1977 Profile: Larry Csonka

Running Back
No. 39
Syracuse
"Many people wondered why the Giants sent this 235-pound bull outside so often instead of up the middle. He gained 569 yards for a 3.6 average before he went off for knee surgery. Never a great pass catcher, he caught only six. Without a passing attack, Csonka could be gang-tackled by opposing defenses."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"Where have you gone, Larry Little, Bob Kuechenberg, Jim Langer, etc.? Csonka found out in a hurry that he didn't have Miami's blocking anymore, and so the king's ransom the Giants spent for him looks more and more like fool's gold.
'We played against him before he was hurt, and he's not the player he used to be,' said an NFL assistant, who wished to remain anonymous because he'll have to play against him this year. Zonk gained 569 yards (3.6) before knee surgery as the Giants, for some strange reason, were running him outside.
Born in Stow, Ohio, Csonka was the last of Syracuse's great running backs and the bullish strength of Miami's two Super Bowl wins. He's now facing decline."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"The Giants signed Csonka on April 7, 1976, after the demise of the World Football League, where the big fullback had played with Memphis in 1975. Late last season he suffered a knee injury which required surgery but is now fully recovered.
In the 11 full games he played last year, Csonka had 569 yards rushing for a 3.6 average and four touchdowns. His current lifetime total of 6,469 yards has him ranked No. 1 in the NFC among active rushers.
A No. 1 draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1968, Zonk spent seven years in Miami and rushed for 1,000 yards or more three straight seasons (1971-73), starred in three Super Bowls, won All-NFL honors five times, played in the Pro Bowl five times and stacked up records all along the way.
He was the MVP of Miami's 24-7 Super Bowl romp over Minnesota in 1974 when he rushed for 145 yards. In the previous Super Bowl, a 14-7 win over Washington, Larry rushed for 112 yards on just 15 carries for a 7.5 average. The Pro Football Writers of America named him the Super Athlete of the Year in 1974 [after his 1974 Super Bowl heroics]. His seven-year totals in Miami included 5,900 yards rushing on 1,286 carries for a 4.6 average and 41 touchdowns.
Csonka was a unanimous All-American at Syracuse where he broke the rushing records of previous Syracuse greats Jim Brown, the late Ernie Davis, Jim Nance and Floyd Little. He rushed for 216 yards as soph against West Virginia and finished his college career with 2,934 and a 4.9 average. He was the first running back drafted in 1968 and won MVP honors in both the Coaches All-American and College All-Star Games.
Lawrence Richard Csonka was born in Stow, Ohio and earned letters in football, wrestling and track at Stow High School in his hometown. Hunting and fishing are Larry's chief hobbies."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide