Overview
Garabed Sarkis "Garo" Yepremian (June 2, 1944 – May 15, 2015) was an American football placekicker best known for his time in the National Football League. He played professionally from the mid-1960s through the early 1980s and became widely known for his role on the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only NFL team to complete a perfect season.
Early life
Yepremian was born in Larnaca, on the island of Cyprus, to parents of Armenian heritage. He learned to kick in a culture where soccer held strong influence; his background in that sport contributed to a kicking style different from many American-born kickers of the era. He later moved to the United States and began a career in professional football.
Professional career
Over a 15-season NFL career Yepremian played for several teams and became a recognizable figure for his reliability and leg strength. Teams he represented include:
With the Dolphins he contributed to field goals and extra points during a dominant period for the franchise and remained associated with that team’s historic 1972 campaign.
Notable moments and legacy
Yepremian is remembered for a mix of steady play and a high-profile moment in Super Bowl VII. Late in that game an attempted field-goal sequence led to a blocked kick and an unusual, improvised play in which Yepremian's handling of the ball resulted in a turnover that produced a defensive score for the opponent. The incident became one of the most replayed and discussed single plays in Super Bowl history, but it did not overshadow his longer contributions to the sport.
Beyond that episode, Yepremian was part of the evolution of placekicking in professional football, representing the wave of kickers with soccer-based techniques and international backgrounds. His personality and accent also made him a popular interview subject and a memorable figure for fans.
Later life and death
After retiring from play, Yepremian stayed connected to football and public appearances. He died of brain cancer on May 15, 2015, in Media, Pennsylvania, aged 70. He left a mixed but enduring legacy: a dependable professional career, membership on a unique championship team, and a single, famous play that ensured his name would be remembered by generations of football followers.
For further reading on his teams and career highlights, see resources linked to each franchise and league page above.