Larry Little

Lawrence Chatmon Little (born November 2, 1945) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Bethune–Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1967. After two years in San Diego, he was then traded to the Miami Dolphins where he played for the rest of his career, establishing himself as one of the best offensive guards in the NFL.

Larry Little
Little in 2013
No. 73, 66
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1945-11-02) November 2, 1945
Groveland, Georgia
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Booker T. Washington
(Miami, Florida)
College:Bethune–Cookman
Undrafted:1967
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:183
Games started:157
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Little was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a seven-time first or second team all-pro. He was part of a dominant Miami Dolphins offensive line which included Hall of Fame center Jim Langer and opposite offensive guard Bob Kuechenberg, that was instrumental in the Miami Dolphins winning Super Bowl VII during their perfect season in 1972, and Super Bowl VIII the following year. He was elected to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, a member of the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

College career

Little played for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats from 1964 to 1967 on the team's offensive and defensive line. He was a three-time All-]Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) selection.[1]

Professional career
Little on the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll at Dolphin Stadium

Little went unselected in 1967. After the draft, he received free agent offers from Miami, San Diego, and Baltimore. He signed as a free agent with the American Football League's San Diego Chargers because they offered him the largest signing bonus ($750).[2] After playing for San Diego in 1967 and 1968, he was traded to the AFL's Miami Dolphins for the 1969 season, when he was named an AFL All-Star. He then played with the National Football League Dolphins from 1970 through 1980.

"I didn't particularly like the trade," Little said in the January 1974 issue of SPORT.[3] "The Dolphins weren't much then."

Little was a key contributor to the success of the Dolphins' punishing running attack of the early and mid-1970s, which featured Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kiick.

Post-playing career

He also served as head football coach of his alma mater, from 1983 to 1991, and as head coach at North Carolina Central University from 1993 to 1998. In addition, Little served as head coach of the Ohio Glory of the World League of American Football (which eventually became the now-defunct NFL Europe).

On December 16, 1993 Larry was added to the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll.

In 1999, he was ranked number 79 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.[4]

Personal life

Little's younger brother, David Little, was a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 2007 was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team which selected the Top 33 players in the 100-year history of high school football in the state of Florida's history.

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Bethune–Cookman Wildcats (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (1983–1991)
1983 Bethune–Cookman 4–4–11–3T–3rd
1984 Bethune–Cookman 7–34–01st
1985 Bethune–Cookman 6–43–12nd
1986 Bethune–Cookman 3–82–35th
1987 Bethune–Cookman 4–72–34th
1988 Bethune–Cookman 5–64–2T–1st
1989 Bethune–Cookman 5–53–3T–3rd
1990 Bethune–Cookman 4–71–56th
1991 Bethune–Cookman 4–63–3T–3rd
Bethune–Cookman: 45–48–123–23
North Carolina Central Eagles (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1993–1998)
1993 North Carolina Central 6–55–34th
1994 North Carolina Central 6–55–3T–3rd
1995 North Carolina Central 5–64–45th
1996 North Carolina Central 8–35–3T–4th
1997 North Carolina Central 4–74–3T–4th
1998 North Carolina Central 4–63–47th
North Carolina Central: 33–3226–20
Total:78–80–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References
  1. https://www.blackcollegefootballhof.org/inductees/larry-lit
  2. https://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/20180427/willis-larry-little-knows-theres-life-beyond-draft
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Sporting News Top 100 Football Players". Democrat and Chronicle. August 15, 1999. p. 3D. Retrieved November 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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