Who Is Larry Csonka? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on December 25, 1946, Larry Csonka is a retired American football player renowned for his time with the Miami Dolphins in the NFL. As of 2025, he is 78 years old. Csonka was a powerful running back known for his rugged playing style and was a key figure in the Dolphins' perfect season in 1972. His impressive career led him to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, solidifying his status as a football icon.
| Occupation | Motivational Speaker |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 25, 1946 |
| Age | 78 Years |
| Birth Place | Stow, Ohio, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Larry Csonka's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Standing tall at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), Larry Csonka was known not only for his height but also for his formidable physique. During his playing days, he weighed approximately 250 pounds (113 kg), which contributed to his prowess on the field. His robust build was integral to his style of play, allowing him to excel in both power running and blocking.
Over the next four seasons, Csonka never missed a game, and he led the Dolphins in rushing the next five seasons. Writes teammate Jim Langer, "Csonka had the utmost respect of every player on the team, offense and defense." By the 1970s he was one of the most feared runners in professional football.
Standing 6ft 3in and 235 lb, he was one of the biggest running backs of his day and pounded through the middle of the field with relative ease, often dragging tacklers 5–10 yards. He was described as a bulldozer or battering ram. His running style reminded people of a legendary power runner from the 1930s, Bronko Nagurski.
Said Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jeff Siemon after Super Bowl VIII, "It's not the collision that gets you. It's what happens after you tackle him. His legs are just so strong he keeps moving. He carries you. He's a movable weight." He rarely fumbled the ball or dropped a pass, and he was an excellent blocker.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Larry Csonka is happily married to his wife, Judith Csonka. The couple has been together for many years, sharing a deep bond and a passion for outdoor activities. Although details about his dating life before marriage are less publicized, Csonka has maintained a private family life, focusing on his legacy and family values.
Csonka and his friend, Dolphins running back Jim Kiick, were known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The August 7, 1972 issue of Sports Illustrated featured a profile of Csonka and Kiick.
This issue has become a collector's item because of the cover photograph of Csonka and Kiick by famed Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss, with Csonka (inadvertently) making an obscene gesture with the middle finger of his right hand.
In 1973, Csonka and Kiick, in collaboration with sportswriter Dave Anderson, wrote a book, Always on the Run.
(A second edition, with an additional chapter covering the 1973 season, Super Bowl VIII, and their signing with the World Football League was published in 1974.) Csonka and Kiick discuss their childhoods, their college football careers, their sometimes stormy relationship with Don Shula, their experiences as pro football players, and the sometimes
outrageous behavior of their teammates.
The book provides insight into the history of the Dolphins and the state of pro football in the late 1960s and early and mid-1970s.
Net Worth and Salary
Larry Csonka's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million as of 2025. His earnings stem from a successful NFL career, endorsements, and various business ventures. Following his retirement from football, Csonka became a sports commentator and ventured into business, including ownership of restaurants and participation in TV shows, which have contributed significantly to his overall wealth.
Csonka was the No. 1 pick by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins in the 1968 Common Draft, the eighth player and first running back drafted in the first round. He signed a three-year contract that paid him a signing bonus of $34,000 and a car, and a salary of $20,000, then $25,000 , then $30,000 each year.
Career, Business, and Investments
Csonka's NFL career is marked by astonishing achievements, including being a two-time Super Bowl champion and the Super Bowl MVP in 1973. After retiring from football, he explored multiple avenues, including broadcasting, where he provided insights into the game as a commentator. Additionally, Csonka has engaged in various business pursuits, such as restaurant ownership and motivational speaking, leveraging his fame and experience to inspire others.
Csonka began his football career at Stow High School in Stow, Ohio. He was the starting fullback on the 1962 Stow Bulldogs football team that won the Metropolitan League of the Akron-area championship under coach Dick Fortner. Csonka played for Stow from 1960 to 1963. He was also a wrestler while in high school.
Social Network
Larry Csonka remains a prominent figure on social media, where he actively connects with fans and shares insights from his life and career. Though he has a more reserved presence compared to younger athletes, he uses platforms like Twitter and Instagram to update followers about his charitable activities and personal experiences.
Stories abound about Csonka's toughness. He broke his nose about ten times playing football in high school, college, and the pros, causing it to be permanently deformed, and he would remain in the game with blood pouring out of it.
He may be the only running back to receive a personal foul for unnecessary roughness while running the ball, when in a game against the Buffalo Bills in 1970, he knocked out safety John Pitts with a forearm shot that was more like a right cross.
In a close game against the Minnesota Vikings in the perfect season of 1972, Csonka was hit in the back by linebacker Roy Winston in a tackle so grotesque it was shown on The Tonight Show. Csonka thought his back was broken and he actually crawled off the field. Once on the sideline, he "walked it off" and in a few minutes was back in the game.
His return to the game was crucial, as the winning touchdown pass to tight end Jim Mandich was set up by a fake to Csonka. He was named the 10th toughest football player of all time in the 1996 NFL Films production The NFL's 100 Toughest Players.
Dolphins' offensive line coach Monte Clark was asked about Csonka's bruising running style, and he responded, "When Csonka goes on safari, the lions roll up their windows."
Education
Csonka attended Syracuse University, where he played college football for the Syracuse Orange. His time at Syracuse was crucial in developing the skills that would lead him to a successful professional career in the NFL. The educational foundation not only enhanced his abilities on the field but also prepared him for future endeavors outside of football.
A five-time Pro Bowler, and three-time first-team All-Pro, Csonka remains to this day as the Miami Dolphins franchise's all-time leading rusher with 6,737 yards and 53 touchdowns. In his last year with the Dolphins in 1979, Csonka also won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Csonka was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Csonka is also currently one of three former Miami Dolphins to have his jersey number (#39) retired—alongside Bob Griese (#12, 1985) and Dan Marino (#13, 2000) -- with his being the most recent, in 2002.
