Fansided

Best quarterback/wide receiver duos in NFL history

By Staff

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 31
Next
Dan Marino waves to the crowd during pre-game ceremonies as he is joined by legendary receivers Mark Duper, left, and Marc Clayton, right, during an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Monday, October 4, 2010. (Photo by Robert Duyos/Sun Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images)
Dan Marino waves to the crowd during pre-game ceremonies as he is joined by legendary receivers Mark Duper, left, and Marc Clayton, right, during an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Monday, October 4, 2010. (Photo by Robert Duyos/Sun Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images) /

26. Dan Marino and Mark Clayton

Mark “Super” Duper may be the Miami Dolphins’ all-time leader in receiving yards, and he may have had a great tenure with Dan Marino while in Miami.

But, statistically, Marino’s favorite target was Mark Clayton.

Marino was drafted No. 27 overall out of Pittsburgh by the Dolphins in the 1983 NFL Draft, and 197 draft picks later the Dolphins selected Clayton from Louisville.

Clayton was only 5-foot-9, 177 lbs, but he and Marino just understood each other. After connecting for just one touchdown in their rookie season, they wrecked the competition in 1984. Marino led the league with 48 touchdown passes while Clayton led the league with 18 touchdown receptions.

It was a magical season that saw a 14-2 Dolphins team lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. And in spite of some big-time numbers, Marino never able to lead them back to big game.

The duo would play together until 1992. That’s when Clayton left for the Green Bay Packers for a year before calling it quits.

Clayton ended up catching 84 touchdowns in his career, and 79 of them were thrown by Marino. They’re third on the all-time list for touchdowns by a quarterback and wide receiver.

Marino, of course, kept doing Marino-like things for Miami. When he retired in 1999, Marino was the all-time leader in touchdown passes with 420 scoring tosses.

If Clayton could have managed a few more years with Miami at the end of his career, this duo could be sitting in the No. 2 spot on that all-time list.

Home/NFL