD
Now, we’re betting you get asked this all the time, but what was it like to be an integral part of the only unbeaten team in NFL history?
Bob
I do! But that season occurred in 1972, and the whole motivation for that year stemmed from the previous season, 1971. When we lost the Super Bowl to the Cowboys after the ’71 season, right after the game had finished, Coach (Don) Shula said this is the beginning of the 1972 season, right now. Remember how you feel, how bad it feels to come so close. We’re going to have to achieve it all again and more, starting now. And, really, the motivation for the 1972 season was to get back to the Super Bowl and win the perfect record just happened along the way.
FD
So it was far more important to you to win the Championship?
Bob
Exactly when we won, we were all we’re the champions!, we didn’t think that much of being unbeaten. Still, looking back at some of the great teams, you start to say to yourself this must have been something really special: the Pittsburgh Steelers of the ’70s won four Super Bowls in five years, but they never went undefeated. The dominant 49ers teams that won four Super Bowls they never went undefeated. And the Cowboys in the 90s they never went undefeated either. I’m not sure it’ll happen again.
FD
So what was it that made that team so special?
Bob
Coach Shula held it all together. There were no superstars, it was about every person doing their part, and when injuries occurred, about others stepping in and continuing to get the job done.
 FD
And what made you such a successful quarterback on that team?
Bob
I don’t know! I studied a lot, and I was accurate, and above that competitive as hell! I’d been a first round pick, but that didn’t mean that much to me. I didn’t have a real strong arm but I just wanted it, that success. I felt it was important to be hard-nosed: that there was always another hill to climb, always another championship to win.
FD
Football Diner has been reading ‘Snake’ Oakland quarterback Kenny Stabler’s autobiography, about the Raiders of the same era, and that whole team was notoriously active and fun-loving off the pitch were your Dolphins a cleaner living bunch!?
Bob
Well those Raiders were a very loose outfit, they had a lot of characters! Our team was more conservative than that. We did it differently, did our thing there were no hell raisers. We had a tough, blue collar defense, and a run oriented offense with Larry Cszonka. He was a tough guy too.
FD
Ok, what about now Bob how do you spend your time? We know you do a lot of broadcasting NCAA games
Bob
That’s right, I’ve been doing television broadcasting ever since I retired from the Dolphins in 1980. Actually, I coached with Don Shula for a year in 1981, and then went into broadcasting on Pro Football games for five years from 1982 to 1987 with NBC. Then in ’87, ABC approached me and asked me if I’d switch to college football, and work with Keith Jackson, who is just legendary as a broadcaster. I thought about it long and hard, and decided to do it, and ended up working with Keith for 12 years. In my life, I’ve had the opportunity to work with two true legends: Don Shula, a legend of coaching no-one’s ever won more games in the National Football League and Keith Jackson, a legend of broadcasting.
FD
We’re betting they’d say the same thing about yourself. Now, turning to the hot topic du jour the Dolphins are coming to Wembley this weekend. How do you feel about it? They’ll be losing a home game after all
Bob
Oh it’s a great thing for the NFL, it’s good that we stretch out as much as possible. NFL Europe had a little bit of success and it’s clear that the fans we have in London and the UK in general care a lot. The Dolphins, and the Giants too, are proud to be representing the NFL over there I just wish that both teams might be undefeated going in, and I also hope the Dolphins get that first win!
FD
Do you think the alien environment might help Miami record an upset?
Bob
 Oh sure! Change it up, get a different environment around you it can only be a good thing.
FD
And you think that the Dolphins do have what it takes to turn things around?
Bob
Well, we’ve got lots of young players, it just takes time. I like Cam, I like the defensive staff. These things can turn around pretty fast, we see that all the time in the NFL now.
FD
Now then, you mentioned you were also a Bears fan now: your son Brian played a great game against Philadelphia Sunday, winning on a last second touchdown pass you must be proud of him
Bob
I certainly am proud of him. I have to say, I don’t talk about him publicly because I don’t want the headlines to be about the father when they should be about the son, but yes, I’m very proud and I’m very happy for him.
FD
We bet. Finally then Bob, you may be aware there are legions of Dolphins fans here in the UK do you have any message for them you’d like to pass on?
Bob
Yes keep the faith! We love you! It will turn around soon!
FD
Thanks Bob, it’s been a real honour speaking with you
Bob
No problem enjoy Sunday!
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