Mike Kolen

Mike Kolen
No. 57
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	January 31, 1948 (age 76); Opelika, Alabama
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College:	Auburn
NFL draft:	1970 / round: 12 / pick: 289
Career history
	Miami Dolphins (1970–1977);
Career highlights and awards
	2xSuper Bowl Champion All-SEC (1968-1969)
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

John Michael Kolen (born January 31, 1948) is a former American football linebacker who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins.^[1] Because of his hard-hitting style, he was nicknamed "Captain Crunch." He played for Berry High School in Hoover, Alabama, and collegiately for the Auburn Tigers.

Kolen was involved in one of the most famous plays in NFL history. In the December 21, 1974 playoff game between the Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders is the so-called Sea of Hands game. With 35 seconds to play and the Dolphins leading 26-21, the Raiders had the ball 1st and Goal at the Miami 8-yard line. Quarterback Ken Stabler dropped back to pass and was flushed out of the pocket and nearly sacked by defensive end Vern Den Herder. As he went down, Stabler wristed a weak pass toward running back Clarence Davis in the end zone. Davis was surrounded by three Dolphins, including Kolen. Kolen got his hands on the ball and nearly knocked it away, but somehow Davis, amidst a "sea of hands," ended up with the ball and the touchdown, giving the Raiders the win and ending the Dolphins' dynasty. He now lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Nancy. He has two children, Kelly and John, and five grandchildren. Mike owns Kolen Financial Team and works with his son. He recently released a book "The Greatest Team: A Playbook for Champions". www.playbookforchampions.com

References

^ "1973 Miami Dolphins". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 28 February 2013.

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[1] "1973 Miami Dolphins". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 28 February 2013.

[1]

v t e Miami Dolphins Super Bowl VII champions
1 Garo Yepremian 7 Billy Lothridge 11 Jim Del Gaizo 12 Bob Griese 13 Jake Scott (MVP) 15 Earl Morrall 20 Larry Seiple 21 Jim Kiick 22 Mercury Morris 23 Charles Leigh 25 Tim Foley 26 Lloyd Mumphord 28 Ed Jenkins 32 Hubert Ginn 39 Larry Csonka 40 Dick Anderson 42 Paul Warfield 44 Tom Curtis 45 Curtis Johnson 49 Charlie Babb 51 Larry Ball 53 Bob Matheson 54 Howard Kindig 56 Jesse Powell 57 Mike Kolen 59 Doug Swift 60 Al Jenkins 62 Jim Langer 65 Maulty Moore 66 Larry Little 67 Bob Kuechenberg 68 Mike Kadish 72 Bob Heinz 73 Norm Evans 75 Manny Fernandez 77 Doug Crusan 78 Jim Dunaway 79 Wayne Moore 80 Marv Fleming 81 Howard Twilley 82 Otto Stowe 83 Vern Den Herder 84 Bill Stanfill 85 Nick Buoniconti 86 Marlin Briscoe 88 Jim Mandich 89 Karl Noonan
Head coach: Don Shula
Coaches: Bill Arnsparger Monte Clark Tom Keane Mike Scarry Howard Schnellenberger Carl Taseff

v t e Miami Dolphins Super Bowl VIII champions
1 Garo Yepremian 10 Don Strock 12 Bob Griese 13 Jake Scott 15 Earl Morrall 20 Larry Seiple 21 Jim Kiick 22 Mercury Morris 23 Charles Leigh 25 Tim Foley 26 Lloyd Mumphord 28 Ed Jenkins 29 Tom Smith 34 Ron Sellers 36 Don Nottingham 39 Larry Csonka (MVP) 40 Dick Anderson 42 Paul Warfield 45 Curtis Johnson 48 Henry Stuckey 49 Charles Babb 51 Larry Ball 53 Bob Matheson 54 Howard Kindig 55 Irv Goode 56 Jesse Powell 57 Mike Kolen 58 Bruce Bannon 59 Doug Swift 62 Jim Langer 64 Ed Newman 65 Maulty Moore 66 Larry Little 67 Bob Kuechenberg 70 Larry Woods 72 Bob Heinz 73 Norm Evans 75 Manny Fernandez 76 Willie Young 77 Doug Crusan 79 Wayne Moore 80 Marv Fleming 81 Howard Twilley 82 Bo Rather 83 Vern Den Herder 84 Bill Stanfill 85 Nick Buoniconti 86 Marlin Briscoe 88 Jim Mandich 89 Charlie Wade
Head coach: Don Shula
Coaches: Bill Arnsparger Monte Clark Tom Keane Bill McPeak Mike Scarry Carl Taseff