Teams
- Miami Dolphins (1983-1999)
Accolades
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1984)
- 9x Pro Bowl (1983-1987, 1991-1992, 1994-1995)
- 3x First-Team All-Pro (1984-1986)
- 4x Second-Team All-Pro (1983, 1992, 1994-1995)
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1984)
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1994)
- Walter Payton Man of the Year (1998)
“Dan Marino is the greatest drop-back passer ever. From the beginning, he has had all the tools you could want: the physical skills, the toughness, the attitude.”
-Don Shula, Hall of Fame Head Coach, Miami Dolphins (source)
Coming into the 1983 Draft, the biggest question seemed to be who would go on to have the better career: John Elway or Dan Marino? With the first pick in the draft, the Baltimore Colts took John Elway. Marino waited as Kansas City took Todd Blackledge seventh overall. Then Marino sat and waited longer as Buffalo took Jim Kelly and New England took Tony Eason. Then, with the 24th overall pick, the New York Jets finally selected… Ken O’Brien out of Division-II California-Davis. But what (on the surface) was a nightmare scenario, falling to the bottom of the first round amidst unfounded allegations of drug abuse, turned into the ideal situation for the gunslinger out of the University of Pittsburgh. Dan Marino would be going to a team that had just played in the Super Bowl three months prior. Over the next 16 years in Miami, Marino would shatter the record books and be acclaimed by many as the best pure passer the game has ever seen.
Dan Marino had actually been selected at the beginning of the year as the first overall pick in the USFL Draft, but instead elected to go to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. He did not have to wait long for his opportunity. With starting quarterback David Woodley getting off to a rough start with the defending AFC champs, Head Coach Don Shula inserted Marino in as his starter in Week 6. Despite the 38-35 loss in OT to Buffalo, Marino had impressed going 19-for-29 for 322 yards, three TDs, and two picks. It was enough to keep him the job for the rest of the season. The ‘Fins would finish 7-2 under Marino and end the year at 12-4. Getting named to a Pro Bowl, the rookie QB would finish second in the NFL in INT rate (2.0%) and TD pass rate (6.8%). The Dolphins would host Dave Krieg and the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round, and be upset by a fourth quarter comeback, 27-20. Marino played well with 193 yards passing and two touchdowns, but be hampered by two key interceptions in the loss. Still, it was the end to a great season with a promising talent under Center. The following year, Dan Marino would have perhaps the greatest single season in NFL history.
Miami expected their sophomore quarterback to have a good year in 1984. Nobody could have predicted just how good he would be. In guiding the NFL’s best offense to a 14-2 mark, Marino would become the first player in league history to exceed 5,000 yards passing, something that wouldn’t be done again until 2008, and not be surpassed until 2011. His 5,084 yards in the air bested Dan Fouts’ previous record from 1981 by 282 yards. Additionally, Marino would throw for 48 touchdowns, completely destroying Y.A. Tittle’s record of 36 in a single season, set over two decades years prior. He would also lead the league in yards per attempt (9.0) and passer rating (108.9). It all culminated in the second-year player being named the league’s Most Valuable Player by the Associated Press.
But it would all mean nothing without a deep march in the postseason. In a rematch with Seattle, Marino would pick up where he left off by throwing for 262 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 31-10 win. Hosting the AFC Championship game, Miami would take on a 9-7 Pittsburgh Steelers team coached by four-time champion Chuck Noll and quarterbacked by Mark Malone. The Steelers would take a surprising 14-10 lead in the second quarter before Miami’s offense would take over the game. The Dolphins would triumph 45-28 to head to the Super Bowl behind Marino’s 421 yards passing, four touchdowns, and lone interception.
Super Bowl XIX would feature one of the sexiest match-ups in the history of championship games as the two best quarterbacks in the game, Dan Marino and Joe Montana, faced off. Despite their incredible season, the Miami Dolphins came into the game as three point underdogs to a San Francisco 49ers team that had gone 15-1 with the league’s second-best offense, and its top defense. On a cool afternoon in Stanford, CA, the Dolphins would start well. Their first possession resulted in a field goal, their second in a TD pass from Marino. After two offensive drives, Marino looked unstoppable going 9-for-10 for 103 yards and a TD as Miami built a 10-7 lead. But it would all fall apart from there. The Niners would outscore the Dolphins 31-6 from there, en route to a 38-16 win; the franchise’s second Super Bowl title in four years. Marino finished the game with 318 yards, two picks, and the first quarter touchdown. Still, it appeared as though Marino and the Dolphins had many more Super Bowls in their future.
While it would be nearly impossible to statistically match his 1984 season, Dan Marino again thrived in 1985. For the 12-4 Dolphins, he would lead the NFL with 4,137 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, while finishing fourth in completion rate (59.3%), and fifth in passer rating (84.1). The highlight of the regular season came on a Monday night in December when Miami hosted then-undefeated Chicago. Against arguably the best defense in the history of the game, Marino would throw for 270 yards, three TDs, and one pick in the 38-24 upset. It looked like the two teams would be on a collision course in the Super Bowl, especially after Miami’s huge 24-21 comeback win against Cleveland in the Divisional Round where Marino would have 238 yards passing, and both a TD and an INT. But hosting the Wild Card New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, Miami would be stunned by the Patriots’ errorless Tony Eason and their workhorse ground game, 31-14. Marino would complete fewer than 50% of his passes for 248 yards, two TDs, but also two interceptions in the loss. New England would go on to get throttled by the Chicago Bears 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.
