Miami Dolphins all-time Mount Rushmore

1. Dan Marino, QB (1983-1999)

Griese retired after the 1980 season, and a few seasons later the team found another franchise quarterback in 1983. The Dolphins drafted a young signal-caller named Dan Marino out of Pittsburgh with the 27th pick in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft.

Of course, that draft had a couple of other quarterbacks taken in it named John Elway and Jim Kelly.

Marino had a nice rookie year before he launched himself into the top tier of NFL quarterbacks in 1984. That year, he led the league in passing yards (5,084) and touchdown throws (48). Both of which were career-highs.

During a time where the NFL was full of Hall of Fame, or at least Pro Bowl worthy quarterbacks, no other signal-caller topped Marino’s numbers. From 1983-1999, Marino threw for the most yards (61,361) and passing scores (420), while playing in the most games (242).

Marino’s passing yards are the fifth-most in NFL history, and his touchdown throws rank fifth all-time as well. However, even with Shula and Jimmy Johnson as head coaches, he could never win the Super Bowl. When you look at the names that surround Marino statistically, most of them have won at least one Super Bowl.

Even without a championship, Marino is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play. He made nine Pro Bowls, was named an All-Pro three times, won the AP Offensive Player of the Year, MVP and Bert Bell Award in 1984, and was named the 1998 Walter Payton Man of the Year. He was also the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year in 1994.

Marino was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, and he is the Dolphins all-time passing leader. He is easily the No. 1 player on the Miami Dolphins Mount Rushmore.