View source for Bob Griese

{{Short description|American football player (born 1945)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Bob Griese
| image       = Bob Griese with soldier CROP.jpg
| alt         =
| caption     = Griese in 2011
| position    = [[Quarterback]]
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 1
| weight_lbs  = 190
| number      = 12
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1945|2|3}}
| birth_place = [[Evansville, Indiana]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Rex Mundi High School|Rex Mundi]] (Evansville, Indiana)
| college     = [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]] (1963–1966)
| draftyear   = 1967
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 4
| pastteams   = 
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ([[1967 AFL season|1967]]–{{NFL Year|1980}}) 
<!-- Do not include 2017. This was an unofficial ceremonial contract -->
| highlights  = 
* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]], [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]])
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1971 All-Pro Team|1971]], [[1977 All-Pro Team|1977]])
* 6× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1971 Pro Bowl|1970]], [[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]], [[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]], [[1978 Pro Bowl|1977]], [[1979 Pro Bowl|1978]])
* [[List of National Football League season passing touchdowns leaders|NFL passing touchdowns leader]] (1977)
* [[List of National Football League annual passer rating leaders|NFL passer rating leader]] (1977)
* [[NFL completion percentage leader]] (1978)
* 2× [[AFL All-Star]] (1967, 1968)
* [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|Jim Thorpe Trophy]] (1971)
* [[Bert Bell Award]] (1977)
* [[Miami Dolphins Honor Roll]]
* [[Miami Dolphins#Retired numbers|Miami Dolphins No. 12]] retired
* [[Miami Dolphins#The Miami Dolphins 50 Greatest Players|Dolphins Walk of Fame]] (2011)
* [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]] (1966)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1965 College Football All-America Team|1965]])
* First-team All-American ([[1966 College Football All-America Team|1966]])
* [[Chicago Tribune Silver Football]] (1966)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1965 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1965]], [[1966 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1966]])
| statlabel1  = Pass attempts
| statvalue1  = 3,429
| statlabel2  = Pass completions
| statvalue2  = 1,926
| statlabel3  = Completion percentage
| statvalue3  = 56.2
| statlabel4  = Passing yards
| statvalue4  = 25,092
| statlabel5  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue5  = 192–172
| statlabel6  = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6  = 77.1
| pfr         = GrieBo00
| HOF         = bob-griese
| CollegeHOF  = 1868 
}}

'''Robert Allen Griese''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|s|i}} {{respell|GREE|see}}; born February 3, 1945) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[quarterback]] for the [[Miami Dolphins]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL). He earned [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors playing [[college football]] with the [[Purdue Boilermakers]] before being drafted in 1967 by the Dolphins of the AFL.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of the 1970s, Griese led the Dolphins to a then record three consecutive [[Super Bowl]] appearances,<ref name=hofhistory>{{cite web |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/miami-dolphins/team-history/ |title=Miami Dolphins Team History |website=profootballhof.com |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610125659/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/miami-dolphins/team-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> including two Super Bowl victories in [[Super Bowl VII|VII]] and [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Frank | first=Vincent | title=Ranking the best NFL quarterbacks of the 1970s | website=Sportsnaut | date=2021-02-23 | url=https://sportsnaut.com/nfl/ranking-the-best-nfl-quarterbacks-of-the-1970s/ | access-date=2025-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/the-top-10-nfl-quarterbacks-of-the-1970s | title=The top 10 NFL quarterbacks of the 1970s &#124; Fox Sports }}</ref> the first of which capped off [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|Miami's undefeated and untied 1972 season]], the only such season in NFL history. Griese was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] and the [[Indiana Football Hall of Fame]] in 1984<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfbhall.com/about/inductees/ |title=College Football Hall of Fame Inductees |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807014549/http://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/?player=0732&tt=1414537148 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiana-football.org/?q=node/334 |title=Indiana Football Hall of Fame |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093918/http://www.indiana-football.org/?q=node%2F334 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/#p=GrieseBob |title=Bob Griese |website=profootballhof.com |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329032819/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/#p=GrieseBob |url-status=live }}</ref> He later worked as a television commentator, calling NFL games for [[NBC Sports]] and [[college football]] for [[ESPN]] and [[ABC Sports]]. Griese is one of three quarterbacks from [[Purdue]] to win the Super Bowl (along with [[Len Dawson]] and [[Drew Brees]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/super-bowl/super-bowl-winning-quarterbacks-by-college-team-1.11426285 |title=Super Bowl champion QBs by alma mater |website=newsday.com |date=February 2, 2020 |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204175711/https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/super-bowl/super-bowl-winning-quarterbacks-by-college-team-1.11426285 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life==
Griese was born in [[Evansville, Indiana]], to Ida (Ulrich) and Sylverious "Slick" Griese. Slick owned a plumbing company in Evansville and died in 1955 when Bob was ten years old. Bob played baseball primarily, and excelled as a pitcher. He also starred in basketball and football at Evansville's [[Rex Mundi High School]]. He earned 12 varsity letters for the Monarchs.

