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The late Bob Matheson was one of the most important players of the Miami Dolphins “No Name Defense” of the early 1970s. Matheson (#53) and Nick Buoniconti are pictured after a big hit on Jets fullback Emerson Boozer in 1973. Although he wasn’t officially a starter, Matheson was one of the NFL’s first 3rd down pass rush specialists. He was so valuable and respected, Dolphins defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger named the 53 Defense after him.
Originally a first round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns out of Duke University in 1967, Matheson was acquired by the Dolphins prior to the 1971 season after Arnsparger made a request to Shula to get him. Matheson retired after the 1979 season and went into coaching. He spent 2 seasons as a special teams coach for the Dolphins from 1983 to 1984. But health issues would later force him out of the game. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease and died in 1994. Bob Matheson was 49 years old. To read more articles about the history of the Orange Bowl, visit us at https://www.facebook.com/
