To celebrate the 100th season of the NFL, we’re setting our sights on the greatest Miami Dolphins in NFL history. The best 100, to be exact. And while there is never any fine science to narrowing down a list of the best names in team history, there are a few tools that we used to help us define our list.
First and foremost, Hall of Fame inductees get preferential treatment. The best of the best — well, except for linebacker Zach Thomas — get their names called to Canton. We’ll reward those players as such on this list.
Beyond Hall of Fame status, this list was largely predicated on several variables. All-Pro status, tenure and production all factored in. And we drew inspiration from one additional source. Pro Football Reference features a metric called “Approximate Value” — a measure designed to quantify a player’s value to his team in any individual season. The Dolphins’ all-time list of Approximate Value was also weighed into the decision, but certainly not considered the law of the land when determining the list.
And so here it is: Our list of the 100 greatest Miami Dolphins of all time.
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100. WR Greg Camarillo (2007-2009)
Camarillo only played three seasons in Miami. He caught just 113 passes for the Dolphins and only managed to score four touchdowns in 42 games. But his 64-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in 2007 will always be remembered in Dolphins lore — for it prevented Miami from joining the ranks of the NFL’s winless. Camarillo served as the savior of a miserable 2007 season — in which nothing went right until that Week 15 contest against the Ravens. Miami lost six of its first 13 games by 3 points — always finding a way to lose the close ones. But Camarillo bailed the Dolphins out of joining the history books for all the wrong reasons and as a result will always live on as a Miami hero.
99. LS John Denney (2005-present)
Only one man has played in more Dolphins games than Denney: Dan Marino. Denney is a two-time Pro Bowl long snapper who has never missed a game in his NFL career — his 224 consecutive games played is a franchise record. Always reliable, Denney will be returning for his 15th NFL season this year and turns 41 in December.
98. DL David Bowens (2001-2006)
Bowens spent his first two seasons in the NFL bouncing around before landing with the Dolphins as his third team in three seasons in 2001. From 2001-2003, Bowens served as a minor contributor for the Dolphins. But from 2004-2006, he logged 18 sacks as a re-energized defender despite starting only 15 games over that stretch. Bowens would go on to play two years in New York and two years in Cleveland, but never recaptured the magic he found for those three seasons as a rotational defender up front for Miami.
97. CB Gerald Small (1978-1983)
Small started for the Dolphins between 1978 and 1983, logging 23 career interceptions in 76 starts. He left Miami for Atlanta and abruptly retired after a single season (and only one start) for the Falcons, but that doesn’t change some of the dynamic ball skills Small brought to Miami. He added four career interception in eight postseason games with the Dolphins — including three in four games en route to Miami’s Super Bowl XVII loss to Washington in the 1982 season.
96. CB William Judson (1982-1989)
Judson sits tied for sixth all-time in interceptions for the Dolphins with 24 — he spent his entire eight-year career with the Dolphins and served as a starter for seven seasons (106 total starts). Judson’s career high came in 1983, in which he logged six interceptions. He logged four in each of the next two seasons, including one in each that was returned for a defensive touchdown. Judson retired after the 1989 season — in which he started 14 games for the Dolphins.
95. QB Earl Morrall (1972-1976)
By the time Morrall was called into action for the Dolphins in 1972, he was in the 17th year of a career that started all the way back in 1956. He stepped in for Bob Griese in 1972 and operated the Dolphins offense magnificently as a 38-year-old veteran before Griese returned for the Super Bowl. Morrall was named first-team All-Pro in that historic 1972 season and ultimately went 11-1 as a backup for the Dolphins from 1972-1976.
94. WR Brandon Marshall (2010-2011)
Marshall only played two seasons in Miami before wearing out his welcome and being traded to Chicago in 2012. But in just two years as a Dolphin, Marshall logged 2,228 yards on 167 receptions — going over 1,000 yards in both seasons. Joe Philbin’s arrival marked the end of Marshall’s time with the Dolphins, only for him to be named first-team All-Pro in his first season in Chicago in 2012. Whoops.
93. RB Reggie Bush (2011-2012)
Bush served as Miami’s starting running back for two seasons after being traded by New Orleans. The Dolphins coaxed 1,000 yards out of Bush as a full-time starter in 2011, and he came 14 yards short of accomplishing the feat in his second season in Miami in 2012. Bush did not make a Pro Bowl with Miami but did account for 2,660 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in two seasons.
92. TE Anthony Fasano (2008-2012, 2017)
Fasano is tied for eighth in touchdown receptions (24) in Dolphins history. He had two stints with the Dolphins, logging six seasons. His reliable blocking and stead presence as a secondary pass catcher allowed him to record some of his best seasons with the Dolphins (he had a career-best 528 receiving yards in 2010).
91. QB Don Strock (1974-1987)
Never underestimate the value of a good backup quarterback. Strock served as a loyal backup to the likes of Bob Griese, David Woodley and Dan Marino over the course of his 14 seasons with the Dolphins. By the time Strock left Miami in 1988, he’d only started 20 games despite being active for 163 contests. But he went 14-6 as a starter for Miami — including key stretches in 1978 (5-2 with a 12-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio) and 1979 (3-1 as the Dolphins edged the Patriots by one game to win the AFC East).
