Garo Yepremian, the Cypriot-born soccer-styled placekicker who played on the Miami Dolphins' Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII championship teams, passed away on Friday at a Media, Pennsylvania hospital from cancer at age 70.
Mr. Yepremian, who began his NFL career in 1966 with the Detroit Lions, with whom, as a rookie, he broke a league record with six field goals in a game against the Minnesota Vikings). He joined the Dolphins in 1970.
On Christmas Day in 1971, Garo kicked the game-winning field goal in the second overtime period that ended was is still the longest game in National Football League history as the Dolphins defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in an American Football Conference divisional playoff game.
The following year, he played on the Dolphins' undefeated 17-0 team. It was in Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles that Garo had a field-goal attempt blocked. Next, he picked up the football and attempted a pass but fumbled. The ball was recovered by Washington Redskins defensive back Mike Bass, who returned it to the end zone for the Redskins' lone score. The Dolphins still won the game 14-7 and wrapped up what is still the NFL's only unbeaten and untied season.
The Dolphins repeated as Super Bowl champs the following season.
A two-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins, Garo later kicked for the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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