MIAMI - Garo Yepremian, the former NFL kicker who helped the Miami Dolphins win consecutive NFL championships but is best remembered for a Super Bowl blooper, died Friday of cancer. He was 70.
Yepremian's wife, Maritza, said he died at a hospital in Media, Penn. His illness was diagnosed in May 2014, she said.
Yepremian played from 1966-81. The native of Cyprus came to the United States at age 22 and kicked in the first NFL game he ever saw.
On Christmas Day 1971, his 37-yard field goal in the second overtime ended the longest game in NFL history, a Dolphins' playoff victory against Kansas City. He helped Miami win NFL titles in 1972 and "73.
But Yepremian's gaffe in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl in January 1973 nearly spoiled the Dolphins' bid to complete a perfect season. With Miami leading 14-0, the Washington Redskins blocked Yepremian's field-goal attempt. He picked up the ball and tried to throw it, but fumbled, and the Redskins' Mike Bass ran it back for a touchdown.