FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Jim Kiick, a key member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated team, has died at the age of 73.
As a runner and receiver, joining Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris, they formed one of the best backfields in NFL history.
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Kiick had been battling dementia for the last few years and lived in an assisted living facility.
And it’s amazing to see all my dads fans.... all the stories. Thank you all. He is the best dad I could have ever asked for and will forever be a legend and my hero #21
— Allie Kiick (@AllieKiick) June 20, 2020
His daughter, Allie, a professional tennis player, posted a heartfelt message about her father’s struggles on her Twitter account earlier in the week.
She said that because of the coronavirus, visitors weren’t being allowed in his room.
“I miss my dad,” she wrote Thursday on Twitter. “It’s pretty hard when you’re sitting on the outside of the glass and can’t do anything to cheer him up. He’s lost the spark in his eyes as anyone would in this situation.”
On Saturday, she announced that he had passed away.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Jim Kiick. pic.twitter.com/ufih9qRDMt
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) June 20, 2020
Kiick helped lead the Dolphins to two Super Bowl titles, playing seven seasons in Miami.
Kiick made the American Football League All-Star team in his first two seasons. He had two touchdowns for the ’72 Dolphins in the AFC championship game, and also scored in the Super Bowl victory that capped their 17-0 season under Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula. Shula died May 4 at age 90.
After Kiick retired from football, he worked as a private investigator in the Broward County Public Defenders office.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)