Undefeated - by Mike Freeman (Paperback)

About the Book

"[Freeman is] an excellent storyteller."--Sports Illustrated

The 1972 Miami Dolphins, under the expert leadership of legendary coach Don Shula, remain to this day the only team in the National Football League ever to enjoy a perfect season with no defeats and no ties. Now, 40 years after sports history was made, acclaimed sports writer Mike Freeman celebrates the Dolphins' singular achievement in Undefeated. A riveting story filled with heartbreaking injuries, miraculous finishes, and tested relationships--featuring a roster of gridiron greats, including Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Mercury Morris, Nick Buoniconti and others--Undefeated follows a underdog team on its remarkable run: 14 regular season victories, 2 postseason wins, and a Super Bowl championship. It is a book no football fan will want to miss.

Book Synopsis

"[Freeman is] an excellent storyteller."

The 1972 Miami Dolphins, under the expert leadership of legendary coach Don Shula, remain to this day the only team in the National Football League ever to enjoy a perfect season with no defeats and no ties. Now, 40 years after sports history was made, acclaimed sports writer Mike Freeman celebrates the Dolphins' singular achievement in Undefeated. A riveting story filled with heartbreaking injuries, miraculous finishes, and tested relationships--featuring a roster of gridiron greats, including Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Mercury Morris, Nick Buoniconti and others--Undefeated follows a underdog team on its remarkable run: 14 regular season victories, 2 postseason wins, and a Super Bowl championship. It is a book no football fan will want to miss.

How did one team defy the odds to achieve what no other in NFL history has managed?

• A Legendary Coach: Go inside the locker room with Don Shula, the demanding leader who forged a team of champions from the ashes of a humiliating Super Bowl loss.
• The Perfect Season: A game-by-game chronicle of the Dolphins' unprecedented 17-0 run, from miraculous finishes to the injuries that tested their resolve.
• The No-Name Defense: Discover the story behind the league's most underestimated defensive unit, a group of unsung heroes who systematically dismantled their opponents.
• An Unforgettable Roster: Meet the gridiron greats who made it happen--from the punishing runs of Larry Csonka and the explosive speed of Mercury Morris to the cool precision of Bob Griese.

From the Back Cover

Each year, every football team sets out to play a perfect season. Only one has ever succeeded in beating the odds.

The Miami Dolphins of the late 1960s were a laughingstock, a franchise where careers went to die. Then came Coach Don Shula. In just a few short years--through hard work, long practices, and his no-nonsense attitude--Shula transformed the team into a championship franchise. Led by such greats as Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Nick Buoniconti, Larry Little, Mercury Morris, and Jake Scott, the team was undefeated in the 1972 regular season and went on to win Super Bowl VII. Along the way, the Dolphins became the team of the 1970s, with Miami as a fascinating backdrop.

Based on years of research and interviews, Undefeated, by award-winning journalist Mike Freeman, examines what is perhaps the single greatest accomplishment in team sports history: the unforgettable season in which the Dolphins didn't lose a single game. There has never been a football team like those Miami Dolphins, and there may never be again.

Review Quotes

"A richly-detailed and riveting account of one of the great accomplishments in the history of American sports. It's a book that's just as good as the team it chronicles." - Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist, ABC News commentator, author, Best Seat in the House

"An entertaining and meticulous journey back in time, illuminating the men and personalities who, in some cases, are as memorable as the team's 17-0 record." - Jim Trotter, Sports Illustrated

"In this homage to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, Freeman's classic book will enthrall readers with the extraordinary story of a team that went through 14 regular season games and two playoff games to capture Super Bowl VII." - Publishers Weekly

"Timed well and professionally written, this work will be in demand as the definitive book on a signature team. - STARRED REVIEW, Library Journal

"Definitive...a fascinating look at a culture in transition...Freeman captures the life of a legend with grace and passion." - Publishers Weekly

"Mike Freeman...gives you so much to think about that you might find yourself switching off a game to read." - New York Times Book Review

"[Freeman is] an excellent storyteller." - Sports Illustrated

"Undefeated is a literary time machine; a marvelous, engrossing trip back to a period when football was played with love and passion and the Miami Dolphins were not merely fantastic, but unstoppable. Mike Freeman is one of the nation's best sports writers, and he proves it once again here. A dazzling read." - Jeff Pearlman, author Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton

"A marvelous, engrossing trip back to a period when football was played with love and passion and the Miami Dolphins were not merely fantastic, but unstoppable. Mike Freeman is one of the nation's best sports writers, and he proves it once again here. A dazzling read." - Jeff Pearlman, author Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton

"Well researched and fast paced, UNDEFEATED reveals the psyche of the only unbeaten team in the history of the NFL. Untold stories from the locker rooms, meeting rooms, and on the field are placed in the historical context of the unsettled seventies. Lest we forget - no names, no more." - Andrea Kremer, multi Emmy award winning journalist and HBO Real Sports correspondent

"A must-read for fans." - Maxim

"A sweeping, state-of-the union report on the National Football League...smart and thorough." - San Francisco Chronicle