===Baseball===
In the summer of 1963, Griese led his [[American Legion Baseball]] team, Funkhouser Post #8 of [[Evansville, Indiana]], to the American Legion Baseball World Series as the Region 5 champion. His team did not reach the finals, as the Arthur L. Peterson Post of [[Long Beach, California]], won the title.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legion.org/documents/baseball/national_champions.pdf |title=American Legion Baseball National Champions – 1926 to 2014 |website=legion.org |access-date=January 7, 2020 |archive-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516230954/https://www.legion.org/documents/baseball/national_champions.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Basketball===
He led the basketball team to the No. 1 ranking in Indiana during the 1962–63 season and a record of 19–3.  He scored 900 points in his high school career and while being named '''All-Sectional''', he could not lead the Monarchs past Evansville Bosse in the highly competitive Evansville IHSAA Sectional.<ref name="local.evpl.org">{{cite news |url=http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=712938 |title=Coaching Doesn't Intrigue Bob Griese |date=April 27, 1963 |publisher=The Evansville Press |author=Tom Tuley |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214013352/http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=712938 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Football===
The Monarchs were 15–5 during his Junior (9–1) and Senior (6–4) seasons, as he was named 1st Team All-City for three seasons.<ref name="local.evpl.org"/> After being recruited by several colleges for football, Bob chose [[Purdue]], where he majored in management (Krannert School of Management) and became a three-sport star.<ref>(cited from ''Undefeated'', by Bob Griese, copyright 2000)</ref>

==College career==
[[File:Bob Griese 1966.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Griese from 1967 Purdue yearbook]]
While at Purdue, Bob became a member of [[Sigma Chi]] fraternity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.sigmachi.org/Shared_Content/Custom/Fraternity/Alumni_Services/Awards/Significant_Sigs.aspx?field_oc_ss_last_initial_value=All&field_hp_company_value=All&field_hp_univ_preferred_value=All&field_hp_province_description_value=All&field_hp_state_province_value=All&page=5 |title=Significant Sig Recipients |access-date=January 8, 2020 |publisher=[[Sigma Chi]] |website=sigmachi.org |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502031307/https://members.sigmachi.org//Shared_Content/Custom/Fraternity/Alumni_Services/Awards/Significant_Sigs.aspx?field_oc_ss_last_initial_value=All&field_hp_company_value=All&field_hp_univ_preferred_value=All&field_hp_province_description_value=All&field_hp_state_province_value=All&page=5 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Griese pitched for the Purdue baseball team, going 12–1 one season, played guard on the Purdue basketball team, and played quarterback, kicker, and punter for the Purdue football team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/2019/01/21/griese-mattingly-share-spotlight-among-local-legends/2603505002/ |title=Griese, Mattingly set standard among Evansville male athletes |last=Engelhardt |first=Gordon |date=January 21, 2019 |newspaper=Evansville Courier & Press |access-date=April 1, 2020 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811033136/https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/2019/01/21/griese-mattingly-share-spotlight-among-local-legends/2603505002/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There are at least four football games in which Griese was in some way responsible for all of Purdue's points.<ref>{{cite news |title=Purdue Blanks Out-Manned Ohio U., 17–0 |newspaper=The Terre Haute Tribune |date=September 27, 1964 |page=50 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8428107/purdue_blanks_outmanned_ohio_u_170/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029152043/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8428107/purdue_blanks_outmanned_ohio_u_170/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Griese Lifts Purdue Past Michigan, 17–15 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |author=Jack Saylor |date=October 17, 1965 |pages=1C, 3C |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38845018/griese_lifts_purdue_past_michigan_1715/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=November 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111233747/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38845018/griese_lifts_purdue_past_michigan_1715/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of the beginning of the 2016 NCAA football season, Griese ranks #10 in all-time scoring at Purdue;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://purduesports.com/sports/2018/5/17/sports-m-footbl-spec-rel-legends-griese-html.aspx |title=Legends of Purdue Football: Bob Griese |website=purduesports.com |access-date=January 7, 2020 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502031313/https://purduesports.com/sports/2018/5/17/sports-m-footbl-spec-rel-legends-griese-html.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> #5 in scoring among non-kickers and #4 among kickers. Griese's passing skills greatly improved under the tutelage of head coach [[Jack Mollenkopf]] and quarterback coach [[Bob DeMoss]].

