Unbeaten Miami finally get trip to the White House
President Obama honours coach Don Shula and team members who won all their games in 1972
Some were grey-headed, others a bit stooped; at least one carried a cane. But despite age, there were still hints of the large frames that had once donned football pads and exploded countless times from lines of scrimmage during an unforgettable season.
Nearly three dozen members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins finally received their White House moment, 40 years after they made history by winning 17 games and losing none - an undefeated achievement that no NFL team have ever matched.
President Barack Obama welcomed the former players to the East Room, a periodic occurrence at the White House these days for current champions.
Four decades ago, however, saluting athletes was not an established tradition. And the Watergate scandal was preoccupying Richard Nixon back then anyway. So the men of that historic Dolphins team had not received their due.
"I know that some people may be asking why we are doing this after all these years," Obama deadpanned. "My answer is simple: I wanted to be the young guy up here for once."
