Aqua and Orange Immortals: Miami Dolphins' 10 Greatest Players Who Made Waves
Aqua and Orange Immortals: Miami Dolphins' 10 Greates...
By Oliver Wiener August 28, 2024 08:56
The Miami Dolphins have had multiple Hall of Fame inductees who put up unbelievable stats for the franchise. Since the franchise began 1966 as an expansion team, countless stars have worn their iconic aqua and orange. Here, we celebrate the top-10 Miami Dolphins' careers in this exhaustive feature that breaks down their career accomplishments and influence truly sealed into football eternity.
1. Dan Marino
The conversation about the top players in Miami Dolphins history should all start with Dan Marino. One of the best-known quarterbacks in NFL history, Marino will forever hold a special place with Dolphins fans.
In his 17-year career in Miami, Marino changed how a quarterback could play by releasing the ball quicker and more accurately. He made the Pro Bowl nine times and was named First Team All-Pro three times.
- Most passing yards (5,084 in 1984)
- First QB to throw 5000 yards in a single season.
- 15 400-Passing Yard Games
- Most touchdowns in a season (48 in 1984)
He was the franchise for nearly two decades, setting a new standard of quarterback play in this modern era. His deft outside shooting touch and shot release triggered his quick reads against defenses, making him a killer for the opposition.
2. Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor was the dominant force on the Dolphins’ defensive line for over a decade. Taylor was one of the most feared pass rushers due to his incredible speed, agility, and pure football intelligence. Taylor’s notable achievements with the Miami Dolphins include:
- Six Pro Bowl selections
- 3 First Team All-Pro selections
- 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- 131 sacks
- 29 forced fumbles
He was a turnover machine who scored nine defensive touchdowns in his career, more than any defensive lineman in NFL history. Taylor was a game-changer that could completely alter the game trajectory with just one play on defense.
3. Bob Griese
Before Marino, there was Bob Griese. Griese was the first piece of the championship puzzle for Don Shula, leading the Dolphins to three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, two of which resulted in back-to-back victories. Bob Griese’s statistics with the Miami Dolphins include:
- two Super Bowl championships,
- six Pro Bowl selections,
- two AFL All-Star selections,
- two First-Team All-Pro selections, and NFL Hall of Fame induction.
While Griese has not given the same numbers as Marino, his effect on the Dolphins was impeccable. He was the center of the most successful period for the team, including the perfect 1972 season.
4. Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka was the battering ram of a fullback who represented Miami's punishing ground attack during the 1970s. His bruising running style and penchant for breaking down defenses made him a vital cog of Miami's championship teams.
- Two Super Bowl championships
- Five Pro Bowl selections
- First-team All-Pro twice
- Super Bowl VIII MVP
5. Paul Warfield
Sure, Warfield only played five seasons in Miami, but he made his time playing for the Dolphins count. He was the trade acquisition from Cleveland, which supplied the deep threat needed to offset Miami's bread-and-butter ground game.
- Two Super Bowl championships
- Four Pro Bowl selections
- Two First-team All-Pro selections
- NFL touchdowns leader: 1971
Warfield ran with style, grace, and an acrobatic flair like few others in Dolphins history. His presence on the field helped to open up opportunities for everyone else and was an integral part of Miami's championship success.
6. Zach Thomas
Zach Thomas is a heart-and-soul player for a Dolphins defense that was one of the NFL's best for at least a decade. Thomas was often regarded as undersized for a linebacker. Still, his intelligence, tenacity, and great instincts led him to be one of the top players in the NFL generation.
- Seven Pro Bowl selections
- 5 Foot Team All-Pro Personalities
- Team-high tackles ten times
- Over 1,700 career tackles
What separated Thomas was his recognition of things before they happened on the field. Because of his study habits and football intelligence, he was always a step ahead, rightfully so, in the right place at the right time to constantly give opposing quarterbacks nightmares.
7. Mark Clayton
In the 1980s, Mark Clayton and Mark Duper (the Marks Brothers) caught Dan Marino passes. The synergy he and Marino shared paid off, allowing him to become one of the most prolific wide-outs in Dolphins history.
- Five Pro Bowl selections
- 8,643 yards/81 TDs
- NFL Record 18 TD Receptions in 1984
With his cocky, outgoing demeanor, Clayton was the ideal contrast to Marino's quiet arm. Once one of the top players on the team, his knack for getting open and making clutch catches turned him into a fan favorite and made him an integral part of Miami's hard-charging 1980s attack.
8. Dwight Stephenson
Stephenson's career may have been shortened by injury, but his impact is not understated during the eight seasons he spent with Miami. Considered one of the best centers in NFL history, Stephenson was at his prime while anchoring Miami's offensive lines for some prolific Marino seasons.
- Five straight Pro Bowls
- 4× First team All-Pro
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
Stephenson was unique because of his difficult combination of strength, quickness, and intelligence. He could handle even the strongest nose tackles one-on-one, leaving Miami free to use their other linemen against pinchers on Marino's flanks.
9. Cameron Wake
Cameron Wake's path to the NFL was unconventional, but once he arrived in Miami, he became one of the league's top pass-rushers. After going undrafted, wake spent time in the CFL but arrived with Miami at an all-pro level from Day 1, dominating as a pass rusher.
- Five Pro Bowl selections
- One first-team All-Pro (2019)
- 98 sacks (2nd in Dolphins history)
- 22 forced fumbles
Even as an undersized end, Wake's quick first step and endless motor kept him in the backfield harassing quarterbacks. His main asset was creating pressure and turnovers, which was a bright spot for the Dolphins' defense at the time.
10. Richmond Webb
Webb was the linchpin of Miami's offensive success in the 1990s because he was a consistent, standout performer in pass protection.
- 7-time Pro Bowl selection
- 2-time First Team All‐Pro
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Second Team
The Dolphins could help elsewhere on the line because Webb took care of elite pass rushers individually, enabling Marino to keep operating from his magic castle in the pocket.
The top 10 players in Miami Dolphins history, Dan Marino's record-breaking arm, and Larry Csonka's punishing runners mark each of the legends' indelible impact on the Miami Dolphins franchise. Right now, with newer players who honor our traditions by playing the same position as those legends in Miami, this tradition persists.
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