ATHENS, Ga. — Bill Stanfill, who was voted the nation’s top college lineman at the University of Georgia and starred on two Super Bowl-winning teams with the Miami Dolphins, died Thursday. He was 69.
The Macon Telegraph reported that Mr. Stanfill died from complications from a fall. He had numerous health problems after retiring from the NFL.
Mr. Stanfill was a fearsome defensive tackle at Georgia, earning All-America honors and capturing the Outland Trophy in 1968 as the nation’s best interior lineman. During his three-year college career, the Bulldogs went 25-7-1 and captured two Southeastern Conference titles.
‘‘Bill was probably the greatest athlete as a lineman I ever coached,’’ former Georgia coach Vince Dooley said. ‘‘He could have been a great tight end as well. Against the triple option, he was the only player that could take the quarterback, the dive back, and the pitch man. Bill was a great person, great warrior, and a great Bulldog.’’
Mr. Stanfill was a first-round pick by the Dolphins in 1969 and spent his entire eight-year NFL career in Miami. He earned Pro Bowl honors four times as a defensive end and was selected to the Associated Press All-Pro first team in 1972.
With Mr. Stanfill leading the famed ‘‘No-Name Defense’’ during the ’72 season, the Dolphins became the only team to win every game — 17-0 — on the way to capturing a Super Bowl title. While the team’s impressive offense received far more publicity, the defense was the league’s best, also featuring linebacker Nick Buoniconti, tackle Manny Fernandez, and safeties Dick Anderson and Jake Scott.
The Dolphins romped to a second straight championship the following year.
‘‘Bill was an outstanding player and a key contributor to our Super Bowl championship teams,’’ said Don Shula, his coach with the Dolphins. ‘‘He was quick and he was strong, and it was almost impossible to block him.’’.’’
Former teammate Nat Moore, who is now Miami’s senior vice president for alumni relations, said Mr. Stanfill’s ‘‘gentle demeanor hid a ferocious competitive streak.’’
‘‘With his intensity on the field and his wit in the locker room, he was a leader on a team that was composed of a host of unique personalities,’’ Moore said.
