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Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. (born September 15, 1961) is a former American football quarterback who played seventeen seasons for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). The last quarterback of the quarterback class of 1983 to be taken in the first round, Marino held or currently holds dozens of NFL records associated with the quarterback position. Despite never being on a Super Bowl-winning team, he is recognized as one of the greatest quarterbacks and generally considered to be among the best pure passers in American football history.
Best remembered for his quick release and powerful arm, Marino helped the Dolphins become consistent postseason contenders, leading them to the playoffs ten times and one Super Bowl appearance in XIX, although a title victory ultimately eluded him during his career. Marino is considered by many to be one of the greatest players to never win a Super Bowl and has the most career victories of quarterbacks to not win a title at 155 (147–93 in the regular season and 8–10 in playoffs).
A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, and seven-time first or second-team All-Pro, Marino was the NFL Most Valuable Player(MVP) in 1984, when he set single-season records of 5,084 passing yards, 48 touchdown passes, nine 300-yard passing games, and four 400-yard passing games. He was voted the 1994 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and the 1998 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. At the time of his retirement, Marino held more than 40 NFL single-season and career passing records (many of which have since been surpassed), including career passing attempts (8,358), completions (4,967), passing yards (61,361), and touchdown passes (420). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, his first year of eligibility, and is currently one of only three former Miami Dolphins to have his jersey number (no. 13) retired.
Marino’s selection status in the 1983 NFL Draft plummeted after his weaker senior season at Pitt, and rumors of recreational drug use. Five other quarterbacks—Ken O’Brien, Tony Eason, Todd Blackledge, and Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and John Elway—were drafted ahead of him in the first round. Bill Hillgrove, who was with the Marino family on draft day, later recalled that when the New York Jets selected O’Brien, Marino “became visibly ill”. (O’Brien, who played for Division II Cal-Davis, was so obscure that Marino later asked his agent Marvin Demoff “Who is Ken O’Brien?”) The Miami Dolphins chose Marino as the 27th pick in the first round. The opinion was divided on the wisdom of the team’s decision; Chris Berman said that the Dolphins’ head coach Don Shula was “the best”, but Paul Zimmerman was skeptical of the coaching staff’s ability to help Marino “overcome the problems he’s had”. Shula later said that being passed up by so many teams “motivated [Marino] to show everybody else what a mistake that they had made.”
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Professional Career
Early years and Super Bowl appearance
Marino was the first draft pick in the history of the United States Football League, selected by the Los Angeles Express. He did not sign with the team, choosing instead to sign with the Dolphins. After starting the season as a backup to incumbent starter David Woodley, Marino was given his first NFL start in Week 6 versus the Buffalo Bills. Marino and Miami lost that game 38–35 in overtime. As a rookie, Marino set several records: he posted a 96.0 passer rating, he was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, he had the lowest percentage of passes intercepted with 2.03, he was the only rookie quarterback to lead a conference in passing, and he had the highest passing completion percentage with 58.45. The Dolphins finished the season with a 12-4 record and advanced to the AFC divisional playoffs, where Marino threw two touchdown passes in his playoff debut. However, he also threw two interceptions as the team lost to the 9-7 Seattle Seahawks, 27-20.
In his second season, Marino broke six NFL full-season passing records, including the records for most touchdown passes (48, surpassed by Peyton Manning in 2004) and most passing yards (5,084, surpassed by Drew Brees in 2011), and was selected as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. The Dolphins finished with a 14–2 regular season record, clinching home-field advantage for the playoffs. In the Divisional round, the Dolphins avenged their playoff loss of the previous season to Seattle Seahawks 31–10 behind Marino’s 262 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. The next week the Dolphins defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game 45–28. In that game, Marino set AFC Championship Game records with 421 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Both records still stand as of 2018.
Dan Marino jersey at Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio
In Super Bowl XIX, Marino and the Dolphins faced off against San Francisco 49ers and Joe Montana in Palo Alto, California. The Dolphins, who had 74 rushing attempts in the previous two weeks, ran the ball only eight times in this game. Marino finished with 29 completions out of 50 attempts for 318 yards, throwing one touchdown pass and two interceptions. The Dolphins lost 38–16 in what was Marino’s only Super Bowl appearance.
In 1985, Marino threw for 4,137 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading the Dolphins to the AFC Championship game. On September 29, Marino threw for 390 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Dolphins’ 30–26 victory over the Denver Broncos, in the first matchup between Marino and Broncos quarterback John Elway. Then on December 2, Marino threw for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns against the vaunted Chicago Bears defense in a 38–24 victory. The loss was the only one that the Bears experienced that season. Marino led the league in yards and touchdown passes and was named first-team All-Pro in 1985.
On September 7, 1986, 8 days shy of his 25th birthday, Marino threw his 100th touchdown pass in a 50–28 loss at San Diego. Marino accomplished that feat in just 44 games- the fastest in NFL history. In that 1986 season, Marino threw for 4,746 yards and 44 touchdowns. Marino became the first QB in NFL history to record three consecutive seasons of 30 or more touchdown passes; 48 in 1984, 30 in 1985 and 44 in 1986. Marino again led the league in yards and touchdown passes and was named 1986 first-team All-Pro.
Legacy
During Marino’s career, the Dolphins were perennial playoff contenders, reaching the post-season in 10 of his 17 seasons. 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). He was named first- or second-team All-Pro eight times and earned All-AFC honors six times. Marino won all three major individual awards: NFL MVP (1984); NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1994); and NFL Man of the Year (1998), which recognizes charitable work off the field.
