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Nat Moore – July 31, 2019 Download PDF version

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Senior Vice President, Special Projects, Alumni Relations & Advisor to CEO Nat Moore

(Opening statement) – “As you guys have heard, Nick Buoniconti passed last night or early this morning. He had had a bout with pneumonia and was struggling. Thank God he’s in a better place right now and his suffering is over. Other than that, I’d like to think about the good times that we had going back to when I first came in the league in 1974 and got to know Nick very well as the team leader, the guy that led the defense, but also led the organization. He was a guy that whenever something needed to happen with (Head) Coach (Don) Shula, he was the guy that went back in the back and talked to Coach Shula and worked things out that was better for the team. Later on, he and I have a special bond, because he became my agent. Through the years, what he’s done here in South Florida and the fight to cure paralysis with the Miami Project has been phenomenal. He’s a guy that he was more than just a football player and was larger than life to a lot of us, and we’re going to miss him.”

(What’s your fondest memory of Nick Buoniconti?) – “My fondest memory of Nick was what a smart guy he was. He would stand behind the offense on days that he wasn’t practicing and by just looking at the offensive line, looking at the backs, (he) could tell you what play we were running already. It showed you why he was such a great player. He was a very smallish linebacker, but extremely smart and he always got to the hole before the guard or the tackle could get to him and he could blow up a play. It was all because he was such a great student of the game and an extremely smart player.”

(In addition to his impact on the Dolphins, what would you say was Nick Buoniconti’s impact on the game?) – “I think when you think about Nick’s impact on the game, when you look at paralysis, back when we came into the league in the 1970s, guys would have back injuries or injuries to their spine and their career was over with. They couldn’t walk again. Because of Nick raising the money, he and Marc (Buoniconti), and what they’ve been able to do down at the Miami Project, guys are getting up and walking again, guys are able to play again. I think Nick was, like I said, larger than life. He wasn’t just a football player. He was a guy that thought outside the box and made things happen.”

(Nick Buoniconti seemed like a trailblazer as far as after his playing career. In what way do you believe that he inspired NFL players in their retirement to seek other opportunities?) – “I think Nick came along at a time when as players, there were no offseason workout programs. It was you had to get a job, you had to work. Nick was one of those guys that he took those same qualities that he had on the field – perseverance, dedication, very astute in the classroom – and moved on to become an outstanding lawyer and then eventually represented the tobacco association. He did so many things and anybody that knew him realized – don’t forget he did HBO for so many years, (Inside the) NFL. I look at a guy that lived a full life. It’s sad to see him go. He struggled the last couple of years; but the suffering is over and he’ll always be remembered as not only the first Dolphin defensive player to go into the Hall of Fame, but one of the greatest Dolphins ever.”

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