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90. WR Tony Martin (1990-1993, 1999-2000)
Over two stretches with the team, Martin logged 3,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. Martin’s peak came with the Chargers in the mid-1990s, but he did have a 1,037-yard season with Miami upon his return as a 34-year-old in 1999. Martin ranks in the Dolphins’ top 15 all-time in receiving yards.
89. TE Keith Jackson (1992-1994)
After being declared a free agent in a federal court ruling, Jackson signed with the Dolphins in 1992. He was coming off four seasons with the Eagles, in which he was named to three Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro rosters. With the Dolphins, Jackson never quite found his Eagles form, but he was a key mismatch in the passing attack, totaling 1,880 yards and 18 touchdowns over those three seasons. Jackson was named to the Pro Bowl in 1992.
88. LB Larry Gordon (1976-1982)
Gordon started 98 games for the Dolphins, consistently providing production on the second level of Miami’s defense. He forced 10 fumbles and logged eight interceptions in those 98 starts — never gathering any all-star accolades but always being a productive starter.
87. TE Bruce Hardy (1978-1989)
Hardy played a total of 151 games for Miami, starting 95. His 25 receiving touchdowns rank seventh all-time in Dolphins history, edging out Anthony Fasano (24) and Jim Mandich (23) for the most ever by a tight end in Miami.
86. OT Laremy Tunsil (2016-present)
The Dolphins’ current left tackle is still fresh to the NFL, but it is quickly becoming apparent that he is the next chapter in a rich history of offensive line play for the Dolphins organization. Tunsil enters his fourth season in 2019 coming off a year in which he was credited with one sack allowed — and that came in Week 16. As Tunsil plays longer, look for him to climb this list.
85. OLB Joey Porter (2007-2009)
Porter played 13 years in the NFL and only three came with the Dolphins. But Porter’s best season as a pass rusher in the pros easily came in 2008, in which he logged 17.5 sacks and had four forced fumbles. Porter tallied a total of 32 sacks in 46 games for the Dolphins, a total that is good for sixth on Miami’s official sack leaderboard.
84. TE Jim Mandich (1970-1977)
Mandich is tied for 10th all-time in Dolphins receiving touchdowns (23). Mandich was a key role player for the Dolphins Super Bowl teams of 1972 and 1973, logging seven receiving touchdowns between those two seasons. The “Mad Dog” finished his pro career with 121 career receptions, all for the Dolphins. He was ultimately traded to the Redskins in 1978 but never caught a ball for either Washington or the Steelers, with whom he played 10 games for in 1978 before retiring.
83. DE Olivier Vernon (2012-2015)
Vernon didn’t play for a long time in Miami – only four seasons – but he transformed himself from a respectable run defender into a viable pass rusher and by the time he left for the New York Giants in 2016, he was in the top 10 official sack leaders in franchise history with 29. Vernon, a former third-round pick, earned Miami a third-rounder as compensation for his loss in free agency when he signed with the Giants. Not a bad deal for the Dolphins.
82. CB Troy Vincent (1992-1995)
Vincent would play the bulk of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles (eight seasons), but his first four years came in Miami. Vincent started 55 games over that stretch and made 14 interceptions along the way. The seventh overall selection of the 1992 NFL Draft by Miami, Vincent immediately commandeered a starting role as the teams’ outside corner — and he did not disappoint. He logged five interceptions in each of his final two seasons before departing for Philadelphia in 1996.
81. RB Lamar Miller (2012-2015)
By the time Miller left Miami in 2016 to play for the Houston Texans, he had evolved into a potent three-down back — providing the Dolphins with greater production over his final two seasons (2014-2015) than they saw from Reggie Bush’s two seasons with the team. Miller logged 2,643 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns in his final two seasons with the Dolphins.
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80. LB Karlos Dansby (2010-2012)
Dansby arrived in Miami as a key free agent signing in 2010 and for three seasons served as one of the leaders of the defense. Dansby logged 332 total tackles, six sacks and five forced fumbles for the Dolphins between 2010 and 2012. He didn’t quite have the same dynamic playmaking that he showcased in Arizona (33 sacks and 15 interceptions in eight seasons), but he was a sturdy starter who was the key cog in the Dolphins’ defense.
79. DT Ndamukong Suh (2015-2017)
Suh’s tenure in Miami probably didn’t live up to what the Dolphins had hoped for when they inked him to a megadeal in free agency ahead of the 2015 season. Suh was coming off consecutive All-Pro campaigns with the Lions and recorded 36 sacks in five seasons as a defensive tackle during his rookie contract in the Motor City. His play dropped off over his three seasons in Miami, and he never became the pass-rushing force he was in Detroit. But he was still a formidable presence in the middle for three seasons, with 37 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.
78. K Pete Stoyanovich (1989-1995)
Twice (in 1991 and 1992), Stoyanovich led the NFL in made field goals with 31 and 30, respectively. Kicking in 110 games with Miami, Stoyanovich was a consistent fixture on special teams and was named first team All-Pro in 1992 (although he did not make the Pro Bowl that season).
