Bob Kuechenberg
Encyclopedia
Robert John Kuechenberg (born October 14, 1947 in Gary, Indiana
) is a former National Football League
offensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins
for fourteen seasons between 1970
and 1983
, spending the 1984 season
on injured reserve
. He was a mainstay in a line that included Hall of Famers Jim Langer
, Larry Little
, and Dwight Stephenson
and played in six Pro Bowl
s in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was selected as one of the top 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
from 2002–2006, and one of the top 17 finalists from 2007–2009, but missed the cut every year. He was inducted into the Miami Dolphin's Honor Roll
on December 15, 1995. Bob is the brother of former Chicago Bears linebacker Rudy Kuechenberg
.
where he played both the offensive and defensive lines.
But before college Kuechenberg attended Hobart High School, located in Hobart Indiana, 10 minutes from Gary, and 30 minutes from Chicago. It is a rather small town. Kuechenberg played football for the Hobart Brickies in his high school years.
as a fourth-round pick in the 1969 NFL Draft
. He quit shortly after training camp started and played a season of semi-pro football with the Chicago Owls
in the Continental Football League
. Kuechenberg signed with the Dolphins as a free agent
in 1970
. He became a starter that season as the Dolphins finished 10-4 and made the playoffs for the first time in club history. The next season, 1971, helped the Dolphins make it to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Dallas Cowboys
24-3. In that game Kuechenberg's opponent was Hall of Famer Bob Lilly
.
The next two seasons the Dolphins won the Super Bowl (going 17-0 in 1972) and his play was noticed by New York Post writer Paul Zimmerman
who named Keuchenberg on his All-pro ballot. The following season, 1974, was named All-AFC by Pro Football Weekly and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He was named 1st team All-Pro in 1975
and in 1978
and was named All-AFC
three times. He was Second-team All-pro in 1977.
Kuechenberg has also been critical of his former teams. One such critique prompted then-current Miami All-Pro, Jason Taylor
, to comment, "It's another chapter in the grumpy Kuechenberg story. It's Kuechenberg. He gets up every year and complains about something. If it ain't one thing, it's another. He needs a hug and a hobby. It's ridiculous."
Bob Kuechenberg was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
) is a former National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
offensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for fourteen seasons between 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
and 1983
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
, spending the 1984 season
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He was a mainstay in a line that included Hall of Famers Jim Langer
Jim Langer
James John Langer is a former American football center who played for the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings. He is considered one of the greatest NFL centers of all time and a hard working and quick blocker...
, Larry Little
Larry Little
Lawrence Chatmon Little is a former offensive guard in college and professional American football in the National Football League. He has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993...
, and Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Eugene Stephenson is a former American football offensive lineman and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 1998...
and played in six Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was selected as one of the top 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
from 2002–2006, and one of the top 17 finalists from 2007–2009, but missed the cut every year. He was inducted into the Miami Dolphin's Honor Roll
The Miami Dolphin Honor Roll
The Miami Dolphin Honor Roll is a ring around the second tier at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, which honors former players, coaches, contributors, and officials who have made significant contributions to the Miami Dolphins franchise....
on December 15, 1995. Bob is the brother of former Chicago Bears linebacker Rudy Kuechenberg
Rudy Kuechenberg
Rudy Kuechenberg is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for five seasons for the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Atlanta Falcons.-References:...
.
College career
Kuechenberg attended college at the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
where he played both the offensive and defensive lines.
But before college Kuechenberg attended Hobart High School, located in Hobart Indiana, 10 minutes from Gary, and 30 minutes from Chicago. It is a rather small town. Kuechenberg played football for the Hobart Brickies in his high school years.
Professional career
Kuechenberg was drafted by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a fourth-round pick in the 1969 NFL Draft
1969 NFL Draft
The 1969 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, the third and final year in which the NFL and American Football League held a joint draft of college players. The draft took place on January 28–29, 1969....
. He quit shortly after training camp started and played a season of semi-pro football with the Chicago Owls
Chicago Owls
The Chicago Owls were a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They were members of the Continental Football League during the league's last two years...
in the Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
. Kuechenberg signed with the Dolphins as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
. He became a starter that season as the Dolphins finished 10-4 and made the playoffs for the first time in club history. The next season, 1971, helped the Dolphins make it to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
24-3. In that game Kuechenberg's opponent was Hall of Famer Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly
Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...
.
| "I first played against Kuechenberg in Super Bowl VI, and I realized he was one of the best offensive linemen I had ever seen” |
| Bob Lilly Bob Lilly Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:... |
The next two seasons the Dolphins won the Super Bowl (going 17-0 in 1972) and his play was noticed by New York Post writer Paul Zimmerman
Paul Zimmerman
Paul Lionel Zimmerman is the son of Charles S. Zimmerman and Rose Zimmerman. Zimmerman, also known to readers as "Dr. Z", is an American football sportswriter who wrote for the weekly magazine Sports Illustrated, as well as the magazine's website, SI.com. He is sometimes confused with Paul D...
who named Keuchenberg on his All-pro ballot. The following season, 1974, was named All-AFC by Pro Football Weekly and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He was named 1st team All-Pro in 1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
and in 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
and was named All-AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
three times. He was Second-team All-pro in 1977.
Kuechenberg has also been critical of his former teams. One such critique prompted then-current Miami All-Pro, Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor (American football)
Jason Paul Taylor is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft...
, to comment, "It's another chapter in the grumpy Kuechenberg story. It's Kuechenberg. He gets up every year and complains about something. If it ain't one thing, it's another. He needs a hug and a hobby. It's ridiculous."
Bob Kuechenberg was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986