Larry Csonka Biography, Stats, Career, Net Worth

John Rizzo

Larry Csonka is a former American football fullback who played for the Miami Dolphins, Memphis Southmen, and New York Giants. Born on December 25, 1946, in Stow, Ohio, Csonka is 6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m) tall and weighs 237 lb (108 kg).

He attended Stow High School before going to Syracuse University. In 1968, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the first round as the eighth pick. During his career, Csonka won two Super Bowl championships and was named the Super Bowl MVP in 1973.

He was a five-time Pro Bowler and is in several Halls of Fame, including the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Larry Csonka
Source: thesportsdaily.com

Personal Information of Larry Csonka

Real Name/Full NameLarry Richard Csonka
Age76 years old
Birth DateDec 25, 1946
NationalityAmerican
Height6′ 3″
Weight238 pounds
Marital StatusSingle
Wife/Spouse (Name)Audrey Bradshaw
ProfessionAmerican Football player
Net Worth$2 million

Stats

Regular Season Averages
seasonTeam
2017-18
CHI
2018-19
CHI
2019-20
CHI
2020-21
CHI
2021-22
CLE
2022-23
UTAH
2023-24
UTAH
Career
GPGSMINFGFG%3PT3P%FTFT%ORDRREBASTBLKSTLPFTOPTS
686829.75.5-12.743.42.1-5.936.22.1-2.484.31.26.37.51.20.60.61.51.215.2
525132.36.6-15.343.02.3-6.436.13.3-3.887.21.47.69.01.40.60.72.31.618.7
505029.85.0-11.842.52.2-6.334.42.5-3.182.41.25.16.31.50.50.81.91.614.7
512625.84.9-10.248.02.3-5.840.21.5-1.882.60.74.65.30.90.30.51.51.013.6
616130.85.1-11.544.52.2-6.235.82.3-2.686.81.04.75.71.30.50.72.10.914.8
666634.48.7-17.349.93.0-7.739.25.3-6.087.52.06.78.61.90.60.62.11.925.6
555533.17.8-16.248.03.2-8.039.94.5-5.089.92.25.98.22.00.50.91.81.423.2
40337731.06.3-13.745.92.5-6.637.53.1-3.686.61.45.97.31.50.50.71.91.418.1
Regular Season Totals
seasonTeam
2017-18
CHI
2018-19
CHI
2019-20
CHI
2020-21
CHI
2021-22
CLE
2022-23
UTAH
2023-24
UTAH
Career
FGFG%3PT3P%FTFT%ORDRREBASTBLKSTLPFTOPTS
374-86243.4145-40136.2140-16684.379429508794039103831033
342-79543.0120-33236.1170-19587.27439647075333712285974
251-59142.5109-31734.4126-15382.4602533137423429681737
250-52148.0119-29640.276-9282.6352332684515267552695
313-70344.5136-38035.8138-15986.85928634581304513054900
571-114449.9200-51039.2349-39987.513044057012338421371271691
427-89048.0175-43939.9249-27789.91223274491102650100771278
2528-550645.91004-267537.51248-144186.6559236429235872052817635597308
Regular Season Misc Totals
seasonTeam
2017-18
CHI
2018-19
CHI
2019-20
CHI
2020-21
CHI
2021-22
CLE
2022-23
UTAH
2023-24
UTAH
Career
DD2TD3DQEJECTTECHFLAGAST/TOSTL/TOSC-EFFSH-EFF
14000001.00.51.1980.52
20000100.90.41.2250.51
3000000.90.51.2470.52
2000000.90.51.3340.59
3030001.50.81.2800.54
28010001.00.31.4780.59
19000101.40.61.4360.58
89040201.10.51.3270.55

Childhood

Larry Csonka grew up in Stow, Ohio, in a family of six children. He was raised on a farm, helping his Hungarian family with chores and farming duties. His childhood was filled with hard work and dedication to his family.

Despite this, he found time to play with his siblings and enjoyed sports. Csonka was an active child with a love for the outdoors. He would often go fishing or hunting with his family. Larry Csonka’s childhood was heavily influenced by his Hungarian heritage.

His family would often cook traditional Hungarian dishes and speak the language at home. He was proud of his heritage and carried it with him throughout his life. Csonka’s strong work ethic was instilled in him from a young age, and he would carry this forward into his football career.

