My All Time Favorite Miami Dolphins Players

Since their formation in 1966 as part of the AFL, the Miami Dolphins have been one of the most successful teams in AFC history. From the beginning of the 1970s through the early 2000s, Miami was the standard bearer for excellence in the conference. During this nearly 30 year run of success, the Dolphins had many of the best players in its history on its roster. The dominant Dolphins Super Bowl teams of the 1970s had some of the top players in the league on the team. With head coach Don Shula as the constant, the Dolphins fielded what some consider to be the best team of all time in 1972 when they went an unmatched 17-0, the only NFL team to go undefeated during a single season.

Many of the team’s best players were on the 1972 undefeated, Super Bowl winning team. Hall of Fame players like Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Bob Griese and Larry Little to name a few are considered some of the best Miami Dolphins ever. While the players on that team are memorable, perhaps the most famous Dolphins player is star quarterback Dan Marino, who is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Despite not winning a championship, Marino is still considered one of the most popular and greatest Dolphins ever and thousands of Miami fans to this day will wear his jersey to the team’s home games.

The Miami Dolphins are one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NFL. From their perfect season in 1972, including back-to-back championships, the team was in good hands with Don Shula in control. They have had two Hall of Fame quarterbacks and a slew of exceptional players.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Dan Marino

 

Bob Griese

 

RUNNING BACKS

Mercury Morris

 

Tony Nathan

 

Larry Csonka

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Mark Clayton

 

Mark Duper

 

Nat Moore

 

TIGHT ENDS

Bruce Hardy

 

Jim Mandich

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Richmond Webb

 

Larry Little

 

Dwight Stephenson

 

Jim Langer

 

Jake Long

 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Jason Taylor

 

Manny Fernandez

 

Bob Baumhower

 

Bill Stanfill

 

LINEBACKERS

Nick Buoniconti

 

Zach Thomas

 

John Offerdahl

 

A.J. Duhe

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

CB – Sam Madison (1997-2005)

Patrick Surtain

 

DB – Don McNeal (1980-1989)

Tim Foley

 

Dick Anderson

 

Jake Scott

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Olindo Mare (1997-2006)

P – Reggie Roby

 

PR – O.J. McDuffie

 

KR – Duriel Harris

 

NICKNAME

• The name was selected in a name the team contest. The bottlenose dolphin, an intelligent creature with an irresistible built-in grin, has inspired wonder for centuries. “The dolphin is one of the fastest and smartest creatures of the sea,” Joe Robbie said in announcing the name on October 8, 1965. “Dolphins can attack and kill a shark or a whale. Sailors say bad luck will come to anyone who harms one of them.”

HEAD COACHES

• George Wilson (1966-1969)
• Don Shula (1970-1995)
• Jimmy Johnson (1996-1999)
• Dave Wannstedt (2000-2004)
• Jim Bates (2004)
• Nick Saban (2005-2006)
• Cam Cameron (2007)
• Tony Sparano (2008-2011)
• Todd Bowles (2011)
• Joe Philbin (2012-2015)
• Dan Campbell (2015)
• Adam Gase (2016-2018)
• Brian Flores (2019-Present)

SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS

• Super Bowl VII (1972)* – Miami Dolphins defeat Washington Redskins 14-7
• Super Bowl VIII (1973) – Miami Dolphins defeat Minnesota Vikings 24-7

* Undefeated Season

SUPER BOWL APPEARANCES

• Super Bowl VI (1971) – Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys
• Super Bowl VII (1972) – Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins
• Super Bowl VIII (1973) – Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings
• Super Bowl XVII (1982) – Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins
• Super Bowl XIX (1984) – Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers

AFL/AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

• 1971, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1992

DIVISION CHAMPIONS

• 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2008

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

• 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008

PLAYOFF RECORD

• 20-20 .500

HALL OF FAME PLAYERS

• Nick Buoniconti LB (1969-1976)
• Larry Csonka FB (1968-1974, 1979)
• Bob Griese QB (1967-1980)
• Jim Langer Center (1970-1979)
• Larry Little Guard (1969-1980)
• Dan Marino QB (1983-1999)
• Don Shula Coach (1970-1995)
• Dwight Stephenson C (1980-1987)
• Thurman Thomas RB (2000)
• Paul Warfield WR (1970-1974)

RETIRED NUMBERS

• 12 Bob Griese QB (1967-1980)
• 13 Dan Marino QB (1983-1999)
• 39 Larry Csonka FB (1968-74, 1979)

PRO BOWL MVP

• 1974 Garo Yepremian PK
• 2003 Ricky Williams RB
• 2012 Brandon Marshall WR

AWARDS

COACH OF THE YEAR

• 1970 Don Shula
• 1972 Don Shula

AFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• None

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• 1977 A.J. Duhe DT
• 1986 John Offerdahl LB
• 1994 Tim Bowens DT

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• 1987 Troy Straford RB

AFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• None

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 1973 Dick Anderson S
• 1983 Doug Betters DE
• 2006 Jason Taylor DE

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 1984 Dan Marino QB

NFL MVP

• 1984 Dan Marino QB

SUPER BOWL MVP

• Super Bowl VII – Jake Scott S (1972)
• Super Bowl VIII – Larry Csonka FB (1973)

 

Miami Dolphins of the early 1970s weren’t especially big, quick, or flashy, and they were soundly beaten by Dallas in Super Bowl VI, but they earned their place in history the following year, becoming the only team in National Football League history to go undefeated (17-0). The Dolphins’ “No Name Defense” of 1972 gave up the fewest points in the league, while the offense-playing most of the year without Pro Bowl quarterback Bob Griese-relied heavily on the ground game. Running backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris ran for over 1,000 yards each (an NFL first). Griese returned for the postseason and led Miami to a 14-7 victory over George Allen’s Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII, completing the Dolphins’ perfect season. It was a dilemma no other NFL team had ever faced: How do you improve on perfection? But head coach Don Shula believes that the 1973 Dolphins were even better than the team that went undefeated a year before. In Super Bowl VIII, the Dolphins pummeled the Minnesota Vikings for their second-straight world championship.

©MMXIX My All Time Favorites, all pictures and logos, team names are property of the National Football League. This site is not affiliated with the NFL or Miami Dolphins.  All Football Cards are low resolution scans from a personal collection and each is credited with the production company name and year.  This site is maintained for research purposes only.