77. P Reggie Roby (1983-1992)
Roby was twice named to the Pro Bowl and named a first-team All-Pro once (1984). Roby would boom 70-plus yard punts in both 1986 and 1987 and led the NFL in yards per punt in 1991 (45.7). Roby played a total of 145 games for the Dolphins over his decade with the team.
76. QB Jay Fiedler (2000-2004)
The initial heir to Dan Marino started his career by going 21-10 in the Dolphins’ first two seasons post-Marino — which he deserves some credit for. Fielder was playing his best football by the time the 2002 season rolled around; he’d cut down on his turnovers and was throwing touchdown passes at a higher rate than any other point in his NFL career. But he missed the heart of the season with injury and when he returned, it seemed as though his momentum was gone. Fiedler struggled to live up to the shadow of Marino, but he kept the Dolphins competitive with a good team around him for a few seasons.
75. CB Xavien Howard (2016-present)
Howard is entering rare company with his interception production. With 11 interceptions and 21 passes defensed in his last 17 career games, Howard is getting his hands on the ball at a startling rate. His ballhawking skills served as one of the few bright spots on an otherwise horrid Dolphins defense under the watch of defensive coordinator Matt Burke. But with Brian Flores now manning the ship, hopefully Howard’s play can be recognized and continue to thrive.
74. WR Davone Bess (2008-2012)
Bess spent five seasons with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Hawaii, carving out a nice role for himself as the slot receiver. Bess hauled in 321 passes over that stretch, good enough to place him eighth on the Dolphins’ all-time list of receptions leaders. Things fell apart quickly for Bess after he left Miami, however. He struggled with the Browns in 2013, and off-the-field troubles shut down his NFL career shortly thereafter.
73. OT Wayne Moore (1970-1978)
Moore was a full-time starter for the first time as Miami repeated as Super Bowl champions in 1973, starting 12 of 14 games in the regular season. He would go on to start 60 more games at left tackle for the Dolphins throughout the mid- and late 1970s — playing until he was 33 years old in 1978. Moore died at age 44 in 1989.
72. S Glenn Blackwood (1979-1987)
After 118 total games and 106 starts, Blackwood finished his nine-year career with the Dolphins with 29 career interceptions. Blackwood helped the Dolphins’ “Killer B’s” defense during their successful years of the early 1980s.
71. TE Randy McMichael (2002-2006)
McMichael sits 10th on the Dolphins’ all-time receptions list and is first among tight ends with 283 catches. All the more impressive, McMichael only played five seasons in Miami before heading west to St. Louis and then San Diego to wrap up his 11-year career. McMichael caught three-quarters (18) of his 24 career touchdowns over those five years with the Dolphins, finding the end zone just six times over the second half of his career. And no tight end in Dolphins history can hold a candle to McMichael’s production of 3,096 career receiving yards.
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70. CB Brent Grimes (2013-2015)
Grimes served as an effective shutdown cornerback for the Dolphins, making the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with the Dolphins. With 13 interceptions and 43 passes defensed, there is little arguing Grimes’ ability to hunt the ball despite his diminutive stature. His departure was marred by drama, however, souring his relationship with the organization.
69. QB Ryan Tannehill (2012-2018)
Tannehill didn’t bring the Dolphins back to the promised land as the heir to Marino, but he did stabilize the quarterback position after years of futility and made it OK for Dolphins fans to expect more than “OK” once again at the position. Tannehill sits third in franchise history in quarterback wins, completions, passing yardage, passing touchdowns, game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks. Oh yeah, and he was sacked 248 times as the Dolphins starting quarterback, just 22 short of Marino’s franchise record. For context? Marino played 242 games as a Dolphin. Tannehill? 88.
68. K Garo Yepremian (1970-1978)
Yepremian kicked for the Dolphins for nine seasons, making the Pro Bowl three times and twice being named first-team All-Pro. He would go on to be named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade team. However, he may be most known for his Super Bowl VII blunder, which ruined Miami’s bid to cap its perfect season with a shutout against the Washington Redskins. Yepremian’s field goal attempt was blocked, so he scooped up the ball and attempted to throw it down the field. But he lost his grip and fumbled it into the air, where Redskins defender Mike Bass snagged it and ran it back for Washington’s only touchdown with just two minutes remaining in the contest.
67. OT Ja’Wuan James (2014-2018)
James played five seasons in Miami, manning the right tackle position with consistency. James was a more effective run blocker than he was a pass protector, but his skills and presence off the edge helped provide some semblance of stability to a Dolphins offensive line that could best be described as shaky between the tackles.
66. RB Jim Kiick (1968-1974)
Kiick played just seven seasons with the Dolphins but served as a valuable part of Miami’s potent rushing attack during their Super Bowl runs. Twice named to the Pro Bowl (as a rookie in 1968 and again the following season), Kiick led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 1969 (nine) and would score a total of 28 times with the Dolphins before spending his final two seasons in the NFL with Denver and then Washington.
