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.