The INCREDIBLE Story of Bob Griese's FLU GAME | Steelers @ Dolphins (1971)

On the morning of November 14, 1971, Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese was hospitalized with the stomach flu, and had to be fed through a tube throughout the night. Somehow, he was able to join his team a few hours later, and come off the bench and lead the Dolphins to a critical victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is the story of Bob Griese's flu game during the 1971 NFL season
#nfl #dolphins #nflthrowback #steelers
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Teams that Bob Griese played for:
1967 Dolphins
1968 Dolphins
1969 Dolphins
1970 Dolphins
1971 Dolphins
1972 Dolphins
1973 Dolphins
1974 Dolphins
1975 Dolphins
1976 Dolphins
1977 Dolphins
1978 Dolphins
1979 Dolphins
1980 Dolphins
Players to catch touchdowns from Griese:
Nat Moore
Paul Warfield
Jim Mandich
Howard Twilley
Karl Noonan
Duriel Harris
Doug Moreau
Norm Bulaich
Larry Seiple
Freddie Solomon
Stan Mitchell
Jimmy Cefalo
Marlin Briscoe
Andre Tillman
Jack Harper
Marv Fleming
Jim Kiick
Bruce Hardy
Jack Clancy
Larry Csonka
Tony Nathan
Ronnie Lee
Nick Giaguinto
Loaird McCreary
Joe Auer
Mercury Morris
Sammy Price
Gene Milton
Gary Davis
Frank Jackson
Members of the 1971 Dolphins:
Garo Yepremian
George Mira
Bob Griese
Jake Scott
Charlie Leigh
Larry Seiple
Jim Kiick
Mercury Morris
Tim Foley
Lloyd Mumphord
Terry Cole
Hubert Ginn
Larry Csonka
Dick Anderson
Paul Warfield
Curtis Johnson
Bob Petrella
Ray Jones
Bob Matheson
Jesse Powell
Mike Kolen
Dale Farley
Doug Swift
Bob DeMarco
Jim Langer
Larry Little
Bob Kuechenberg
Jim Riley
Frank Cornish
Bob Heinz
Norm Evans
John Richardson
Manny Fernandez
Doug Crusan
Wayne Mass
Wayne Moore
Marv Fleming
Howard Twilley
Otto Stowe
Bill Stanfill
Nick Buoniconti
Vern Den Herder
Jim Mandich
Karl Noonan
Don Shula (head coach)

[@BrendonChase2012]

First we need some context here: if Bob Griese had done nothing but spike the ball into the ground on every single play, he would have still been the best QB in the Griese family.

[@c71score]

SAVAGE(Not Tom)

[@c71score]

The gutsiest part of all this: Griese did all this in white pants.

[@billfariss1514]

Bob Griese didn't have all the stats in his career, but he had all the guts. A true Hall of Famer.

[@CTubeMan]

And two rings

[@billfariss1514]

@@CTubeMan This is true. The one true ring he has is from Super Bowl VII. Only one team was ever perfect .....the 72 Miami Dolphins led by Bob Griese himself.

[@MrSnidleywhiplash]

@@billfariss1514 didn't Earl Morrall start and play half a season when they went undeated?

[@aaropajari7058]

​@@MrSnidleywhiplashMore than half

[@nothanksguy]

This man is a content MACHINE

[@TEN-ve8mp]

Looked like Seiple (#20) catching a TD pass. Probably the most versatile player at his position in history. Game changer. Do the research as his career is worth a feature.

[@imfireingmylazer]

What a legend

[@classicsports5057]

Greise often gets called one of the worst HOF QBs ever but he was clearly not even close. He had a lot of great games.

[@andrewketcham7450]

Ya and he was the qb that helped the dolphins go undefeated

[@classicsports5057]

@@andrewketcham7450 He helped some. Only started 6 games counting the Super Bowl.

[@sayyedal-afghani7896]

It bothers me when I hear people say that. His numbers are actually pretty favorable when compared to Terry Bradshaw, a QB whose place in the HoF is never questioned. Griese made the Pro Bowl 8 times vs. Bradshaw's 3 times. Griese All-Pro twice, Bradshaw once. Griese threw 20 more TD's than picks vs. Bradshaws +2. Bradshaw had 2000 more passing yards, but he also threw 500 more passes. I'm not saying Griese was better than Bradshaw, but it's clear those people who say that just don't understand that Griese did a lot more than just hand off to Csonka and Morris...

[@golfmetrics5088]

@sayyedal-afghani7896 … & Kiick.