65. OL Vernon Carey (2004-2011)
Carey is a South Florida lifer — he played his high school ball in South Florida, he went to the University of Miami and then played eight seasons with the Dolphins before retiring after the 2011 season. Carey started at left tackle, right tackle and right guard for the Dolphins, totaling 121 games and 107 starts as a consistent presence.
64. WR Oronde Gadsden (1998-2003)
Oh, what could have been. Gadsden was a physical receiver who burst onto the NFL scene late as a 27-year-old with the Dolphins — promptly logging 152 receptions for 2,302 yards and 19 touchdowns in his first three seasons. But when Dan Marino retired before the start of the 2000 season, it marked the end of Gadsden’s best production.
63. S Yeremiah Bell (2004-2011)
A fearsome hitter, Bell thrived as a late-bloomer for the Dolphins and really hitting his stride in Miami’s key turnaround season in 2008. That season, Bell logged 100 solo tackles and 120 total, nearly double his previous career high). And while Bell had only six interceptions in eight seasons with the Dolphins, his presence in the box was undeniable. Bell was named to the Pro Bowl in 2009 after snagging three interceptions to go with his 114 total tackles and eight pass breakups. Bell left Miami for New York to play one season with the Jets in 2012 and another season in Arizona before retiring after the 2013 season.
62. WR Irving Fryar (1993-1995)
Fryar spent only three year in Miami out of his 17 career seasons. But half of Fryar’s four career Pro Bowls came over those three years in Miami — he made it in both 1993 and 1994. Fryar tallied 3,190 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in 48 games for the Dolphins, all coming after he played his first nine seasons in New England with the Patriots. Fryar’s receiving yards rank 13th all-time in Dolphins history, while his 20 touchdowns rank 14th.
61. WR Brian Hartline (2009-2014)
Hartline very quietly ranks among the Dolphins’ career leaders in receiving yards. His 4,243 yards are seventh all-time in the Miami record books. Hartline, who was drafted by Miami in 2009, recorded consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2012 and 2013. Hartline’s consistency as a route runner didn’t yield a lot of big plays, but he was a constant presence in the passing game after the departure of WR Brandon Marshall.
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60. LB Mike Kolen (1970-1977)
Kolen was a starting linebacker for the “No-Name Defense.” He didn’t receive the accolades of some of his teammates, but he was consistently around the football during his time as a starter. He picked off five passes between 1972 and 1975 — while adding an additional two more in postseason play between 1971 and 1972. Kolen started a total of 78 contests for the Dolphins.
59. RB Ronnie Brown (2005-2010)
Brown was the Dolphins’ second overall selection in 2005, and for a few seasons, it appeared as though he’d live up to the billing. Brown totaled 4,584 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns in his first four seasons with the Dolphins — including 991 yards in seven games during Miami’s woeful 1-15 campaign in 2007 (he missed the final nine games). But not even the wildcat offense of 2008 could bring Brown all the way back, and he struggled to stay healthy (nine games in 2009) and explosive (3.7 yards per carry in 2010). Ultimately Brown would leave Miami after six years, 4,815 rushing yards and 76 games. He departed the Dolphins in third place all-time in rushing yards, trailing Ricky Williams and Larry Csonka.
58. K Olindo Mare (1997-2006)
Mare kicked for 10 seasons in Miami and left the organization in 2007 as the franchise’s all-time leader in points scored (1,048). Mare was named to just one Pro Bowl and honored once as a first-team All-Pro (1999). That season, Mare led the NFL with 39 successful field goals on an NFL-high 46 attempts. He retired for good after the 2012 season with Chicago and 16 total seasons in the NFL.
57. WR Jarvis Landry (2014-2017)
Landry had an incredible amount of production throughout his four seasons with the Dolphins. Sure, Landry’s paltry 10.1 career yards per catch is an indication how how frequently the Dolphins channelled their passing game through him in the short areas of the field. But 400 receptions in four seasons are impossible to overlook — as are 4,038 receiving yards in those same four seasons. Landry was unceremoniously traded to Cleveland ahead of the 2018 season, but he made Pro Bowls in his final three seasons with Miami. After the 2019 campaign, he will sit either first or second in the record books for most receptions in the first four seasons of a career.
56. CB Terrell Buckley (1995-1999, 2003)
Buckley played the prime of his career with the Dolphins before returning for a swan song in 2003. Over his six years in Miami, Buckley logged 24 of his 50 career interceptions — including seasons with six (1996), eight (1998) and five (2003). Buckley never made the Pro Bowl or reached All-Pro honors despite his gaudy interception totals with the Dolphins.
55. DT Daryl Gardener (1996-2001)
Gardener was a talented prospect out of Baylor when the Dolphins selected him 20th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft to play next to Tim Bowens on the defensive interior. And over the six seasons Gardener played with the Dolphins, he was a rangy defender. He logged significant pass-rush production in the second half of his Dolphins career, totaling 11.5 sacks over his final three seasons in Miami — including four in only eight games in 2001. He moved on to play for the Washington Redskins in 2002 and had retired by 2004.
54. WR Duriel Harris (1976-1985)
Over his decade with the Dolphins, Harris peaked in 1981, when he had 53 receptions for 911 yards and two touchdowns. Averaging nearly 17 yards per reception for his career, Harris tallied 4,535 yards with Miami.
