Doug Crusan was a 6'5" offensive tackle out of Indiana University. He was the team captain during his Senior year in college, 1967. The Dolphins selected him with their second first round pick of the 1968 AFL/NFL Entry Draft, after Larry Csonka, with the 27th overall pick. For the Dolphins, he would wear the number 77 jersey.
Crusan fit into the Dolphins game plan right away, starting eight of 14 games in 1968 at the left tackle position. He helped the Jim Kiick/Csonka combo gain 1,161 yards while limiting opposing defensive lines to 21 sacks. The team went 5-8-1.
In 1969, Crusan started every game at left tackle. Kiick and Csonka again led the Phins with 1,141 yards rushing, but the team finished 3-10-1. This performance led to the hiring of Don Shula when the Dolphins joined the NFL in 1970.
1970 would again see Crusan starting every game for Miami. Mercury Morris would join Kiick and Csonka to total 1,941 yards rushing, as the Dolphins posted a 10-4 record with the NFL's third best rushing offense. Miami finished out 10-4 before losing the first round playoff game to the Oakland Raiders, 21-14.
In 1971, the Dolphins advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time with smashmouth football on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The trio of Morris, Csonka, and Kiick, in a recurring theme, gained a total of 2,104 yards. They posted an overall 12-4-1 record while featuring the NFL's top ranked rushing attack. Crusan again started all 14 games for Miami, helping to restrict opposing defenses to 25 sacks.
Crusan started 10 of 11 games for the perfect season 1972 Miami Dolphins. Kiick, Csonka, and Morris totalled an NFL best 2,638 rushing yards, as both Csonka and Kiick eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark, an unparalleled accomplishment.
Crusan played 15 more games for Miami over the next two seasons, retiring following 1974. He has been involved with the NFLPA ever since.