[@nujeru99]

As someone who LOVES NFL history, your AMAZING channel has made me appreciate Bob Griese. I always felt that he was overrated, but your wonderful channel has showed how wonderful a QB as he was

[@ShrexyGuy]

I thought the same of Joe Namath, just an egotistical douche, but man was he truly nothing what he's portrayed as. Even tho he plays into it well lol

[@rafaelacosta4668]

As a die hard Griese fan, Ive never seen this video or this game. So, hats off to you and greatly appreciated. I had 2 posters on my wall as a kid growing up in the 1970's...THE Farrah Fawcett poster, and Bob Griese. People laugh when I say he is my all time favorite, but it does take me back to my child hood when the Dolphins were the Dolphins...

[@jeffstrom389]

Griese is a legit Hall of Famer

[@bjchit]

If you ever doubt Bob's induction into the Hall, just look at what he did in games like this where he came off the bench and was asked to win the game; every singe time, be his rookie year, the AFC title game in 1972, a regular season game like this, or even in '79 and '80 when everyone was saying he was done he would lead the team to a heart stopping, breath taking, thrilling victory.

[@DolfanDale]

Great work! I love all these videos but especially the ones on Bob Griese, who is my favorite player of all-time. I really love the fact that you have me still learning even more about his career.

[@golfmetrics5088]

Same here, Dale.

[@nasetvideos]

What an incredible story--Wow, beyond impressive

[@DolFan316]

This should shut up all the "why is Griese in the Hall Of Fame when he only threw 5 passes every game?" crowd. It won't, but it should.

[@aaronjackson9385]

@@DolFan316 i totally agree

[@golfmetrics5088]

@DolFan316 - 💯 Spot on, DF316!!!

[@billycox475]

Well I feel worthless now. Thanks.

[@russelljohnson7067]

I remember that game , there was another game that year against the Rams in LA , no one expected the Fins to win ,but they did

[@DolFan316]

Deacon Jones was so mad at that defeat, he broke Griese's leg to get revenge the next season. That's my story and I'm sticking to it 😎

[@DerylEagle46]

I kind of know how Greise felt that day as in my Senior year in HS and a Homecoming game to boot, I got a flu bug the night before. It was a long night and I still did not feel good for the game. However, I played anyways and had one of the best games of my life - 156 yards rushing, 100 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns, 3 extra points (1 point runs), and 13 tackles on defense (Most of our guys played both ways). I remember that game well but was not excited about it until I had recovered a couple of days later.

[@joachimguderian4048]

To the NFL today: Pay attention because THIS is how Legends are made.

[@SnakeHiggins]

Most People: Can't come to work...too sick. Bob Griese: (Throws 3 touchdown passes and wins the game) Btw I'm pretty sick.

[@DolFan316]

Men were literally more manly back then. Generational testosterone loss is real and has been occurring over at least the last 80 years.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I think they had chicken soup in his IV.

[@karlcooper8460]

I don't know what it is about athletes playing while sick but they seem to have their best out of their mind performances while sick.

[@golfmetrics5088]

@karlcooper8460 - Our theory, Karl, is that it (i.e. whatever physical illness or personal loss) has the affect of uncluttering the mind, and thus freeing the mind to focus on the task at hand, ... and ONLY the task at hand.

[@mikecatania4492]

I think this was awesome you did a great job. I enjoyed that so much Bob Griese is my favorite player of all time. I know Marino is a phenom. But Bob Griesie was and still is our only Champion Qb.

[@67marlins81]

I didn't realize he was that tough....wow.

[@golfmetrics5088]

The 86yd TD pass to Warfield only traveled 46yds in the air, NOT the 56yds cited in the video. Top-notch video, though.

[@adamplace1414]

Look, there's no question today's players are great athletes. In fact, that might be *why* you couldn't do this today - your competitors are too athletic to get away with playing them while that weakened. But holy cow, these guys had guts back then. Max Mcgee with 138yds and 2tds while massively hungover in SB I. Bobby Orr playing on a broken leg. Guys riding single gear bikes up mountains after taking shots of cognac. Sports is awesome.

[@CTubeMan]

Willis Reed winning an NBA Finals on one leg.

[@stevenbauer4799]

Babe ruth hitting homers drunk and full of hot dogs.

[@NosferatusCoffin]

Jack Youngblood playing, not one, but two games (NFC Championship and Super Bowl 14) on a broken leg. Not to mention ole Bobby Douglass throwing 4 TDs with a broken wrist. On his throwing hand. Compare that to players like China LaLittleBoy James crying like a bitch over a turned ankle.

[@scottconner7930]

50 Years Ago

[@bioLarzen]

And it should be noted that it was in the times where QB's weren't protected by the rules like they were extra valuable china... they took dozens of hits every game that QB's today rarely ever get throughout their careers.

[@Rockhound6165]

Reminds me of Michael Chang playing Ivan Lendl in the French Open in 1989 while battling stomach cramps and won.