53. DE Trace Armstrong (1995-2000)
Armstrong tallied a whopping 56.5 sacks in his Dolphins career. As a 35-year-old in 2000, Armstrong racked up 16.5 sacks en route to getting named to his first and only Pro Bowl in 15 NFL seasons. Armstrong had three of his five career seasons with double-digit sacks in South Florida — despite only starting 27 out of 95 games played with the Dolphins over that stretch.
52. LB Kim Bokamper (1977-1985)
Bokamper spent his entire career with the Dolphins, logging 103 starts and serving as one of the team’s “Killer B’s” on defense. Bokamper served as a starter from 1977 as a rookie all the way through 1985, with 1981 being the only season he did not start the majority of the games at outside linebacker/defensive end. Bokamper was named to the Pro Bowl once (1979).
51. S Brock Marion (1998-2003)
As the Dolphins’ starting free safety, Marion missed just one start over six seasons in Miami. Over that time, Marion logged 20 interceptions and never had fewer than 75 total tackles in any individual season. After starting his career in Dallas, Marion blossomed with the Dolphins among all of the talent in the team’s secondary during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He managed just 11 interceptions in six years outside of Miami compared to the 20 he logged in six seasons with the Dolphins. In addition, Marion was named to the Pro Bowl in half of his seasons as a starter for the Dolphins (2000, 2002, 2003).
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50. C Jeff Dellenbach (1985-1994)
Dellenbach serves the distinction of being the man who replaced Dwight Stephenson at center for the Dolphins after the latter’s career was cut short by a brutal leg injury. Dellenbach would go on to start 87 games for the Dolphins over his 10 years with the team, serving as a starter at left tackle, center, right tackle and guard.
49. CB Curtis Johnson (1970-1978)
Johnson started 113 games as a constant contributor on Miami’s stout defenses of the 1970s. With 22 career interceptions, Johnson is tied for 10th in Dolphins history.
48. LB A.J. Duhe (1977-1984)
The 13th overall pick in the 1977 NFL Draft, Duhe was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1977 and would go on to be named to the Pro Bowl in Miami’s highly successful 1984 season. Duhe’s peak came in 1982, however, when he recorded three interceptions against the New York Jets to help the Dolphins win the AFC championship game.
47. S Louis Oliver (1989-1993, 1995-1996)
Oliver started for seven seasons in Miami, bookending his 1994 season in Cincinnati with the Bengals. Over that stretch, Oliver had 24 interceptions and was a consistent presence on the back end of Miami’s defense. His best season came in 1992, when he picked off five interceptions and had an NFL-long 103-yard return for a defensive touchdown. Oliver finished his pro career in the 1996 season, in which he led the NFL in fumble recoveries with five.
46. LB Bob Brudzinski (1981-1989)
As one of the Dolphins’ “Killer B’s” on defense, Brudzinski started six-and-a-half seasons with the Dolphins after beginning his career with the Rams from 1977-1980. Brudzinski’s nine seasons with the Dolphins included five interceptions and 14.5 sacks between 1981 and 1987 before he relinquished a starting role for his final two seasons in the NFL.
45. C Mike Pouncey (2011-2017)
Pouncey started 93 career games for the Dolphins after the team made him a first-round pick in 2011. He rewarded them with three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2013-2015. Injuries whittled away Pouncey’s performance and consistency, but his athletic ability was always visible on the field. He was cut by the Dolphins ahead of the 2018 season.
44. S Reshad Jones (2010-present)
Jones has made two Pro Bowls over his time with the Dolphins — and he should have at least two more under his belt. Jones enters his 10th year with the franchise after a potential holdout and trade demand was resolved thanks to new head coach Brian Flores. Jones has been one of the better all-around safeties in football since 2012. He’s finished with 100-plus tackles three times, recorded at least three interceptions four times and scored six defensive touchdowns.
43. OT Jake Long (2008-2012)
It is understandable for Dolphins fans to wonder “what if” the team had chosen to draft Matt Ryan instead of Long first overall in the 2008. But Long was a valuable asset for the Dolphins during his five years with the team. Injuries eventually wore Long down and he failed to sustain his high level of play, but he started his career with four consecutive Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection in 2010. Long played in 15 games over his final three seasons for the Rams, Falcons and Vikings before retiring after the 2016 season.
42. LB Bryan Cox (1991-1995)
Selected by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft, Cox would start 77 games for the Dolphins, being named to three Pro Bowls as a fierce all-around defender. Cox tallied over 100 tackles in each of his final four seasons with the team while also recording an impressive 29.5 sacks over that same stretch. Cox was known as a fiery personality on the field and was always easy to find courtesy of his intensity and his massive neck roll.
41. WR O.J. McDuffie (1993-2000)
McDuffie serves as another “what if” on this list. His career was cut short by turf toe, but McDuffie was one of the most productive receivers in team history. He’s ranked fourth in Dolphins history in receptions (415) and fifth in receiving yards (5,074) and touchdowns (29). McDuffie never made the Pro bowl, but he did lead the NFL in receptions in 1998 with 90.
