Vikings' defeat cements Dolphins' 54-year perfect season monopoly
Larry Csonka took to social media to mark the Minnesota loss, noting the record has survived since 1972.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
The Minnesota Vikings dropped a 19-15 decision to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, a result that eliminated the league's final undefeated team before the postseason. The loss guarantees that the National Football League will finish another year without a team going the distance. It also extends a specific statistical anomaly: the 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only squad in the Super Bowl era to complete a full campaign without a defeat.
Larry Csonka, a fullback for that 1972 Miami squad, publicly marked the occasion. The Hall of Famer posted a photograph on social media showing himself holding a glass and a cigar. He wore his Super Bowl ring in the image. His post congratulated the Detroit Lions on their victory and toasted the Miami team and its supporters for maintaining a record that now spans 54 years.
The Dolphins finished the 1972 season with a 17-0 mark before winning Super Bowl VII. Csonka was a central figure in that run, leading the team with 1,117 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He also carried the ball for 119 yards in the championship game, including a 49-yard run. The New England Patriots came closest to matching the feat in 2007 when they reached the Super Bowl at 18-0, but the New York Giants ended the streak.
Csonka previously shared a similar celebratory photo in 2024. That post followed the Kansas City Chiefs' loss in Week 11, which ended their perfect season. The Vikings entered Week 8 as the last unbeaten team with a 6-0 record. Their loss to Detroit means the 54-year gap between the 1972 Dolphins and the next perfect season has widened by another full calendar year.
Source: ESPN
