Freddie Solomon, former Fin, dead at 59 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Freddie Solomon, former Fin, dead at 59

Had some decent yrs with the Phins. Best yrs were with San Fran.
Former QB at Univ of Tampa. Shula saw potential as a WR. As usual, Shula was ahead of his time.
 
first whitney now freddie, jk. i remember as youngster, i used to have a poster of freddie solomon. true dolfan here.
 
One of my all time favorite Fins.

I took a picture of him before a jest game at Shea in 77. I also got his autograph.
he was in street clothes before the game.
He was traded for Delvin Williams.
 
Sad. Freddie was a hell of a player. I wish he would have played with the Dolphins longer and had much more time on this earth. Rest in peace, my friend.
 
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I was not happy that we traded him to San Fran for Delvin Williams. I thought Freddie and Nat Moore would be our version of Swann and Stallworth....
 
Stunning news today. Freddie Solomon was an absolute blur. As a Canes fan since the late '60s he's still the most dangerous player I've ever seen on the opposing team. Solomon nearly defeated the Canes singlehandedly at Tampa in 1974, including an 80 yard touchdown run on a broken play after dropping back to pass.

I was ecstatic when we drafted him. I doubt the vast majority of younger Dolphin fans realize how special he was, or what a pathetic trade Shula made with the 49ers. During that time period Shula certainly was ahead of his time. He emulated Rick Spielman time and again, completely robbed. The only team Shula could fleece was Tampa Bay.

Last summer on Rivals.com I posted that the Reggie Bush trade was a tremendous acquisition, our most talented skill position player since Paul Warfield. After making the post I realized it wasn't quite accurate, that Freddie Solomon had every bit as much ability, certainly more than Clayton or Duper.

I remember being sick to my stomach on the way to school when news broke that the Dolphins swapped Solomon for Delvin Williams, a second tier halfback who was already 27 and on the downside of his career. Everybody knew Shula was desperate for a running back, since we still had components from the glory years on the offensive line, and Griese had rebounded after donning the glasses. Miami had tried to get by with bargain draft picks like halfback Gary Davis and fire plug fullback Leroy Harris. But with the Colts in their Bert Jones resurgence Miami had to make a move, and Delvin Williams became the target. It was obscene Shula tossed in a first round draft pick along with the superior athlete in Solomon to get Williams, but running backs were highly coveted and valuable in that era. Solomon had a moderate knee injury early in his Dolphins career and in those days it took a couple of seasons to completely rebound. Shula made the gaffe of trading Solomon when his value wasn't what it should have been, once he was completely healthy. Williams gave us one big year then was overshadowed by an aging Larry Csonka the following season. Then Williams was out of the league while Solomon was thriving on Super Bowl teams during the early '80s.

I remember one anecdote regarding Solomon from my days as a USC student. Ronnie Lott was picked by the 49ers early in round one of the 1981 draft. I did all the related articles for the Daily Trojan. Lott was as solid as they come, great with the media including a student reporter. He showed up early for our interviews at Heritage Hall and volunteered his phone number in case I had additional questions. When mini camp started not long after the draft, Lott was surprised when Bill Walsh decided to use him at cornerback and not safety, where he had starred at USC, and seemingly (obviously) was his best position.

Anyway, when Lott returned from San Francisco I ran into him on campus and asked about mini camp: "What did you learn about the pro game that's different from college?" Lott didn't hesitate one second. "I tell you what I learned. That Freddie Solomon is one fast m***er f***er.

Lott shook his head and we both laughed. I told him I was from Miami and a Dolphins fan, still livid that we traded Solomon to the 49ers.

That '81 season during the USC Bay Area Weekender I attended the 49ers/Falcons game at Candlestick. It was the 49ers' breakthrough season and Solomon was a big fan favorite. He caught a touchdown pass in a 3 point victory.

I was always thrilled for Solomon that the trade worked out so well for him. During the late '70s when the trade was made there was no hint the 49ers would be anything but an obscure NFL wasteland in the forthcoming seasons.

Solomon by all accounts was a tremendous person who did a great deal of community service work after his playing career. The 49ers had a nice tribute to him when he retired in the mid '80s.
 
At the time of that trade Delvin Williams was regarded as FAR from "past his prime". That was seen as a HUGE pickup for the Dolphins, but very costly. Williams had a 1200+ yard single season record in 1978 and looked like a superstar, and then the next year it was all about Csonka's return and Williams was somewhat ordinary. I can't remember what finished him off, a knee (and Tony Nathan) I think.

Fast Freddie was catching passes in the Super Bowl after Williams' career was over.

The Solomon/Williams trade, SB XIX, and Harbaugh. Me no likey EITHER side of the Bay.
 
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