Dan Marino did everything in his power to get the 1986 version of the Miami Dolphins to the top. But even his league-best 4,746 yards passing, nor his 44 TD passes (no other QB had more than 25) couldn’t overcome the league’s third-worst scoring defense. The ‘Fins finished a severely disappointing 8-8. Then, in the strike-abbreviated 1987 season, Miami would go 1-2 with scab players and finish outside the playoffs again at 8-7. Marino would end up third in the league in passing yards with 3,245 and second in touchdown passes with 26.
Then in 1988, Miami would be completely lost in the wilderness, going an almost inexplicable 6-10. While the D was pitiful, the offense faltered into unexpected mediocrity, finishing 17th of 28 in team scoring. Marino had again done everything in his power to help his team, being the only QB in ’88 to exceed 4,000 yards passing with 4,434. His 28 TD passes were second in the league, but so were his 23 interceptions. The 1989 season was more of the same. Miami would finish 8-8. Mistakes were beginning to take their toll on Marino as well. While he threw for 3,997 yards and 24 touchdowns, he also added 22 picks. The Dolphins had just wasted four prime years of Dan Marino’s career to end the 1980s. Something had to give.
The Dolphins’ defense completely stepped up their game in 1990, jumping to fourth-best in points allowed. The result was less pressure on Marino as Miami surged to 12-4. Their quarterback finished fourth in the league in passing yards (3,563) and interception rate (2.1%), a vast improvement over his struggles turning over the football the previous few years. More importantly, Miami was back in the playoffs, hosting Steve DeBerg and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. But the Dolphins found themselves in a surprising hole, down 16-3 with 15 minutes to play. Then Marino turned it on, leading two scoring drives in the final period to help Miami win 17-16. He finished his day with 221 yards passing and two TDs in the victory. Miami headed to Buffalo for the AFC Championship Game, where Marino faced off against fellow Class of ’83 draftee Jim Kelly. Marino was excellent in the shootout, throwing for 323 yards and scoring four TDs (including one on the ground!) But he also had two crucial interceptions while the defense was picked apart by the Bills, and Buffalo prevailed 44-34.
Disappointingly, Miami’s overnight improvements fell by the wayside in 1991. They relapsed into 24th in the league in points allowed, despite Dan Marino leading the sixth-highest scoring offense in the NFL. If “defense wins championships”, per the old adage, then Miami have proven that over the past six years by missing out on another playoff spot, going 8-8. Marino was again terrific, finishing second among QBs with 3,970 yards, and fourth with 25 touchdowns in another lost season.
The Dolphins would rebound in 1992, however. Their defense returned to competence in finishing 11th in scoring, and helping Marino and the offense get to 11-5. Dan Marino would once again lead the NFL in passing yards with 4,116. He would also finish second with 24 TD passes. In the Divisional Round, Miami would blank Stan Humphries and the San Diego Chargers 31-0. Marino was coolly efficient with 167 yards passing, three TDs, and no turnovers in the win. But hosting the AFC Championship Game the following week, Miami simply could not stop Buffalo from making their third straight Super Bowl. Marino would throw for 268 yards and a late touchdown, but be doomed by two interceptions and a thriving Bills offense, as Buffalo captured their third straight AFC crown, 29-10.
The 1993 Miami Dolphins had all the makings of something special. They had gone into Week 6 at 3-1, and were leading the Browns 10-7 in the second quarter when Marino tore his right Achilles’ tendon. Marino had been off to a sensational start with his 60.7% completion rate (his highest since 1986), and his 95.9 QB rating was his best since his record-breaking 1984 season. While Scott Mitchell played admirably in relief of Marino, the Dolphins saw their 9-2 start vanish to a 9-7 finish. No playoffs in ’93 for Miami.
In 1994, Miami finally returned to the Super Bowl… sort of. In reality, the season would be a success for the ‘Fins as Marino returned to start all 16 games. His 4,453 yards passing would be second in the league, while his 30 TD passes and 89.2 QB rating were good enough for third as he was named “NFL Comeback Player of the Year”. In the Wild Card Round, Miami would exact a small amount of revenge from ten years prior on Joe Montana, and the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-17. Marino was brilliant in going 22-for-29 for 257 yards with two TDs and no picks. But leading 21-15 with 3:15 to play in the Divisional Round, Stan Humphries would lead San Diego on a 61-yard TD drive to put the Chargers up 22-21 with just over 30 ticks on the clock. Still, Miami would get to San Diego’s 30-yard line on a pass interference call, but Pete Stoyanovich’s field goal attempt missed, and the Chargers would hold on for the win, ending Miami’s season. Marino’s magnificent game was wasted, as threw for 262 yards, three TDs, and no picks in the loss.
