Dan Marino


Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. (born September 15, 1961 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was an American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League. Marino attained nearly every measure of football success, but never won a Super Bowl championship. He is widely regarded as the greatest passer in football history

Football Career
Dan attended Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marino then played college ball at the University of Pittsburgh from the 1979 to 1982 seasons, leading the Panthers to a Sugar Bowl triumph over the Georgia Bulldogs in January 1982. His senior season during the '82 season was considered a disappointment with regard to the pre-season Heisman Trophy and National Championship hype. His team lost the Cotton Bowl to SMU.

With the down season of his last year at Pitt and unsubstantiated rumors of drug abuse, Marino's selection in the 1983 NFL draft plummeted. Five other quarterbacks, including Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and John Elway, had been taken before Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins grabbed Marino with the 27th pick overall.

Being drafted by the defending AFC Champions placed Marino in an ideal situation, where the strong armed rookie could succeed immediately. He posted a 96.0 passer rating which was a rookie record until 2004. He brought Miami the division title in 1983, and would also do so in 1984, 1985, 1992, and 1994. His Pro Bowl rookie year ended in disappointment, as the Dolphins were upset by the Seattle Seahawks in a rainy game full of Dolphin turnovers.

The following year would be Marino best season. In 1984, he threw for 48 touchdown passes and 5,084 yards, both of which shattered previous records. The Dolphins scored an NFL record 70 touchdowns and posted a 14-2 record. Marino had another 8 touchdown passes in the post-season, four of which came against his hometown Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. In Super Bowl XIX Marino and the Dolphins met Joe Montana and the 49ers. The Dolphins, who had 74 rush attempts in the previous two weeks, called only 8 handoffs, placing their chances squarely on Marino. Marino was above average, completing 29 of 50 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, two of his passes were intercepted deep in 49ers territory and he committed the game's lone fumble. It would be Marino's only Super Bowl appearance, as for most of his career, a sparse running attack, or average defense would cost the Dolphins. Ironically, when Jimmy Johnson became the franchise's third head coach, the defense played well and Marino's efficiency declined.

After the Super Bowl loss, Marino's Dolphins went 12-4. On December 2, 1985 Marino completed 14 of 27 passes for 270 yards and triumphed over the 12-0 Chicago Bears in the highest rated Monday Night Football telecast in history. He also brought the Dolphins back to the AFC Championship game the following year, losing in Miami to New England in another game in which wet conditions made the Dolphins turnover prone.

With Marino at the helm, the Dolphins were a perennial playoff contender, reaching the post-season in 10 of Marino's 17 seasons.In 1992 he made his final appearance in a Championship Game, losing against arch-rival Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills. Kelly's Bills knocked Marino out of the playoffs three times between 1990 and 1995. Marino's final win was Miami's first win in a playoff road game in his career, as he led the 37th and final comeback of his pro career. In the next round, Marino and the Dolphins were defeated 62-7 in an away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Marino decided to retire with that season, after being pushed out of Miami by new coach Dave Wannstedt, and declining offers from Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh.

During his professional career (1983-1999) in Miami he was one of the most skilled and revered quarterbacks in the game. He was known for having the quickest release in the sport, throwing bullets, and making the most miraculous passes. Also, despite the fact that he was not known for his scrambling ability, Marino possessed a great awareness in the pocket, often sliding a step or two to avoid the pass rush. He has the second most fourth quarter comebacks (37) in the history of the NFL, and second most victories (147, John Elway is first in both categories). He was the 1994 NFL Comeback Player of the Year after having a Pro Bowl season when he returned from a season ending achilles tendon injury at Cleveland in 1993. He was selected to play in nine Pro Bowls (1983-87, 1991-92, 1994-95), seven times as a starter, but due to injuries he only played in two of the games (1984, 1992).


Dan Marino's NFL Records
- Most Attempts, Career: 8,358
- Most Completions, Career: 4,967
- Most Yards Passing, Career: 61,361
- Most Touchdown Passes, Career: 420
- Highest Completion Percentage, Rookie Season: 58.45 in 1983 (296-173)
- Most Passing Yards Gained, Season: 5,084 in 1984
- Most Games, 400 or more Yards Passing, Career: 13
- Most Games, 400 or more Yards Passing, Season: 4 in 1984
- Most Games, 300 or more Yards Passing, Career: 60
- Most Seasons, 3,000 or more Yards Passing: 13 (1984-92, 1994-95, 1997-98)
- Most Consecutive Seasons, 3,000 or more Yards Passing: 9 (1984-92)
- Most Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes, Career: 21
- Most Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes, Season: 6 in 1984
- Most Consecutive Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes: 4 in 1984
- Lowest Percentage, Passes Intercepted, Rookie Season: 2.03 in 1983 (296-6)
- Most Seasons Leading League, Attempts: 5 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997)
- Most Seasons Leading League, Completions: 6 (1984-86, 1988, 1992, 1997)
- Most Seasons, 40 or more Touchdown Passes: 2 (1984, 1986)
- Most Seasons, 20 or more Touchdown Passes: 13 (1983-92, 1994-95, 1998)
- Most Consecutive Seasons, 20 or more Touchdown Passes: 10 (1983-92)
- 100 TD Passes in Fewest Amount of Games to Start Career: 44 (9/7/86 at San Diego)
- 200 TD passes in Fewest Amount of Games to Start Career: 89 (9/17/89 at New England)
- 300 TD passes in Fewest Amount of Games to Start Career: 157 (9/4/94 vs. New England)


NFL Records Tied For
- Most Seasons Leading League, Yards Gained: 5 (1984-86, 1988, 1992) with Sonny Jurgensen (Philadelphia, 1961-62; - Washington, 1966-67, 1969)
- Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League, Completions: 3 (1984-86) with George Blanda (Houston, 1963-65)
- Most Consecutive Games, 400 or more Yards Passing: 2 (1984) with Dan Fouts (San Diego, 1982) and Phil Simms (N.Y. Giants, 1985)
- Most Consecutive Seasons, 4,000 or more Yards Passing: 3 (1984-86) with Dan Fouts (San Diego, 1979-81)


Additional Stats
Regular Season:
- Played 242 games, starting 240 of them
- Career completion percentage of 59.4%
- Career passing efficiency rating is 86.4
- Threw 252 interceptions in his career
- First QB in NFL history to have six 4,000-yard seasons (1984-86, 1988, 1992, 1994)
- Led 37 fourth-quarter comeback victories, second only to John Elway.
- Holds Dolphins team record for most seasons played, 17.
- Had 116 wins under Don Shula – the most by a head coach - quarterback combination in NFL history.
- Won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor 18 times in the regular season (and 20 times overall, including playoffs).
- 147-93 record as starter (139-83 regular season, 8-10 playoffs)
Playoffs:
- Passed for 4,510 yards over career in playoff games
- Threw at least one touchdown pass in 16 of his 18 playoff contests, throwing a TD pass in his first 13 postseason contests.