In his junior year at Purdue in a game against the top-ranked [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]], Griese completed 19 of 22 passes as he led the Boilermakers to an upset win.<ref>{{College Football HoF|id=1868}}</ref>

Griese was a two-time All-American at Purdue, finishing at No. 8 in the 1965 [[Heisman Trophy]] race and was the runner-up to [[Steve Spurrier]] for the 1966 [[Heisman Trophy]]. Purdue finished second in the Big Ten in 1966, and he led the school's first appearance in the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]], where they defeated [[University of Southern California|USC]] 14–13.  He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tournamentofroses.com/the-rose-bowl-game/history/rose-bowl-hall-of-fame/history |title=The Rose Bowl Game® presented by VIZIO |access-date=December 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208024631/http://www.tournamentofroses.com/the-rose-bowl-game/history/rose-bowl-hall-of-fame/history |archive-date=December 8, 2010 }}</ref>  He was also awarded the [[Big Ten Medal of Honor]] for excellence in athletics and academics.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=712514 |title=Bob Griese Earns Final Honor for Football, Scholastic Abilities |date=June 5, 1967 |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084115/http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=712514 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Griese's achievements during his college career earned him induction into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1984.  Purdue does not have a practice of [[Retired number|retiring]] jersey numbers, but he was inducted as an inaugural member of the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://purduesports.com/sports/2018/5/17/school-bio-pur-hallfame-html.aspx |title=Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=November 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107021334/https://purduesports.com/sports/2018/5/17/school-bio-pur-hallfame-html.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 11, 2014, the [[Big Ten Network]] included Griese on "The Mount Rushmore of [[Purdue football program|Purdue Football]]", as chosen by online fan voting. Griese was joined in the honor by [[Drew Brees]], [[Rod Woodson]] and [[Leroy Keyes]].

==Professional career==

===1967–1969===
Griese was selected by the AFL's [[Miami Dolphins]] as the fourth player in the [[1967 NFL draft|1967 Common Draft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/draft.htm |title=1967 NFL Draft |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023155900/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/draft.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Griese threw for 2,005 yards and 15 touchdowns his rookie year.

Griese was an [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]] his first two years with the Dolphins, and earned AFL All-Star or AFC-NFC Pro Bowl honors in six additional seasons.<ref name=griesepfr>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrieBo00.htm |title=Bob Griese |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502031323/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrieBo00.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> While he never put up huge numbers, his leadership played an important role in helping the Dolphins compete in three consecutive [[Super Bowl]]s, winning the latter two contests.<ref name=hofhistory/>

Griese started the season as the team's second-string quarterback behind [[John Stofa]]. When Stofa broke his ankle in the first quarter of the first game of the 1967 season, Griese stepped in and led the Dolphins to a 35–21 victory against the [[Denver Broncos]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967_AFL/games.htm |title= 1967 AFL Weekly League Schedule |website= pro-football-reference.com |access-date= March 17, 2020 |archive-date= November 8, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201108133721/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967_AFL/games.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> The 1967, 1968, and 1969 seasons were tough for the expansion Dolphins. After a difficult 1969 season that was worse than the 1968 season, coach [[George Wilson (football coach)|George Wilson]] was fired.