[@lilwill6985]

The o.g. Beast Mode.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

George Mira also threw the pass to Billy Kilmer that resulted in a fumble by Kilmer and then Jim Marshall picking up the fumble…and ran the wrong way for a safety.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

He also had some experience playing at the Orange Bowl as he played his college ball at the "U" for the Hurricanes.

[@knowa745]

Bob Griese is the greatest player to wear 12 in the history of the league

[@markruane3660]

Sound a lot like michael jordans FLU GAME.

[@davidworthington8575]

Appreciate the video and report. Good work. Will add the following from Griese himself, as reported at the time. He had food poisoning that came upon him on Saturday morning, the day before the game. The Dolphin team doctor sent Griese to the hospital for tests Saturday night and he was not released until 10:00 AM on Sunday morning-a few hours before kickoff. He and his wife decided to attend the game and he was able to gat a hamburger down. Shula saw him and asked him to be the back up QB, just in case. Griese, agreed thinking that he would likely not play. After three or four series with only three points, Shula asked Griese if he could make go of it. As Griese stated “Shula had a kind of helpless look on his face, the look that means he doesn’t want to hear anything but yes”. The rest is reported in this video. The only part missing was that the Steelers had two attempts to kick a tying fG at the end. The first, was a missed 52 yarder, but the Dolphins were offsides. On the next try, Curtis Johnson blocked it to seal the win. The win was huge as it kept the fins ahead of the colts, and because of this the AFC Championship that year was in Miami and not Baltimore. One last comment. I wonder if this game with Mira’s poor performance, and concerns over Griese’s knee from a 1969 injury, caused Shula to go out and get Earl Morrall as a back up QB. If so, this game had more meaning as it was Morrall, not Griese, who led the Dolphins for most of their undefeated season.

[@golfmetrics5088]

@davidworthington8575 - Terrific recap, David! Thx for taking the time.

[@dolphingoosby7195]

The NFL changed the rules in 1978 because of Mel Blount, this is why I've always said Paul Warfield is the greatest wide receiver I've ever seen.

[@gregoriorodriguez1568]

Great

[@davidworthington8575]

BTW: you may want to report on Griese”s worst days as a Dolphin QB when he went three games in the 1970 season and could only get the offense to produce three points. Granted it included games against the Browns and Colts, but it also included a game against the lowly Eagles. Each time he was replaced by John Stofa, and there were some in the fan base and media who thought that Griese should be benched for Stofa. Shula thought about it, but judged a Griese to be the better QB, and stuck with him.

[@karlcooper8460]

I don't recall this game.

[@stevenbauer4799]

That was no problem for shula who just went to his favorite back up qb Morrall until Griese arrived. Don Strock also a Shula favorite. Also Steelers weren't so super yet. I see Mel Blount getting beaten by Warfield.

[@MrSnidleywhiplash]

Great observation

[@jjb1908]

And for some reason, Shula liked David Woodley enough to draft him

[@golfmetrics5088]

@jjb1908 - WoodStrock ‘82 was Shula’s best work!!!

[@ericjdeaton]

How did the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Dolphins at the Orange Bowl?

[@kevinquinn4499]

Funny because the next year they would host the undefeated Dolphins in Pittsburgh for the playoffs despite having a worse record.

[@ericjdeaton]

@@kevinquinn4499 I know. They rotated sites at the time. And Steelers were favored.

[@diaz5292]

Steelers owner Art Rooney had mob ties. That's how...lol

[@PhilWood82]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this.

[@CTubeMan]

Flub up by our beloved host historian. It does remind me of what I call a Sunday Night game from 2019: Pittsburgh Steelers versus Los Angeles Chargers in Los Angeles.

[@FermiFred]

Steelers were hosting the Dolphins in the Orange Bowl? Also interesting to see the Phins wear Aqua at home during the day. Phins usually are white at home unless they are playing MNF.

[@DolFan316]

They didn't actually start wearing white at home regularly for day games until the '72 season. Oddly enough in '71 they wore aqua for most road games too. Also, '71 would be the last time the Steelers broke out the black and white unis, which they only wore five times that season and just once after this game.

[@CTubeMan]

Oooh, this video leaves a target-rich environment for me. 1. George Mira threw the pass that ultimately resulted in Jim Marshall’s wrong way run. 2. Early in the 1985 season, as I recall, Bears Quarterback Jim McMahon was spending the short week before their Thursday Night game in Minnesota in traction. He came off the bench with the Bears trailing 17-9 and threw three touchdown passes in the Bears’ next nine plays from scrimmage. The Bears won 33-24. And, of course, this unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian has a few other videos about which to remind everyone. 1. You made a video about how Griese won a game throwing blind. 2. You made another video about how this game helped the Steelers win Super Bowl 9. 3. Speaking of Super Bowl 9, you made a video about how Steelers Defensive End Dwight White overcame a similar malady in the week leading up to that game, yet played a great game. White was a rookie in this Steelers-Dolphins game. 4. For that matter you also made a video about another game in Week 9 of the 1971 season.