The Dolphins snuck into the playoffs at 9-7 in 1995. It was another solid year for Marino with 3,668 passing yards in only 14 games, including 24 TD passes. But their season would again end at the hands of the Buffalo Bills, 37-22. Marino would throw the ball 64 times in a desperate effort to get Miami back from a 34-7 deficit, finishing with 422 yards, two TDs, and four turnovers. Following the season, Coach Don Shula would retire and the Dolphins would bring in Jimmy Johnson, three-time Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Dallas Cowboys. It would begin a complicated four years of Dolphins football.
A promising 3-0 start in 1996 resulted in a disappointing 8-8 year. Marino would go down with a broken ankle, somehow only missing three starts, but still hobbled for the year. He managed 215 passing yards per game nonetheless, and an 87.8 passer rating, but Miami would miss the playoffs. Marino would manage to start all 16 games in ‘97, and his 3,780 yards passing was third-best in the NFL. But his TD passes fell to only 16 as the Dolphins snuck into the postseason at 9-7. They were an absolute mess in Foxboro for the Wild Card Round, falling 17-3 to New England to end the season. Marino had a nightmare of a day, going 17-for-43 for 141 yards, no touchdowns, and three turnovers.
Miami continued their gradual improvement in 1998, going 10-6. Dan Marino again started all 16 games, throwing for 3,497 yards and 23 touchdowns. Miami was finally able to solve the riddle of Buffalo in the playoffs, defeating their AFC East rivals 24-17. Marino was solid in throwing for 235 yards, a TD, and a pick in the win. But facing long-time Class of ’83 rival for only the second time in his career, Marino and the Dolphins would be creamed by John Elway and the Denver Broncos 38-3 in the Divisional Round. Miami’s veteran QB would throw for 243 yards, no touchdowns, and two INTs in the loss.
In 1999, Dan Marino, Jimmy Johnson, and the Miami Dolphins would give it one more spirited effort. Battling a shoulder injury and a pinched nerve, Marino would only start 11 games, going 5-6. But back-up Damon Huard played well in his stead, helping Miami to a 4-1 record in five games. At 9-7, the ‘Fins again snuck into the playoffs. In Seattle, down 17-13 with nine minutes to play, Marino would eat up more than three minutes on the clock to lead Miami down the field for the game-winning score. In the 20-17 win, he would finish with 196 yards passing, a touchdown, and no turnovers. But in the Divisional Round, Miami would be obliterated in Jacksonville, 62-7. Marino had gone 11-for-25 for 95 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before being replaced by Damon Huard who fared little better. It was the end of Jimmy’s Johnson’s tenure in Miami, and the unceremonious end of an absolutely brilliant career for Dan Marino.
When Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season, no one in NFL history had attempted more passes, completed more passes, thrown for more yards (cumulatively and average per game), nor completed more touchdown passes. He had won an MVP. He had the single season records for passing yards and passing TDs. And yet, there was one thing he didn’t do: win a Super Bowl. Sadly, so many of his prime years were wasted because of below-average defenses. And in 1993, a season-ending injury may have taken away his best chance. Still, few passers were ever more feared by opposing defenses than Dan Marino. In seemingly effortless fashion he could churn out 300-yard / three touchdown performances. He also pre-dates the pass-first mentality of today’s game. When he played, most teams still had offenses that favored the running game. Whether or not he owns a Super Bowl ring, the fact of the matter is that few quarterbacks were ever as good over an entire career as Dan Marino.
Chart
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 0.063 | 0.065 | 0.117 | 0.066 | 0.036 | 0.051 | 0.095 | 0.071 |
| Playoffs | -0.031 | 0.029 | 0.108 | 0.004 | -0.039 | 0.002 | 0.063 | 0.034 |
Longevity Bonus = 2.5 Title Bonus = 0.0
Index Score = 5.853 (average QB = 0.0)
Deviation Rank (out of 155)
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 37th | 15th | 7th | 58th | 43rd | 34th | 19th | 31st |
| Playoffs | T-89th | 37th | 22nd | 71st | 104th | 62nd | 35th | 58th |
Why is he on the Top 25 list?
Dan Marino was a tremendous player in all facets of the game. Of the quarterbacks studied, Marino only finishes outside the Top 50 in one regular season category, and that’s in total turnovers per game (a still-impressive 58th). He was at his best in regards to total TDs per game (7th overall). He was also a Top 20 guy in deviation of total yards per game (15th) and touchdowns per pass attempt (19th). He also gets a huge boost for being Miami’s primary starter for 16 seasons, earning him a 2.5-point longevity bonus.
Why isn’t he higher on the list?
The big thing is the lack of a Super Bowl win, which gets him no title bonus. Other than that, he was not as effective in the postseason as the regular season. He’s outside the Top 50 in five of eight playoff categories, and finishes outside the Top 100 in average of yards/completion + yards/attempt (104th).
The Quarterback Project 