===1970–1976===
Dolphin owner [[Joe Robbie]] brought in [[Don Shula]] from the Baltimore Colts in 1970,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/in-my-own-words-50-years-later-dolphins-hire-don-shula |title=In My Own Words 50 Years Later: Dolphins Hire Don Shula |author=Don Shula |date=February 18, 2020 |access-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219174511/https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/in-my-own-words-50-years-later-dolphins-hire-don-shula |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084265/index.htm |title=The Rosenbloom-Robbie Bowl |author=Jack Olsen |date=November 9, 1970 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725123948/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084265/index.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref> and the team's personality and fortunes turned quickly. The Dolphins found a new discipline, and learned what it took to become a winning team. They went from a 3–10–1 record in 1969 to 10–4 in 1970, making the playoffs.<ref name=lambwfr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gqlRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6250%2C6363585 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Lamonica's 'bomb' wins for Raiders |date=December 28, 1970 |page=1, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=ldslsld>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DlszAAAAIBAJ&pg=2710%2C7809465 |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=California |agency=UPI |title=Oakland slips, slides past Dolphin defense |date=December 28, 1970 |page=22 |access-date=October 6, 2020 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502031308/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DlszAAAAIBAJ&pg=2710%2C7809465 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=sivrtsac>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1971/01/04/554208/rushing-to-stake-a-claim |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Maule |first=Tex |author-link=Tex Maule |title=Rushing to stake a claim |date=January 4, 1971 |page=10 |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106204059/https://www.si.com/vault/1971/01/04/554208/rushing-to-stake-a-claim |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1971 the Dolphins made it to the Super Bowl,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197201160dal.htm |title=Super Bowl VI – Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys – January 16th, 1972 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807124648/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197201160dal.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> losing 24–3 to the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. Griese was named the 1971 Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Most Valuable Player award,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/newspaper-entertainment-mvp.htm |title=The Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Most Valuable Player Winners |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610023941/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/newspaper-entertainment-mvp.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and was awarded the Jim Thorpe Trophy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bob Griese Gets Thorpe Trophy As Top Player |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19720105&id=YH9bAAAAIBAJ&pg=6950,173400&hl=en |access-date=March 11, 2020 |work=Gettysburg Times |agency=Associated Press |date=January 5, 1972 |page=4 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502031307/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19720105&id=YH9bAAAAIBAJ&pg=6950%2C173400&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 1972 season began with the Dolphins winning their first four games. In the fifth game of the season, Bob Griese was tackled hard by [[Deacon Jones]] and [[Ron East]] of the [[San Diego Chargers]], and went down with a broken leg and dislocated ankle.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/sports/football/16morrall.html |title=An Understudy Helped Make the Dolphins 17–0 |work=The New York Times |author=Karen Crouse |date=December 16, 2007 |access-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116190644/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/sports/football/16morrall.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Earl Morrall]], fresh off the waiver wire from Shula's former team, the Baltimore Colts, guided the Dolphins through the rest of the regular season, and maintained an unbeaten record in the process. Morrall also led the NFL in five passing categories during this time, including passer rating.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/leaders.htm |title=1972 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-date=April 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401001443/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/leaders.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> As the playoffs began, the Dolphins were not as strong as they needed to be to go deep into the postseason, barely winning against the [[Cleveland Browns]], a team that they should have beaten easily. The second game of the playoffs the team got off to a slow start against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. Shula asked Griese to relieve the ailing Morrall, simply asking Griese at halftime, “Are you ready?” Griese replied with, “Yes, I'm ready.”{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Griese took the field and completed 3 of 5 passes for 70 yards as the Dolphins beat the Steelers by a score of 21–17 to clinch their second straight Super Bowl appearance.

