On Wednesday, the NFL learned that former Miami Dolphins linebacker Mike Kolen passed away at the age of 76.
Kolen was an All-SEC linebacker at Auburn before going pro in 1970. It didn’t take long for him to make an impact in Miami, as his physical style of play quickly earned him the nickname “Captain Crunch.”
Over the course of Kolen’s run with the Dolphins, he won two Super Bowl titles. He was part of the 1972 roster that went undefeated through the regular season and playoffs.
Former Auburn athletics director David Housel released a heartfelt statement regarding Kolen’s death.
“Mike Kolen is one of the finest men I’ve ever known,” Housel said. “Being a football player was secondary to Mike Kolen. He’s one of the greatest football players Auburn ever had, but he was much more. A rock, a beacon.
“When I think of Mike Kolen, I think of toughness, competitiveness, and a quality of goodness. He was a great football player, but he was a better man.”
Kolen stepped away from football after the 1977 season. Fast forward to 1985, and he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Our thoughts are with Kolen’s loved ones.