The Human Wrecking Ball Who Dominated the NFL

Larry Csonka was a powerhouse fullback who bulldozed his way through defenses, embodying the toughness of 1970s football.

[@waynenoll1967]

He’s led a charmed life; after his football career ended he was sitting around the farm in Ohio, wondering what to do with the rest of his life when Miller beer called and asked if he wanted to have fun drinking beer and making commercials for them. When that was over, the outdoor channel called and asked him if he wanted to host a hunting and fishing show.

[@FightinWinchukian-i1x]

great outdoor sportsman he was

[@David-h4n9h]

He was best fullback in NFL history. To this day the toughest player I ever saw play in the NFL. That dog would hunt. Hope he is healthy, Happy , doing well one hellva football player. Huge part of Dolphins success in the 70's.

[@michaelcarter8120]

Larry Csonka was probably the toughest, hardest hitting, running-back in the NFL. That was until the Houston Oilers drafted a player from the University of Texas in 1978.

[@SteveCapozzi]

Ec

[@es2056]

Hook 'em!

[@TheBatugan77]

My favorite Csonka fact, he's the only running back I saw get flagged for unnecessary roughness.

[@marksmith4346]

Once they changed the rules (ducking the head before contact), some running backs got called for it but for decades he was the only running back to be called for it WHILE running the ball. He used to throw that forearm like a club...it is why his off hand was always closed.

[@Ben-qm1mv]

He was Earl Campbell before Earl came along !

[@stevenwaldrop7853]

He was a hoss. Combined with Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick, they had just about the best rushing attack ever.

[@BarARanchMason]

He was and still is my favorite football player

[@geraldmoore46]

When asked why he liked playing fullback he said "I get a weapon", what's that Larry?... The football. There's footage of him jamming it into someone's throat. Now that's a player!

[@dapinelli]

He was a great player, no doubt, but he wasn't in the same league as Earl Campbell. Close though. John Riggins was also in the same mold too

[@johnp388]

I had been a Redskins fan as a kid when they lost to the Dolphins in the '72 SB. Ten years later when the Redskins beat them in the SB, Shula said Riggins reminded him of a fullback he used to have. Of course he was talking about Csonka. Two of the greatest to play the game.

[@davidk6269]

I have tremendous respect for Csonka. Csonka was indeed a human wrecking ball, but I tend to suspect that Earl Campbell was even more punishing to tackle. Just my opinion.

[@nflunveiled]

I do agree, I made a video Campbell and argued he was the most powerful runner ever. That being said, it would suck to tackle either!

[@davidk6269]

@nflunveiled Absolutely! Campbell or Csonka, the results are the same: a trail of concussed and sore defenders!

[@6213explorer1]

Larry Caonka, Marc Hubbard and John Riggins were some old school, tough running backs.

[@JohnnyReb-BBQ]

One of the toughest to ever carry the ball.

[@veganliving6255]

Great video, thanks for your work :)

[@nflunveiled]

appreciate it as always 🙏

[@MarcPagan]

Great fun - thanks. Yep, during the 70s in peewee/PAL/Boys Club football ....the number 39 was amongst the first to be claimed.

[@markhicks8377]

csonka was a bad ass

[@WalterWhiteFootballSharing]

Czonka had an all world OL too, and while Czonka was a running FB Jim Kiick was a great blocker at HB. FB and HB meant totally different things then where both HB and FB ran and caught and blocked, the FB just bigger. Everyone had a split T backfield 'pro form' in Madden, or Far or Near the TE, still 2 backs equally deep and usually had around the same rush yardage if it was a good run game...a great offense had two 1000 yard backs. Later on in the comparatively short era of ONE Bellcow RB who got 20 carries a game at least with a blocking specialist in the I formation. And a backup who got 5 carries to rest the bellcow. Unless they were losing badly then its 10 carries and pass pass pass lose by 20.

[@richardmeo2503]

Solid player, always did his job and NO drama. Schula used Csonka the way the Jets used Snell when they beat Colts in Super-III. Grind out the yards, eat up the clock and keep opposing offense off the field.

[@edwhite3767]

Csonka was a BEAST! That's when football was football!!

[@rustypugh123]

If you notice near the beginning of the video, there is a clip where Pat Fischer of the Redskins didn’t even TRY to tackle Csonka. Fischer was real good at spearing people in the back when they were on the ground, but when Larry came at him with the ball, he turned and ran like a little *itc*

[@charlesporter1148]

slow down...theres another video of Fischer taking csonka down easily with an ankle tackle....the way it should be done..