[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 33 - Jim Kiick (Bob Griese crop).jpg|thumb|200px|Griese playing for the Dolphins in Super Bowl VII]]
Despite their unbeaten season, the Dolphins were listed as two point underdogs to the [[Washington Redskins]] in Super Bowl VII.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/other-sports/news/super-bowl-betting-history-patriots-vs-seahawks-point-spread-line-vegas-odds/qk28fzuhyadj167dsqlj2p79c |title=Super Bowl Betting History – Underdogs on Recent Roll |first=Marcus |last=DiNitto |series=The Linemakers |work=The Sporting News |date=January 25, 2015 |access-date=April 10, 2020 |archive-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127182908/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/other-sports/news/super-bowl-betting-history-patriots-vs-seahawks-point-spread-line-vegas-odds/qk28fzuhyadj167dsqlj2p79c |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/football/teams/greatest.html |title=Greatest NFL teams of all time |work=ESPN |quote="…the Dolphins played one of the easiest schedules in modern NFL history – the opposition had a combined winning percentage under .400." |access-date=April 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819111835/http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/football/teams/greatest.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Staying with the system that got them there, the Dolphins offense played a perfect ball control game. Griese connected on 8 of 11 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, and [[Larry Csonka]] rushed for over 120 yards. Washington's only score was on a returned blocked field goal,<ref>{{cite news |title=SUPER BOWL XXV; Garo's Gaffe, McGee's Hangover And More: The First 24 Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/27/sports/super-bowl-xxv-garo-s-gaffe-mcgee-s-hangover-and-more-the-first-24-years.html |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Gerald |last=Eskenazi |date=January 27, 1991 |access-date=April 10, 2020 |archive-date=October 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013132859/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/27/sports/super-bowl-xxv-garo-s-gaffe-mcgee-s-hangover-and-more-the-first-24-years.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4oLr-bJ8Ws&t=1m50s |title=Preparation is Key with 1972 Miami Dolphins' Coach Don Shula |last=mouthpiecesports1 |date=July 31, 2008 |via=YouTube |access-date=April 10, 2020 |archive-date=March 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325041716/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4oLr-bJ8Ws&t=1m50s |url-status=live }}</ref> and Miami won the game 14–7.

In 1973 Griese led another strong Dolphins team, but they did not make it through the season undefeated. They reached the [[Super Bowl VIII|Super Bowl]] for the third consecutive season and defeated the [[Minnesota Vikings]] 24–7.

In 1974, Griese and the Dolphins had an 11–3 regular-season record, but lost to the Oakland Raiders in the divisional round of the playoffs.

In 1975, Griese and the Dolphins started strong, but late in the season in a game against the [[Baltimore Colts (1953–1983)|Baltimore Colts]], Griese suffered a broken toe and was out for the rest of the season. The Dolphins finished a respectable 10–4, but missed out on the playoffs for the first time in the Shula era.

In 1976, the Dolphins had many injuries, and the team finished the season at 6–8, the first time Don Shula ever suffered a losing season in his career.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ShulDo0.htm |title=Don Shula Coaching Results |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=April 1, 2020 |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111228/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ShulDo0.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===1977–1980===
The [[1977 Miami Dolphins season|1977]] season was a rebound year for both Griese and the Dolphins; he began to wear eyeglasses on the field.<ref>[https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/10/10/spectacles-make-him-spectacular Jenkins, Dan. "Spectacles make him spectacular," ''Sports Illustrated'', October 10, 1977.] Retrieved December 20, 2020</ref>  On [[Thanksgiving Day (United States)|Thanksgiving]], Griese threw six touchdown passes in three quarters to defeat the [[1977 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] 55–14,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19771125&id=3vUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2809,4009275|title=Rome News-Tribune – Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=November 15, 2015|archive-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117041728/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19771125&id=3vUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2809,4009275|url-status=live}}</ref> which set a franchise record for most points in a game;<ref>100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.176</ref> the Dolphins scored eight touchdowns and accumulated 34 first downs. He again led the AFC in touchdown passes thrown but the Dolphins rebound to a 10–4 record was again not enough to get the team into the playoffs.