He was taught to be disciplined and determined, which would later fuel his success as a football player. Overall, Larry Csonka’s childhood was one of hard work, dedication, and a strong connection to his Hungarian heritage.

High school career

Larry Csonka had his start in football at Stow High School, where he played from 1960 to 1963. He started as the fullback for the Stow Bulldogs in 1962, under Coach Dick Fortner. The team won the Metropolitan League championship of the Akron-area.

Csonka’s role as fullback was instrumental in the team’s success. He formed a strong connection with his coach, Fortner, who would continue to influence him throughout his career.

Csonka’s time at Stow High School was marked by his dedication to football, and he quickly became an essential player on the team.

He showed immense natural talent on the field, which he continued to develop over the years. His high school career set the tone for his future success as a football player.

Csonka’s time at Stow High School was an essential period in his life, where he learned valuable lessons in teamwork and leadership, which would serve him well in his future endeavors.

Overall, Larry Csonka’s high school career played a crucial role in shaping his future in football.

College career

Larry Csonka had a promising future in football during his college years. He was highly recruited by four universities including Clemson, Iowa, Vanderbilt, and Syracuse. After much consideration, he decided to pursue his studies and football career at Syracuse University.

In his first season, Csonka played as a middle linebacker but soon realized that his potential lay in another position. He was then switched to the fullback position which proved to be a turning point in his career as he emerged as an All-American in that role.

During his time as a fullback, Csonka set several records at Syracuse University, breaking records that were previously held by famous players such as Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little, and Jim Brown.

His time as a fullback was undoubtedly an extraordinary period of his college career, and he proved to be a valuable asset to his team.

His remarkable accomplishments helped to further bolster the reputation of the Syracuse University football team, and he continued to play an instrumental role in their success throughout his college career.

Overall, Larry Csonka had a remarkable college career, which played an important role in shaping his future success in football.

Professional career

Larry Csonka was selected as the No. 1 pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 1968 draft. He was the first running back to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Csonka signed a 3-year contract with an initial signing bonus of $34,000, a car and a salary of $20,000 for the first year.

His salary increased to $25,000 in the second year and to $30,000 in the third year. He had an impressive professional football career playing as a fullback. He was a fierce runner who earned a reputation for being difficult to tackle.

He was a part of the Miami Dolphins team that won two consecutive Super Bowl victories in 1972 and 1973. He was also named the Super Bowl MVP in 1973. Csonka played for the Dolphins until 1975 when he opted to join the Memphis Southmen in the World Football League.

He returned to the NFL in 1976 and joined the New York Giants. Csonka retired from professional football in 1979.

Net Worth

Larry Csonka is a former American football player who played as a fullback for the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). He is widely regarded as one of the best fullbacks in NFL history and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Csonka had a successful career both on and off the field, earning multiple awards and accolades as well as pursuing various business ventures and media appearances. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Csonka has an estimated net worth of $2 million as of 2021.

After football

After retiring from football, Larry Csonka pursued a career as a motivational speaker and a television host. He has been associated with NBC Sports Network (formerly OLN and Versus) and has hosted various hunting and fishing shows for them.

Csonka made appearances in several TV shows and movies like The Ed Sullivan Show, Emergency!, and Midway. He even worked for the United States Football League (USFL) Jacksonville Bulls in the 1980s as director of scouting and general manager.

Larry Csonka was also a color analyst for NFL games on NBC in 1988. He gained popularity by being an analyst on the syndicated show American Gladiators from 1990 to 1993. Apart from his television career, Csonka also authored two books “Always On The Run!” and “Csonka – From A To Z”.

These books not only talk about his career in football but also inspires readers with his life experiences. Csonka’s ability to motivate and inspire others has earned him the reputation of a respected personality in the world of sports and motivation.

His career after football has been exceptionally successful and is admired by many fans till this date.

Where is Larry Csonka now?

  • Alaska resident.
  • Lived in Anchorage for several years.
  • Current residents of Wasilla with Audrey Bradshaw.
  • Own a home in Florida and a farm in Ohio.
  • Proud owners of their yellow lab, Lace.
  • No mention of him residing anywhere else.
  • Appears to split time between Alaska, Ohio, and Florida.
  • Has not recently switched residence or moved to a new location.
  • Exact address or location unknown as information is not disclosed.
  • Overall, seems to have a happy and varied lifestyle with his partner and pets.

