10 most underrated Miami Dolphins of all time
By Staff
9. Bill Stanfill, DE
In the first round of the 1969 draft, the Miami Dolphins with the 11th-overall pick selected Georgia defensive end, Bill Stanfill, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound bull-rushing edge defender, and what a difference he made.
Out of 109 games, Stanfill started in 95 of those. A powerful pass rusher who doesn’t get credit or as much recognition because in the early years of his career, they didn’t keep track of the number of sacks a player had.
Most of the stats for Stanfill were not recorded during those years. The Miami Dolphins officially have him listed with 69.5 which would tie him with Doug Betters and behind Jason Taylor and Cameron Wake. It would be easy to assume that he had more sacks than that.
The record for sacks in a single season belongs to Jason Taylor with 18.5 but he doesn’t hold that alone. Stanfill also holds the record with him. The most sacks in one game belongs to Stanfill with five, an honor he shares with Vern Den Herder. Of course, Stanfill did it twice.
Stanfill made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. He had two recorded interceptions that year. From 1971-74 he also made the Pro Bowl putting him in the game five of his eight seasons, all of which were with the Dolphins.
Even now when the NFL runs highlight reels of the 70s, Stanfill is a rare sight who is often shadowed by players on the Raiders and Steelers or the Cowboys. Yet for the Dolphins, he was one of the most valuable members of the No-Name defense and most don’t know his name, even today.