The [[1978 Miami Dolphins season|following year]], Griese tore ligaments in his knee in a preseason game. However, when he came back, he was just as strong a passer as he had been the previous year. In one game against the [[1978 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] (nationally telecast as a marquee matchup on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC's]] ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' on November 20), Griese dueled with Oiler running back [[Earl Campbell]] in an offensive slugfest. Griese threw for over 300 yards while Campbell rushed for nearly 200 and the Oilers won 35–30. For the year, Griese completed a league-leading 63% of his passes, as the Dolphins went 11–5, losing again to the Oilers in the playoffs.

[[File:1990 Bob Griese.jpg|thumb|right|Griese's bronze bust at the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].]]
In [[1979 Miami Dolphins season|1979]], he suffered from some nagging leg injuries that affected his throwing ability. He was not as effective, and he began to hear some criticism. However, he was able to lead the Dolphins to a 10–6 record. The Dolphins then found themselves dominated by the [[1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the divisional round of the playoffs.

In [[1980 Miami Dolphins season|1980]], Griese found himself on the bench due to the emergence of [[Don Strock]] and rookie [[David Woodley]]. However, Griese came off the bench for several games in a row to lead comeback wins. Griese won back the starting spot in the fifth game of the season, but was tackled hard by [[Mike Ozdowski]] of the [[1980 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]. The tackle tore up his shoulder, and he was out for the rest of the year. The injury eventually led to Griese's decision to retire from the game at age 35; he was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in {{nfly|1990}}.

He had established his reputation as the “Thinking Man's Quarterback,” as he brilliantly called his own plays throughout his career. Dolphin owner [[Joe Robbie]] called him “the cornerstone of the franchise,” around whom the Miami Dolphins were built. Robbie elected to ask Griese to stay on for another year as assistant coach, which he did for the 1981 season, helping Strock and the young Woodley as they teamed to become the famous “Woodstrock.” After the year ended, he decided that he did not like the hours required to be an assistant coach, hoping to devote more time to his family, yet he still enjoyed being part of the game. (Sources for Pro Football Career found in ''Undefeated'', by Bob Griese, 2000, and ''The Winning Edge'' by Don Shula, 1974.)

The Miami Dolphins had the highest winning percentage in all professional sports in the 1970s, and Bob Griese was its starting quarterback throughout the decade, except when he was injured for several games in 1972, 1975, and 1978.

In Griese's 14 pro seasons, he threw for 25,092 yards and 192 touchdowns. Griese also rushed for 994 yards and seven scores. Griese was a six-time Dolphins' MVP and was All-Pro in 1971 and 1977. He played in two AFL All-Star games and six Pro Bowls.