Did Larry Csonka pass away?

Larry Csonka is still alive and well at the age of 75. He was the leader of the halcyon days, during his time as a football player. However, his coach, Don Shula, passed away in 2020 at the age of 90.

Csonka has recently released a book named “Head On: A Memoir.” The reason behind writing this book was asked to him, and his answer hasn’t been mentioned in the info section. Thus, the book might contain his personal experiences, struggles, and achievements, which he wants to share with others.

Larry Csonka is a retired professional football player and has a successful career. Despite being retired, he remains to be a favorite football player for many. Currently, he engages himself in writing, speaking, and charity work.

His contribution to the football industry remains invaluable, and his legacy lives on. Fans of Csonka can read his book and delve deeper into his personal experiences and learn more about his journey.

What was Larry Csonka salary?

Larry Csonka was the #1 pick by the AFL’s Miami Dolphins in the 1968 draft. He signed a 3-year contract for:

  • $20,000 in the first year
  • $25,000 in the second year
  • $30,000 in the third year
  • $34,000 bonus, including a car

So, Csonka’s initial salary was $20,000, which increased by $5,000 in the second year and then by another $5,000 in the third year.

He also received a bonus of $34,000, which included a car. Overall, his contract totaled $109,000 over the three years. Considering the time and the era, this was quite a substantial amount and made Csonka one of the highest-paid players of that time.

How many Super Bowls did Larry Csonka play in?

Larry Csonka was a professional American football player who played for the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Csonka played in three Super Bowls during his career.

He won two of them, in 1972 and 1973 with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had a perfect season in 1972, winning all 14 of their regular-season games and three postseason games, including the Super Bowl.

Csonka played a key role in the team’s success, rushing for over 1,000 yards in both of those Super Bowl-winning seasons. He also played in Super Bowl VI with the Dolphins in 1971, but they lost to the Dallas Cowboys.

How many times did Larry Csonka break his nose?

Larry Csonka, a former NFL player, had a tough career on the field. He was known for his incredible ability to run 4th-and-1. Besides his skills, Csonka was also known for breaking his nose several times during his career.

In fact, he broke it so many times that it became permanently deformed. Despite the numerous injuries to his nose, Csonka never let it stop him from playing. He would remain in the game, even with blood pouring out of his nose.

Apart from his nose, Csonka also suffered from back pains during his career. In one incident, in 1972, he thought he had broken his back on a hit by a Minnesota Vikings linebacker. However, he still crawled off the field.

Csonka’s toughness and determination made him one of the most respected players in NFL history. His ability to play through pain and injuries made him a fan favorite. Csonka’s legacy lives on, and he is remembered as one of the greatest NFL players of all time.

What year did the Dolphins go undefeated?

The Miami Dolphins had a perfect season in a certain year. This means they won all of their games that year, without any losses. They accomplished this feat in a special year named 1972. During this year, the Dolphins played 14 regular season games and three playoff games, and they won all of them.

They even went on to win the Super Bowl that year against the Washington Redskins. That year, the Dolphins weren’t just winning games, they were dominant in every aspect of the game. They were first in the NFL for total offense, total defense, scoring offense, and scoring defense.

This feat is still impressive, even today, as no other NFL team has accomplished what the 1972 Miami Dolphins did. The team has remained legendary in the world of football, with fans and analysts often discussing their incredible season.

Even though many years have passed since that glorious year of 1972 for the Dolphins, their legacy lives on.

To Recap

Larry Csonka is a former American football player who was born on December 25, 1946, in Stow, Ohio.

He played fullback and stood at 6 feet 3.5 inches tall and weighed 237 pounds. Csonka played for Syracuse in college before being drafted in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

During his career, Csonka won two Super Bowls, was a Super Bowl MVP, and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He was also a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro selection.

Csonka’s No. 39 jersey is retired by the Miami Dolphins, and he is in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.

Photo of author

John Rizzo

I am a professional rugby player in the Washington DC-Baltimore area. I have been playing rugby for over 10 years and have had the opportunity to play in many different countries. I am also a coach for both youth and adult rugby teams. I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Sports Management and Marketing. I am currently working on my MPA from American University and plan to pursue this career path after graduating next year. LinkedIn

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