Howard Twilley, a key receiver for Miami Dolphins during the perfect 1972 season of the team and a runner -up of the Heisman trophy at the University of Tulsa, has died. He was 81 years old.
Twilley died Wednesday, according to a spokesman for Tulsa, who confirmed death with his family. There was no cause of death.
Twilley caught a touchdown pass at Super Bowl 7 against the Washington Redskins, a 14-7 victory that limited Miami's 17-0 season. He also played for the team that repeated as Super Bowl champions the following season.
He had 212 receptions for 3,064 yards and 23 touchdowns during an 11 -year professional career that lasted until 1976.
In Tulsa, Twilley put amazing numbers in the mid -1960s, an era in which the teams generally stayed with the land game. He caught 261 passes for 3,343 yards and 32 touchdowns at the university. His school record for professional yards who received stood until Keylon Stokes broke it in 2022.
In 1965, Twilley was Heisman's runner -up by Mike Garrett in southern California. He had 134 trapped for 1,779 yards that season: the NCAA records that remained for more than two decades. He caught five Touchdown passes against Louisville and received 230 yards. He had 267 yards in 16 trapped against Memphis, 242 yards in 18 receptions against southern Illinois, 226 yards in 14 grips against Cincinnati and 214 yards in 19 caught against the state of Colorado.
Howard Twilley, a Dolphins receiver during the perfect season of 1972 of the team, has died
Twilley caught a touchdown pass at Super Bowl 7 against the Washington Redskins
Twilley was the captain of the All-America academic team in 1965, and the MVP of the 1966 senior bowl.
Minnesota selected Twilley in the 14th Round of the Draft of the National Soccer League of 1966 and Miami chose it in the 12th Round of the Draft of the American Football League. He chose the Dolphins, a first -year team, and his entire professional career stayed with them.
After leaving football, Twilley possessed and operated sporting stores in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. He considered to run for Congress in Oklahoma in 1994, but chose to support another former Tulsa receiver, Steve Largent.
Twilley was included in the Tulsa Athletic Hall of Athletic Fame in 1984, the College Football Hall in 1992 and the Oklahoma Fame Hall in 1995. Tulsa has retired his shirt No. 81.