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40. WR Chris Chambers (2001-2007)
Chambers provided the Dolphins with an impressive 43 touchdown receptions in 100 total games during his career. Chambers’ 43 touchdowns and 5,688 receiving yards rank fourth in Dolphins history, trailing only Nat Moore and the Marks Brothers (Duper and Clayton). Chambers was known for his athletic high-point catches and contested-catch ability. He made one Pro Bowl with the Dolphins in 2005, when he finished with a career-high 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns.
39. DT Randy Starks (2008-2014)
Did you know that Starks is the Dolphins’ official sack leader as a defensive tackle? Yes, Manny Fernandez had 35, but sacks were not an official stat back in the 1970s. And so Starks’ 30.5 sacks are officially tops in franchise history by a defensive tackle. Starks served as a key starter for Miami between 2008 and 2014 and made two Pro Bowls as a Dolphin.
38. DE Jeff Cross (1988-1995)
Cross sits third in Dolphins history with 59.5 career sacks. As a late-round selection in the 1988 NFL Draft (No. 239 overall), Cross is one of the great steals in Dolphins history. He successfully overcame the odds to be a long-term starter (107 starts) for Miami. Cross was named to the Pro Bowl in 1990 after logging 11.5 sacks for his only all-star recognition.
37. CB Tim Foley (1970-1980)
Foley started for Miami’s Super Bowl-winning defenses, finishing with 22 career interceptions in 133 games — all with the Dolphins. Foley started 110 games during his tenure with Miami and was once recognized as a Pro Bowl defender in 1979, his final year as a full-time starter.
36. DE Vern Den Herder (1971-1982)
Den Herder was another defender in Dolphins history who played consistent ball for a long time. He served as the Dolphins’ starting defensive end for 10 consecutive seasons. That decade was sandwiched between an unproductive rookie season in 1971 and an uneventful swan song for Den Herder in 1982 — in which he only played seven games.
35. OT Jon Giesler (1979-1988)
Giesler never played for another team, spending 10 seasons with the Dolphins. He was Dan Marino’s first left tackle, starting a total of 105 contests before being phased out of Miami’s starting lineup in the late 1980s.
34. OG Roy Foster (1982-1990)
A first-round pick of the Dolphins in 1982 (24th overall), Foster stepped into a starting role with the Dolphins in his third pro season and never looked back — holding firm to the team’s left guard position for six seasons before finishing his career with three seasons in San Francisco. Foster was named to consecutive Pro Bowls in 1985 and 1986.
33. C Tim Ruddy (1994-2003)
Ruddy is one of the Dolphins’ all-time under-appreciated players. He served as Miami’s starting center from 1995 to 2003 and was a consistent-plus starter for the Dolphins up front. Ruddy missed just four starts in nine seasons as a starter and was named to his first and only Pro Bowl in the year 2000.
32. OT Norm Evans (1966-1975)
Evans was a model of consistency throughout his time with the Dolphins. He came to Miami in 1966 after spending a season in Houston with the Oilers and proceeded to start 135 games with the Dolphins over the next decade, missing just five starts over that timeframe. He served as the Dolphins’ starting right tackle for each of Miami’s three Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s.
31. RB Mercury Morris (1969-1975)
Morris was one of the mouthpieces of Miami’s undefeated 1972 team. He rushed for 1,000 yards that season and led the NFL with 12 touchdowns on the ground. Over seven years with Miami, Morris logged 3,877 rushing yards, 29 touchdowns and solidified himself as one of the greatest backs in team history. Morris played for the Dolphins from 1969 to 1975 (with 3 Pro Bowl honors) before finishing his NFL career with one season in San Diego with the Chargers.
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30. DE Doug Betters (1978-1987)
Betters was named the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1983, in which he had 16 sacks and four fumble recoveries for the Dolphins. That 1983 season was also Betters’ only Pro Bowl and All-Pro season, despite logging 14 sacks the following year as the Dolphins returned to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
29. OG Keith Simms (1990-1997)
Sims started eight seasons in Miami for a total of 108 games between 1990 and 1997 before finishing his career with three seasons in the nation’s capital with the Redskins. Sims flourished in the mid-1990s, logging three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons between 1993 and 1995 for the Dolphins.
28. RB Tony Nathan (1979-1987)
Nathan was Miami’s Swiss army knife throughout the 1980s. He earned first-team All-Pro honors as a rookie in 1979 as a kick returner, but his value exploded a few years later when he became a dual-threat back. Nathan logged four seasons in excess of 1,100 yards from scrimmage in five years between 1981 and 1985. Only a strike-shortened season in 1982 held him back from potentially recording five straight.
27. RB Ricky Williams (2002-2003, 2005-2010)
Williams’ tenure in Miami was long, winding and complicated. Williams exploded onto the scene in 2002 after being traded to the Dolphins from New Orleans, leading the NFL with 1,853 rushing yards on a whopping 383 carries. The following year was even more strenuous, as Williams carried the ball 392 times for 1,372 yards. That was initially enough for Williams, who retired abruptly as a 27-year-old in 2004 and hung the Dolphins out to dry. But in the years that followed, Williams returned and eventually claimed redemption by rushing for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009. He’s second in team history with 6,436 rushing yards and for his career, Williams is credited with 10,009 yards and 66 touchdowns.
