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Larry Little facts for kids

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Larry Little
refer to caption
Little in 2013
No. 73, 66
Position: Guard
Personal information
Born: (1945-11-02) November 2, 1945 (age 79)
Groveland, Georgia, U.S.
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:
  • Bethune–Cookman (1983–1991)
    Head coach
  • Ohio Glory (1992)
    Head coach
  • North Carolina Central (1993–1998)
    Head coach
Career highlights and awards
As a player
As a coach
  • MEAC Coach of the Year (1984)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 183
Games started: 155
Fumble recoveries: 6
Head coaching record
Career: College: 78–80–1 (.494)
WLAF: 1–9 (.100)
Total: 79–89–1 (.470)
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Larry Chatmon Little (born November 2, 1945) is a famous American football player. He played as a guard in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He started his college football career with the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats.

Larry Little joined the San Diego Chargers in 1967 as an undrafted free agent. After two years, he moved to the Miami Dolphins. He played for the Dolphins for the rest of his career. He became one of the best guards in the NFL.

Little was chosen for the Pro Bowl five times. He was also named All-Pro seven times. He was a key player on the Dolphins' strong offensive line. This line helped the Dolphins win Super Bowl VII in their perfect 1972 season. They also won Super Bowl VIII the next year. He was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team. He is also on the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll. In 1993, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School

Larry Little was born in Groveland, Georgia, on November 2, 1945. He was the second of six children. His family later moved to Florida, and he grew up in Miami. His mother was a big influence on him. As a child, his favorite team was the Baltimore Colts.

He went to Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Miami. There, he played football as a two-way lineman. This means he played on both offense and defense. He is now in the Booker T. Washington High School Hall of Fame. In 2023, he was also inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

College Football Career

Little played college football for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats. He played from 1964 to 1967. He was a lineman on both offense and defense. He was a team captain. He was also chosen three times for the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) team.

In 2012, he was inducted into the Bethune-Cookman Hall of Fame. His defensive line coach, Tank Johnson, was his favorite coach.

Professional Football Journey

Larry Little was not chosen in the 1967 NFL Draft. But he received offers from Miami, San Diego, and Baltimore. He decided to sign with the American Football League's San Diego Chargers. They offered him the most money to sign.

He played for San Diego in 1967 and 1968. His coach, Sid Gillman, was concerned about his weight. Before the 1969 season, he was traded to the AFL's Miami Dolphins. He was named an AFL All-Star in his first year with Miami. Even though he was an All-Star, the Dolphins had a tough season with only 3 wins.

Don Shula, a future Hall of Fame coach, became the Dolphins' head coach in 1970. He helped Little manage his weight. Little played for the Dolphins for 11 years (1969-1980). Ten of those years were under Coach Shula. He missed only four games in 11 seasons, even with injuries. He was known for being a powerful blocker for runs and excellent at protecting the quarterback.

Little was very important to the Dolphins' strong running game in the 1970s. This running game featured famous players like Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kiick. Coach Shula said Little played a huge role in the Dolphins' success. Little was part of the 1972 Dolphins team that went undefeated (17-0). This team set a record for rushing yards at the time. The Dolphins' running game led the NFL in the 1970s.

From 1971 to 1975, Little was named first-team All-Pro five times. He was also All-AFC five times. He played in five straight NFL Pro Bowls from 1971 to 1975. He was named the AFC Offensive Lineman of the Year three times (1970-1972). He was also named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

After Playing Football

After his playing career, Larry Little became a football coach. He was the head coach for his old college team, Bethune–Cookman, from 1983 to 1991. During this time, his teams won Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in 1984 and 1988. He also coached at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) from 1993 to 1998. Some of his players at NCCU later became college football coaches themselves. Little also coached the Ohio Glory for one year in the World League of American Football.

In 1993, Larry Little was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Coach Don Shula, the NFL's winningest coach, presented him. In 2013, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. He is also in the Florida Black Colleges Football Hall of Fame and the Bob Hayes Hall of Fame. In 1978, he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

On December 16, 1993, Little was added to the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll. In 2011, he was part of the first group of players to enter the Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him number 79 on their list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. The City of Miami also honored him by naming a street after him.

Personal Life

During and after his football career, Larry Little ran a summer camp for kids. It was called the Gold Coast Summer Camp. This camp helped children who might not have had other opportunities. He was also listed in Who's Who in Black America.

Larry Little's younger brother, David Little, also played professional football. He was a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2007, Larry Little was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team. This team recognized the top 33 high school football players in Florida's history.

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