[@levikatriel]

And don’t forget, next season he lead the dolphins to a perfect season, but there was a bizarre controversy about them going unnoticed. Also, later that season the dolphins played on Christmas, an experiment the failed horribly.

[@82dorrin]

@@levikatriel Which JaguarGator also made a video about. Because of course he did. :P

[@tookmyjob]

And McMahon had pain killers in his system too. That's why he stumbled on his first snap.

[@tygrkhat4087]

George Mira was the starting QB for the WFL Birmingham Americans and was the MVP of the only World Bowl Championship game.

[@DolFan316]

I love that an official OJG9 historian actually exists 🤘🤘🤘

[@maskedmotorsdiy3575]

The Good News: a very sick Griese said he can go into the game. The Bad News: the Steelers defense has Mean Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White, Jack Ham, Andy Russell, Mike Wagner and Mel Blount.

[@MrSnidleywhiplash]

Still a few years from the steel curtain

[@raulc.]

I would love to see you do the LA Rams and KC Chiefs game that took place a few years ago... A very high scoring game.

[@franksessions4346]

This guy use destroy the Patriots NE fans would go to the game to watch him play Then came Marino it All worked out

[@bravobravoh1344]

Tough guy. I would want to be in bed for a week.

[@Joseph-cu8lg]

Griese is such an anomaly. His talent was obvious, but the run game made things easier and he threw so rarely.

[@diaz5292]

The much needed context: 1:26

[@NM-vw1fl]

Not even getting in the huddle with this guy if he has the stomach flu and have it *that bad.*

[@kyle1910]

If it was a virus does anyone know if anybody else was affected?

[@skull9674]

It clearly wasn't flu it is probably a norovirus which you get from eating food prepared by someone who doesn't wash their hands.

[@82dorrin]

@@skull9674 "Stomach flu" is not a thing. It's gastroenteritis. Caused by a completely different virus from Influenza. From a different virus family. The distinction is important because they're both potentially dangerous illnesses which require radically different treatments. If you take TheraFlu for gastroenteritis, all it will do is make your vomit TheraFlu-flavored.

[@chadwickwhite6107]

Ah Bob Griese would have been BETTER OFF just SPIKING the BALL into the ground on EVERY single OFFENSIVE play. He made his flu WORSE by playing. That's a 39.6 move to me.

[@skull9674]

Food poisoning should not be called flu I still don't know how people can refer to an intestinal disorder with a respiratory disease.

[@bubbafug00gle51]

I think it's because they have brain flu

[@BrendonChase2012]

JG9, I can't believe you didn't give more time to George Mira's performance in this game, you do realise what his passer rating was, don't you?

[@jeremycrandall2899]

3:52 “The Pittsburgh Steelers were scheduled to host the Miami Dolphins at The Orange Bowl”. Come on, man. 🤦‍♂️ Although in a way, I guess that would make about as much sense as the following year’s AFC Championship Game between the same teams taking place in Pittsburgh, despite the fact that the Dolphins were undefeated, and that actually happened, so, hey…y’never know. Lol

[@christopherpettit2304]

I remember when I learned Pittsburgh hosted that game vs the undefeated Dolphins... Just wild.

[@jeremycrandall2899]

@@christopherpettit2304 Yeah apparently they had some crazy system back then where home-field in the playoffs was not decided by record.

[@davidworthington8575]

Championship games at that time rotated between the conferences. As Miami, of the Eastern Division, held the game the year before, it was rotated to the Central Division champions,, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[@misterresister8271]

Is that rookie-turned future NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount getting burned by Paul Warfield?

[@piggyroo100]

No , because Blount was in his second year here.

[@misterresister8271]

@@piggyroo100 OK even more impressive how badly Warfield toasted Blount

[@stevenbauer4799]

Yes it is.

[@davidgrillo9928]

He had food poisoning

[@diaz5292]

So that's how he got the name Bob 'Stomach Bug' Griese. Huh.

[@DolFan316]

Here's the real story: someone traveled back in time and gave Griese COVID 19, but he whipped it like a boss and didn't even contaminate any of his teammates.

[@karlcooper8460]

Sounds like food poisoning to me.

[@johnbrandt7024]

Give him a taco

[@karlcooper8460]

@@johnbrandt7024 How about pepto bismol.

[@golfmetrics5088]

@johnbrandt7024 🤣😂🤣😂 Well played, John!