It is a sad time for New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins fans who today said goodbye to a legend, Nick Buoniconti, who passed away today at the age of 78.
Both teams honored the former linebacker with posts on social media.
The then Boston Patriots drafted Buoniconti in the 13th round of the American Football League Draft and played there from 1962 to 1968. Starting in 1963, he made the AFL All-Star every year until 1967. The Notre Dame alum was also named first-team All-AFL from 1963 through 1967.
He was traded to the Miami Dolphons in 1969, where he was selected once to the AFL All-Star team. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1972 and 73 respectively. Under head coach Don Shula, he won back to back Super Bowls VII and VIII.
For his accomplishments, he was inducted in to the Patriots Hall of Fame, the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll, and then the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
It was revealed by Buoniconti himself late his life that he had been dealing with dementia as a result of his football days. In 2017, he pledged to donate his brain for CTE research after his death.