The Dolphins retired his number 12 during a ''Monday Night Football'' game in 1985, telecast on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], the network which would prominently be featured in his post-football career.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" 
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1967 American Football League season|1967]] !! [[1967 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 12 || 10 || 3–7 || 166 || 331 || 50.2 || 2,005 || 6.1 || 15 || '''18''' || 61.6 || 37 || 157 || 4.2 || 1
|-
! [[1968 American Football League season|1968]] !! [[1968 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 13 || 13 || 5–7–1 || '''186''' || '''355''' || 52.4 || '''2,473''' || 7.0 || 21 || 16 || 75.7 || '''42''' || '''230''' || '''5.5''' || 1
|-
! [[1969 American Football League season|1969]] !! [[1969 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 9 || 9 || 2–6–1 || 121 || 252 || 48.0 || 1,695 || 6.7 || 10 || 16 || 56.9 || 21 || 102 || 4.9 || 0
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 10–4 || 142 || 245 || 58.0 || 2,019 || 8.2 || 12 || 17 || 72.1 || 26 || 89 || 3.4 || '''2'''
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14''' || 13 || 9–3–1 || 145 || 263 || 55.1 || 2,089 || 7.9 || 19 || 9 || '''90.9''' || 37 || 157 || 4.2 || 0
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1972 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 6 || 5 || 5–0 || 53 || 97 || 54.6 || 638 || 6.6 || 4 || 4 || 71.6 || 3 || 11 || 3.7 || 1
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] !! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1973 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 13 || 13 || 12–1 || 116 || 218 || 53.2 || 1,422 || 7.9 || 17 || 8 || 84.3 || 13 || 20 || 1.5 || 0
|-
! [[1974 NFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 13 || 13 || 10–3 || 152 || 253 || 60.1 || 1,968 || 7.8 || 16 || 15 || 80.9 || 16 || 66 || 4.1 || 1
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 10 || 10 || 7–3 || 118 || 191 || 61.8 || 1,693 || '''8.9''' || 14 || 13 || 86.6 || 17 || 59 || 3.5 || 1
|-
! [[1976 NFL season|1976]] !! [[1976 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 13 || 13 || 5–8 || 162 || 272 || 59.6 || 2,097 || 7.7 || 11 || 12 || 78.9 || 23 || 108 || 4.7 || 0
|-
! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] !! [[1977 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 10–4 || 180 || 307 || 58.6 || 2,252 || 7.3 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''22''' || 13 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 87.8 || 16 || 30 || 1.9 || 0
|-
! [[1978 NFL season|1978]] !! [[1978 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 11 || 9 || 6–3 || 148 || 235 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''63.0''' || 1,791 || 7.6 || 11 || 11 || 82.4 || 9 || 10 || 1.1 || 0
|-
! [[1979 NFL season|1979]] !! [[1979 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14''' || 12 || 7–5 || 176 || 310 || 56.8 || 2,160 || 7.0 || 14 || 16 || 72.0 || 11 || 30 || 2.7 || 0
|-
! [[1980 NFL season|1980]] !! [[1980 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 5 || 3 || 1–2 || 61 || 100 || 61.0 || 790 || 7.9 || 6 || 4 || 89.2 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 161 !! 151 !! 92–56–3 !! 1,926 !! 3,429 !! 56.2 !! 25,092 !! 7.3 !! 192 !! 172 !! 77.1 !! 261 !! 994 !! 3.8 !! 7
|}

===Super Bowl===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Game !! Opp. !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Result
|-
! [[Super Bowl VI|VI]] !! [[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| '''12''' || '''23''' || 52.2 || '''134''' || 5.8 || 0 || '''1''' || 51.7 || L 24–3
|-
! [[Super Bowl VII|VII]] !! [[1972 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 8 || 11 || 72.7 || 88 || 8.0 || '''1''' || '''1''' || 88.4 || '''W''' 14–7
|-
! [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]] !! [[1973 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 6 || 7 || '''85.7''' || 73 || '''10.4''' || 0 || 0 || '''110.1''' || '''W''' 24–7
|-
! colspan="2"| Totals !! 26 !! 41 !! 63.4 !! 295 !! 7.2 !! 1 !! 2 !! 80.8 !! W−L 2–1
|}

==Life after football==

===NBC Sports===
[[File:Nat Moore & Bob Griese at 2014 MIFF.jpg|thumb|[[Nat Moore]], guest and Griese at the 2014 [[Miami International Film Festival]]]]
To stay in touch with the game, in 1982 Griese decided to take a job as an announcer for [[NFL on NBC|NBC Sports]], teaming with [[Charlie Jones (sportscaster)|Charlie Jones]] for NFL games. While there, he called [[Super Bowl XX]].

===ABC Sports===
In 1987, Griese was hired by [[College Football on ABC|ABC Sports]], where he began to provide color commentary for college football games.<ref name=ESPN1>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=6087452 |title=Bob Griese retires from broadcasting |date=February 3, 2011 |website=ESPN |access-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414200158/http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=6087452 |url-status=live }}</ref>

While at ABC, Griese called the 1999, 2001 and 2005 BCS National Championship games.

