Twice the Super Bowl champion Howard Twilley, a member of Miami Dolphins’ undefeated team from 1972, has died 81.
The National Football Foundation announced its passing on Friday, but did not give a cause of death. The native of Texas died on Wednesday.
Before he landed in Miami, the wide recipient played at Tulsa. In 1965 he was named a unanimous Alla-American and Heisman Trophy runner after an average of 13.4 receptions per match, which NFF said remains an FBS record.
“Howard Twilley was one of the biggest recipients in college football history with an unpleasant ability to open and change a game,” said Archie Manning, NFF’s chairman. “He simply defined what it meant to be a dominant recipient, and his performance at Tulsa during the 1965 season is still one of the largest in our sport’s history.”
Both AFL’s dolphins and NFL’s Minnesota Vikings chose him in the late rounds of his drafts from 1966, and he ended in Miami.
He spent 11 seasons with the dolphins and won Back-to-back Super Bowl Championship after the 1972 and 1973 seasons. In 120 career games (82 starts) during the regular season he took 212 passes for 3,064 meters and 23 touchdowns.
He started all three playoffs in 1972 and made four receptions at 61 meters and one point.
“We are deeply saddened that Howard Twilley, a founding player for the dolphins passed away in 1966,” the team said in a statement Friday. “His touchdown in Super Bowl VII helped the Dolphins meet NFL’s only perfect season and his contribution to the organization will always remember.”
We are deeply saddened that Howard Twilley passed away, a founding player for the dolphins in 1966.
His touchdown in Super Bowl VII helped Dolphins Cap NFL’s only perfect season and his contribution to the organization will forever remember. pic.twitter.com/4tki6g5j7x
– Miami Dolphins (@miamidolphins) February 7, 2025
After retirement, Twilley owned a chain of sports articles and worked for a securities company.
-Field level media