26. CB Patrick Surtain (1998-2004)
Surtain paired with teammate Sam Madison to create a shutdown duo in South Florida during the team’s defensive resurgence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Surtain played seven years with Miami and picked off a whopping 29 passes over that time — plus he has an additional 77 passes defensed to his credit. Surtain left Miami in his heyday as a 29-year-old to finish his career in Kansas City after three Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro season (2002).
25. DT Manny Fernandez (1968-1975)
The record books won’t remember Fernandez kindly. He received no Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors. But Fernandez was one of the heartbeats of the Dolphins’ 1970s defenses. His performance in Super Bowl VII was dominant; he recorded 17 tackles and had a sack of QB Billy Kilmer. Fernandez finished his pro career with 35 unofficial sacks — an impressive number for a nose tackle in the early 1970s era of NFL football.
24. LB John Offerdahl (1986-1993)
Offerdahl was a five-time Pro Bowler and once-time first-team All-Pro defender for the Dolphins, wasting no time making an impact in Miami. Offerdahl made the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons and was named to his All-Pro team in 1990. Injuries eventually derailed his career as he struggled with hamstring, shoulder and biceps issues in his final three seasons before retiring at the age of 31.
23. DL Bill Stanfill (1969-1976)
Miami’s first-round pick in the 1969 NFL Draft (11th overall), Stanfill was a constant fixture of the team’s top-shelf defenses during its first two Super Bowl victories. Stanfill was named to five Pro Bowls in his first six seasons in the NFL and was named first-team All-Pro after Miami’s undefeated 1972 season.
22. S Jake Scott (1970-1975)
Scott logged 35 career interceptions in just six seasons with Miami, proving to be quite the ballhawk. Only once in Scott’s six seasons in Miami did he record fewer than five picks in a season (four in 1973). With five consecutive Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro honors between 1971 and 1975, Scott was one of the biggest contributors to Miami’s dynasty of the early 1970s.
21. S Dick Anderson (1968-1977)
Anderson’s time in the NFL is highlighted by being named the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1973, in which he logged an NFL-best eight interceptions. It was one of three times in Anderson’s career (1968 and 1970 were the others) in which he had eight interceptions in a single season. In a decade with the Dolphins, Anderson finished with 34 interceptions and recovered 16 fumbles to go along with his three Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro honors.
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20. DT Tim Bowens (1994-2004)
Bowens was a model of consistency in the middle of the Dolphins’ defense for 11 seasons (1994-2004). Missing just seven starts in his first 10 seasons, Bowens was a mountain of a man who provided a disruptive presence in Miami’s defense. Bowens’ role was largely a thankless one — as evidenced by just two Pro Bowl honors over his 11 seasons — but he was quite effective at what he was asked to be.
19. OG Ed Newman (1973-1984)
How good was the Dolphins’ offensive line throughout the 1970s? Newman had to spend the majority of the decade as a backup before finally getting a chance to start full time in 1979. Newman finished his career on top with his best season in 1984, according to Pro Football Reference’s “Approximate Value” stat. That year, Newman recorded his only first-team All-Pro honor and retired after Miami’s Super Bowl loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
18. WR Nat Moore (1974-1986)
Moore spent his entire career with the Dolphins, playing in 183 games. He sits third in franchise history in receptions (510), third in receiving yards (7,546) and second in receiving touchdowns (74). His best season came in 1977, in which Moore was named to his only Pro Bowl and only All-Pro team. That year, he had 52 receptions for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns.
17. DL Bob Baumhower (1977-1986)
A staple of the “Killer B’s” defense, Baumhauer spent his entire 10-year career as a member of the Dolphins. Over that time, Baumhauer was named to five Pro Bowls and once named first-team All-Pro (1983).
16. CB Sam Madison (1997-2005)
Madison was a dominant force over his first six seasons with the Dolphins, picking off 26 passes in that span (including eight in 1998 and a league-best seven in 1999). The Dolphins remained contenders for the early portion of Madison’s career, thanks in large part to his shutdown skills on the boundary. With four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro honors, Madison is one of the team’s most decorated defenders.
15. WR Mark Clayton (1983-1992)
Miami’s receiving king, Clayton played 10 seasons with the Dolphins and logged 550 receptions, 8,643 yards and 81 touchdowns. Clayton twice led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (18 in 1984; 14 in 1988) while also logging five 1,000-yard seasons (and another with 996) as one of Marino’s favorite targets. Clayton was named to five Pro Bowls but mysteriously never made a first-team All-Pro roster.
14. DE Cameron Wake (2009-2018)
One of the most inspirational players in team history, Wake came to Miami in 2009 as a coveted free agent from the Canadian Football League. Wake had gone undrafted in 2005 and headed north to hone his craft before returning for another look in the NFL. Fast forward to today and Wake leaves Miami to presumably finish his career with the Titans after recording 98 sacks in 10 seasons — despite making only one start as a 27-year-old rookie in 2009 and missing half of the 2015 season with an Achilles tear.