In 1999, Marino was ranked 27th on The Sporting News list of the 100 greatest football players, making him the highest-ranking Dolphins player. In 2010, he was ranked number 25 on the NFL’s Top 100 Greatest Players list. Marino was known for his quick release, and despite the fact that he was not skilled at scrambling, Marino possessed an uncanny awareness in the pocket, often sliding a step or two to avoid the pass rush. Marino is currently fifth, behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and John Elway on the list of most wins by a starting quarterback, with 155, the most of a quarterback not to win a Super Bowl.
NFL Records
This list documents records set by Marino, some of which have since been tied or broken.
Active Records
- Most seasons leading league, pass attempts: 5 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997)
- Most seasons leading league, completions: 6 (1984–86, 1988, 1992, 1997)
- Most seasons leading league, lowest sack percentage: 10 (1983–89, 1994, 1997, 1999)
- Most consecutive seasons leading league, lowest sack percentage: 7 (1983–89)
- 200 touchdown passes in fewest number of games to start a career: 89 (9/17/1989 at New England)
- Monday Night Football, most passing yards: 9,654
- Monday Night Football, most completions: 798
- Monday Night Football, most attempts: 1,303
- Monday Night Football, most touchdown passes: 74
- Monday Night Football, most wins as a starter: 20
Former Records
- Most yards passing, Season: 5,084, in 1984 (surpassed by Drew Brees in 2011 with 5,476; as of 2015 season, now 6th all time)
- Most fourth-quarter comeback wins, career (playoffs included): 36 (surpassed by Peyton Manning, 38, in 2012)
- Lowest percentage passes intercepted, rookie season: 2.03 in 1983 (296–6) (surpassed by Charlie Batch, Detroit, 1.98 in 1998 (303–6))
- Most consecutive seasons, 3,000 or more yards passing: 9 (1984–92) (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2009 with 18) (1992–2009)
- Most games, 300 or more yards passing, season: 9 in 1984 (surpassed by Drew Brees with 13 in 2011)
- Most games, 300 or more yards passing, career: 63 (surpassed by Peyton Manning with 72 in 2012)
- Most games, 400 or more yards passing, playoffs: 2 (surpassed by Drew Brees with 3 in 2012 playoffs)
- Most touchdown passes, season: 48 in 1984 (surpassed by Peyton Manning (49) in 2004 and by Tom Brady (50) in 2007 and by Peyton Manning (55) in 2013).
- Most consecutive games, four or more touchdown passes: 4 in 1984 (surpassed by Peyton Manning in 2004)
- Most consecutive games, two or more touchdown passes: 12 (surpassed by Peyton Manning in 2004, Tom Brady in 2011, and Aaron Rodgers in 2011)
- Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, playoffs: 13 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2004 and Tom Brady in 2007)
- Highest passer rating, rookie season: 96.0 (surpassed by Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 and by Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III in 2012)
- Most seasons, 3,000 or more yards passing: 13 (1984–92, 1994–95, 1997–98) (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2005)
- Most completions, career: 4,967 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2006 and Peyton Manning in 2012)
- Most attempts, career: 8,358 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007)
- 40,000 career passing yards in fewest number of games to start a career: 153 (surpassed by Drew Brees with 152 games in 2011)
- Most yards passing, career: 61,361 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007, Peyton Manning in 2012, Drew Brees and Tom Brady in 2016)
- Most touchdown passes, career: 420 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007, Peyton Manning in 2012, Drew Brees and Tom Brady in 2015)
- Most consecutive home games with a touchdown pass: 39 (1983–1988; surpassed by Tom Brady in 2013)
- Most wins against one team: 24 against the Indianapolis Colts (surpassed by Brett Favre against the Detroit Lions in 2007)
- Most games, three or more touchdown passes, career: 62 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007 and Peyton Manning in 2010)
- Most wins in different stadiums: 31 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2008)
- 50,000 career passing yards in fewest number of games to start a career: 193 (surpassed by Peyton Manning in 2009)
- Highest career TD-INT differential: +168 (surpassed by Peyton Manning in 2009)
- Most games, four or more touchdown passes, career: 21 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2009 and Peyton Manning in 2010)
- Most regular season wins, quarterback/head coach: 116 with Don Shula (surpassed by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in 2011)
- Most straight games, at least 400 yards passing: 2 (surpassed by Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2018)
NFL Records Tied
- Most games, 400 or more yards passing, season: 4 in 1984; tied by Peyton Manning in 2013 and Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2018
- Most seasons, 40 or more touchdown passes: 2 (1984, 1986); tied by Drew Brees in 2012 and Peyton Manning in 2013
- Most seasons leading the league, yards gained: 5 (1984–1986, 1988, 1992); tied with Sonny Jurgensen (Philadelphia, 1961–1962; Washington, 1966–1967, 1969)
- Most consecutive seasons leading league, completions: 3 (1984–1986); tied with George Blanda (Houston, 1963–1965)
- Most games, four or more touchdown passes, season: 6 (1984); tied by Peyton Manning in 2004
- 300 TD passes in fewest number of games to start a career: 157 (9/4/1994 vs. New England); tied by Peyton Manning in 2007
- 30,000 career passing yards in fewest number of games to start a career: 114 (11/25/1990 at Cleveland); tied by Kurt Warner, October 18, 2009