[@dougjamesvandals]

Just a helluva back period! Dolphins were very good back then and it's hard to stay on top

[@terryshaw9471]

Absolutely loved watching him play bulldozing over people and combined with Kiik and Mercury Morris the Dolphins were unstoppable

[@nflunveiled]

absolutely amazing trio

[@marksmith4346]

I was discussing it with someone who thought Zonk shouldn't be in the HOF and his point was he didn't break a lot of tackles, that the offensive line was just good. I told him that he didn't understand Csonka's game. He wanted contact, he wanted to tire the defense down, he wanted them to hurt and avoid contact. It opened up things for the receivers but also the other backs, Merc could run outside the play after LC had run over a LB and the LB would take a bad angle and never touch Mercury on the following play. It was a strategy, intentional.

[@idx1941]

Remember also he was a fullback! No fullback blocking for him!

[@jamescurran9002]

Csonka is still the man i think of when they say Power Fullback

[@theshield8744]

All Players that I talked to about Csonka who played with & against him all said tge same thing,that He weight ever bit of 260lb.

[@6412mars]

The original "Beast Mode"

[@J.P.-dd6ij]

It would not surprise me in todays game, absent of fullbacks, that he would be an athletic guard. More in the lines that Denver has traditionally used. I can tell you from experience, taking on an athletic guard sucks because you know you're going to get the worst of it. if those guys ever get through your defensive line, you become expendable and hope the next level makes the tackle. Imagine that shotgun snaps were only used on punts!

[@jamescurran9002]

Wait a minute, Booby Clark was sued over a hit against a safety on the Denver Broncos

[@wordnerd2005]

Csonka , Campbell, Riggins , Henry. Power backs.

[@Florida239]

Mike Alstott

[@TheBatugan77]

Not to state the obvious, but Jim Brown often totalled would be tacklers. A 230 pound colossus with speed.

[@1983jblack]

He was a beast but Csonka intentionally ran TOWARDS would be tacklers

[@omni-man4624]

Dont forget the Diesel Riggo...Thats how a whyte man runs the football 😮

[@billlawrence1899]

There have been a handful of power fullbacks in the NFL. Zonk was certainly one of them, but as a Redskin fan back then, I favor Big John ( The Diesel ) Riggins. More yards, more TDs, also Super Bowl MVP. Harry Carson and Howie Long described hitting John as something that will separate you from your senses.

[@FightinWinchukian-i1x]

and he passed out under the dinner table at the White House! definitely a class act lol.

[@billlawrence1899]

​@FightinWinchukian-i1x yes he did, shortly after telling Sandra Day O'Connor to "loosen up Sandy baby ". In his own words, the diesel said he jackknifed under the table.

[@psidvicious]

Csonka - Super Bowl VIII MVP 2X SB winner Avg rush 4.3 yds Pro Bowl 5X Riggins - Super Bowl XVII MVP 1 SB win Avg rush 3.9 yds Pro Bowl 1X

[@billlawrence1899]

@@psidvicious I know. Bear in mind that Zonk always had another stud back there with him. Either Kiick or Morris. So the defence couldn't tighten up to stop him because one of those other guys would bust a big one on them. Also, Kiick could throw a great block to free Zonk up. Diesel didn 't have that. On short yardage, everyone knew what was coming. The announcers, the crowd, everyone watching on TV, and the opposing defence, and he still smashed through. I remember at the time as a fan watching all the games noticing how often a Redskin receiver would be knocked out on the one or two yard line. Then it was "Here Comes The Diesel". I think his YPC is lower because of all those 1 and 2 yard TDs. Riggins. 11,352 yards. 104 TDs. Csonka. 8,081 yards. 84 TDs.

[@K-Rock1963]

The English accent seems a bit off for American football

[@eedresparker2671]

Hey stop lying bro he a 5 years old wrestle a 700 hundred pound bull stop the bs

[@dougjamesvandals]

230lbs think about that...pre steroids

[@Sneakycat1971]

this video is generated with ai Writing the script. And an AI voice.

[@wmtarrant573]

A poor second to Jim Brown.

[@idx1941]

Yet broke all of Brown's records at Syracuse! And Zonk was a fullback..far different position than being a running back.

[@charlesporter1148]

Nothing wring with a forearm to the head...csonka shouldnt have been penalized

[@Joe-ch6mu]

"Moonpie" on the Vikings nearly killed him!