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Top 30 duos in NFL history

By Jarrett Bailey

BALTIMORE - 1960's: (L to R) Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19 and wide receiver Raymond Berry #82 of the Baltimore Colts on the sidelines during a game circa 1960's at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - 1960's: (L to R) Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19 and wide receiver Raymond Berry #82 of the Baltimore Colts on the sidelines during a game circa 1960's at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 27: Mark Clayton #83 of the Miami Dolphins scores a touchdown against the New York Jets during an NFL football game November 27, 1988 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Clayton played with Dolphins from 1983-92. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 27: Mark Clayton #83 of the Miami Dolphins scores a touchdown against the New York Jets during an NFL football game November 27, 1988 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Clayton played with Dolphins from 1983-92. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

9. Dan Marino and Mark Clayton

Mark Clayton may not be the most talked about receiver in NFL history, but Dan Marino threw all those touchdown passes to somebody.

Both Marino and Clayton came into the league in 1983. Marino was Miami’s first round pick out of Pittsburgh, and Clayton was an eight round choice out of Louisville.

While Marino was off and running in 1983, Clayton only caught six passes in his rookie year. In 1984, though, he became Marino’s go-to man. Marino set records for yards and touchdowns in a season in 1984. Of his 48 touchdown passes, Clayton caught a league-leading 18 of them, which was an NFL record at the time. Clayton would lead the NFL in touchdown receptions once more in 1988 with 14. Marino led the NFL in yards and threw 28 touchdowns, half of them to Clayton.

Clayton and Marino were one of the best duos of the 1980s. While Marino gets the lump sum of the credit, Clayton was a five-time Pro Bowler in his own respect. Marino needed a No. 1 receiver, and Clayton needed a quarterback that could get him the ball. Together, they set several records and made the Dolphins the most high-flying offense of the 1980s.

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