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 often regarded as the greatest pure passer in football history.

Football career

After a stellar high school career,Marino 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.

Related Topics:
University of Pittsburgh - 1979 - 1982 - Sugar Bowl - Heisman Trophy - Cotton Bowl - SMU

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With the down season of his last year at Pitt and unsubstantiated rumors of drug abuse, Marino's selection status 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.

Related Topics:
Pitt - 1983 - Jim Kelly - John Elway - Don Shula - Miami Dolphins

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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.

Related Topics:
AFC - 2004 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1992 - 1994 - Seattle Seahawks

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The following season would be Marino's best. He threw for 48 touchdown passes and 5,084 yards, both of which shattered previous records. The '84 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 improved greatly while an aging Marino's effectiveness declined.

Related Topics:
Steelers - AFC Championship Game - Super Bowl XIX - Joe Montana - 49ers - Jimmy Johnson

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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.

Related Topics:
December 2 - 1985 - Chicago Bears - Monday Night Football - New England

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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 on the road, Marino and the Dolphins utterly collapsed in a 62-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Marino decided to retire with that season, after being subtley pushed out of Miami by new coach Dave Wannstedt, and declining offers from Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh.

Related Topics:
1992 - Jim Kelly - Buffalo Bills - Jacksonville Jaguars - Dave Wannstedt - Minnesota Vikings

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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 dead-on 'bullets', and completing the most miraculous passes; often between defenders. Also, despite the fact that he was not known for his scrambling ability, Marino possessed an uncanny 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).

Related Topics:
John Elway - 1994 - NFL Comeback Player of the Year - Pro Bowl - Achilles tendon

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