At ABC Griese had many opportunities to watch his son [[Brian Griese]] play for the [[Michigan Wolverines]]. ABC was at first reluctant to let Griese broadcast Michigan games, fearing a conflict of interest. But when they decided to give it a try, Bob remained as impartial and professional as he could be, even referring to his son as “Griese,” rather than Brian, and pointing out errors when he felt necessary.

On January 1, 1998, Bob got to broadcast the Rose Bowl game, the last college game of his son's career. Brian was named MVP of the game, leading his Wolverines to an undefeated season and the national championship title with their Rose Bowl victory. Bob and Brian were emotional at that moment, as they thought of Bob's wife Judi, who had died from breast cancer in 1988 but whom they both felt was there at that special moment. Bob and Brian later wrote a book, entitled ''Undefeated'' ({{ISBN|0-7852-7021-3}}), which discussed not only their football connection, but also their love for Judi.

Brian became a professional quarterback and broadcaster himself, playing for the [[Denver Broncos]] and [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], and later commentating games for ESPN and ABC.

===ESPN===

During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Griese served as the lead commentator for ESPN's noon college football broadcasts. He retired from ESPN on February 3, 2011.<ref name=ESPN1/>

===Miami Dolphins broadcasts===
Griese has been an analyst for [[List of Miami Dolphins broadcasters#Preseason television announcers|Miami Dolphins preseason TV broadcasts]] since 2002.

In 2011, he joined the [[List of Miami Dolphins broadcasters#Radio announcers|Dolphins radio broadcast team]] as a color commentator, replacing former teammate [[Jim Mandich]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fl-xpm-2011-08-19-fl-miami-dolphins-broadcast-team-0819-story.html |title=Bob Griese will replace Jim Mandich on Dolphins' broadcasts |work=South Florida Sun Sentinel |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Griese married Purdue classmate Judi Lassus in June 1967,<ref name=grsmrrd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pxkfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5627%2C1648827 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |agency=Associated Press |title=Griese married |date=June 11, 1967 |page=17}}</ref> following their graduation, and they had three sons: [[Brian Griese|Brian]], Jeff, and Scott. A nurse, Judi lost a six-year battle with breast cancer at age 44 in early 1988.<ref name=jdbrns>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XEpUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5850%2C5062757 |newspaper=Boca Raton News |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Judi Griese, wife of ex-Miami Dolphin Bob Griese, dies at age 44 |date=February 15, 1988 |page=5B}}</ref><ref name=gfghv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_9tOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4543%2C798063|newspaper=Boca Raton News |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Griese finally gets Hall votes |date=August 3, 1990 |page=4C}}</ref> He now resides with his second wife, Shay, in [[Jupiter, Florida]], and [[Banner Elk, North Carolina]]. His youngest son is [[Brian Griese]] (b. 1975), who also played quarterback in the NFL. His grandson, Jack Griese, son of Scott, is a running back for the University of Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-22 |title=Jack Griese |url=https://virginiasports.com/player/jack-griese/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2006, Griese made an appearance on the game show, [[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|''Wheel of Fortune'']]: he won the $100,000 grand prize and donated his $114,310 total winnings to [[Judi's House]].<ref>{{Cite episode |series=Wheel of Fortune |network=Syndication |date=January 24, 2006 |season=23 |number=4387}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=#TBT former ABC/@ESPNCFB analyst Bob Griese competed on @WheelofFortune for @JudisHouse – & son @briangriese , current ESPN #MNF analyst, was in attendance |url=https://twitter.com/ESPNFrontRow/status/1354879448349368325 |website=Twitter |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128195041/https://twitter.com/ESPNFrontRow/status/1354879448349368325 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1975, Griese received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= 800 Feted at Glittering Banquet|date= June 29, 1975|publisher= [[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sunday-Courier-and-Press-June-29-1975.pdf|access-date= November 8, 2020|archive-date= May 2, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210502031818/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sunday-Courier-and-Press-June-29-1975.pdf|url-status= live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Profootballhof|id=82|name=Bob Griese}}
* {{cfbhof|id=1868|name=Bob Griese}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=Bob-Griese|espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=GrieBo00 |dbf=GRIESBOB01 |rotoworld=}}

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