13. WR Mark Duper (1982-1992)
Marino’s “other” favorite target of the 1980s, “Super” Duper played 11 seasons with the Dolphins and sits second in team history in receptions (511) and first in yardage (8,869). Duper was named to three Pro Bowls during his time with the Dolphins.
12. OG Bob Kuechenberg (1970-1983)
Kuechenberg played 14 seasons with the Dolphins as one of the longest-tenured players in franchise history. Only three Dolphins (Dan Marino, Jason Taylor and John Denney) have played in more contests than Kuechenberg’s 196 games — over which time he was named to six Pro Bowls and one All-Pro first team (1978).
11. OT Richmond Webb (1990-2000)
Webb started 163 contests for the Dolphins and was a valiant protector of Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino throughout the entirety of the 1990s before finishing his career with two seasons in Cincinnati. Webb’s first eight seasons in Miami were as consistent as they come. He was named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and twice named a first-team All-Pro left tackle.
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10. LB Zach Thomas (1996-2007)
The Pro Football Hall of Fame may be sleeping on Thomas, but we certainly aren’t. Thomas was a staple of some of the best defenses in franchise history, tallying 1,633 of his 1,727 career tackles in 12 years with the Dolphins. Only once in his 12 seasons with the Dolphins did he fail to surpass 100 total tackles (99 tackles in 2000 while playing just 11 games). With five first-team All-Pro honors to his name, Thomas is will forever be remembered as one of the most ferocious defenders in Dolphins history.
9. WR Paul Warfield (1970-1974)
Warfield only played five seasons with the Dolphins, but while in South Florida he was a unique weapon who constantly torched opposing defenses. Averaging 21.5 yards per catch over his five seasons in Miami, Warfield was the big playmaker in Miami’s passing game. His presence helped to mitigate the injury to future Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese early in the 1972 perfect season. Warfield was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
8. LB Nick Buoniconti (1969-1976)
Buoniconti split his career between the Boston Patriots (1962-1968) and the Dolphins. And while Buoniconti made four of his six first-team All-Pro rosters up north, his contributions to the Dolphins defenses of the early 1970s cannot be overstated. Buoniconti, who died in July at the age of 78, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
7. C Dwight Stephenson (1980-1987)
A tragic knee injury in 1987 cut Stephenson’s brilliant career short, but his time on the field was brilliant. His athleticism helped anchor a unit that protected Marino to unparalleled levels during the Dolphins’ stretch as contenders in the mid-1980s. Stephenson, short career and all, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. He ended his career with four consecutive first-team All-Pro honors (1984-1987).
6. OL Jim Langer (1970-1979)
Langer’s dominant stretch with the Dolphins spanned from 1973 to 1978, in which he was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls and four first-team All-Pro squads. Langer was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, six years after he retired from the Dolphins at the age of 33.
5. QB Bob Griese (1967-1980)
Because of injury, Griese did not quarterback the majority of the Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season, but make no mistake: He was the franchise quarterback of that early 1970s dynasty. Griese led the NFL in touchdown passes with 22 in 1977, and his resume also boasts eight Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro honors with the Dolphins. Griese was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
4. DE Jason Taylor (1997-2007, 2009, 2011)
Taylor quietly dominated the NFL for nearly 15 years, largely as a forgotten man thanks to Miami’s lack of contender status during his time with the Dolphins. But Taylor brought home the AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 2006 and finished his career in the top 10 in sacks in NFL history. He was welcomed into Canton as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2017.
3. OG Larry Little (1969-1980)
A five-time first-team All-Pro, Little was a dominant fixture along Miami’s offensive line. Little was named to five consecutive All-Pro teams between 1971 and 1975, in which the Dolphins’ dominant ground game carried them to three consecutive Super Bowls and a combined 57-12-1 record over that stretch. Little was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
2. FB Larry Csonka (1968-1973, 1979)
The Dolphins’ all-time leading rusher (6,737 yards), Csonka was one of the faces of the franchise as Don Shula’s teams ran roughshod through the NFL. Csonka was the bulldozer — a powerful runner who smashed his way through defensive lines and constantly came back for more. Between 1971 and 1973, Csonka rushed for 3,171 yards and over 1,000 yards in each season, all while being named to his only two first-team All-Pro rosters.
Who knows what Csonka’s career could have looked like? He, Paul Warfield and Jim Kiick announced after the 1973 season that they were signing to play for the Memphis Southmen of the new World Football League. The league folded halfway through their second season. Csonka would eventually set a career high in rushing touchdowns (12) when returning to the Dolphins in 1979 after a three-year stint with the New York Giants. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
1. QB Dan Marino (1983-1999)
Marino retired in the spring of 2000 with nearly the entire book of NFL passing records to his name. Marino was a trailblazer – a man born for the modern game about three decades too soon. His 1984 MVP season was long viewed as the single greatest year the NFL had seen from a quarterback, and his passing yardage record of 5,084 stood for 27 years. Marino entered Canton as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2005 alongside 49ers great Steve Young.
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