A rumbling giant in the Dolphin trenches for 12 seasons, Larry Little's very presence in leading a sweep was an intimidating force in a Miami running attack which led the NFL during the 1970s at 2,372 yards per season. Coming out of Bethune-Cookman in 1967, Little entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers for a $750 bonus. He was traded to the Dolphins on July 2, 1969, in exchange for Miami cornerback Mack Lamb, a former high school teammate. After having started just four games during his two seasons with the Chargers, Little emerged with the Dolphins and played in 158 refular season games with 152 starting assignments. He also started 12 playoff games for Miami and was a key ingredient of the Dolphins' back -to-back Super Bowl championship teams of 1972 and 1973. Little earned All-Pro selection on four occasions (1971-74). He was the first player in league history to be named as AFC Offensive Lineman of the Year three straight seasons (1970-72) by the NFL Players' Association.

Little, who anchored the offensive line which helped set a then-NFL record with 2,960 rushing yards during the Dolphins' "perfect season" in 1972, was named by the National 1,000 Yard Club as the league's Outstanding Blocker for the '72 campaign. A native Floridian, Little was the first Dolphin player inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame on March 6, 1978. In 1990, he was voted as a guard on the Dolphins' Silver Anniversary all-time team. Little was elected into the Hall of Fame in his eighth year of eligibility after having been a finalist on three occasions.