Former Patriots, Dolphins Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti Dies at 78
Buoniconti was a five-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion in 14 seasons.
Former Patriots and Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti died on Wednesday after a battle with dementia, the Dolphins announced. Buoniconti was 78.
Buoniconti was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He was a five-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion and won the Lombardi Trophy with the Dolphins in 1972 and 1973.
Buoniconti played the first seven years of his career with the Patriots from 1962-68 before playing seven seasons with the Dolphins from 1969-76.
The Notre Dame product tallied 32 interceptions, which stands as the third-most by any linebacker in NFL history.
Buoniconti dedicated his post-NFL career raising money for research into spinal cord and brain injury. Buoniconti started kickstarted the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after his son, Marc, became quadriplegic due to a football injury in 1985.
Sports Illustrated's S.L. Price detailed Buoniconti's work with the foundation as well as his fight with dementia in May 2017.
Sports
via DMT.NEWS
Michael Shapiro, Khareem Sudlow
