Only nine players in Miami Dolphins history have surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. One of them is today’s honoree in the countdown to the return of Dolphins football — #82, Brian Hartline. That statistic may come as a bit of a surprise with 17 seasons of Dan Marino tossing the ball around.
But the time after Dan has largely been spent in offensive purgatory, only four Dolphins have surpassed the 1,000 yard mark since the turn of the millennium:
- Jarvis Landry (2015, 2016)
- Brian Hartline (2012, 2013)
- Brandon Marshall (2010, 2011)
- Chris Chambers (2005)
Hartline is the clear underdog of this group — drafted 108th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft to be a supplemental pass catcher and special teams contributor. But Hartline’s smooth routes and soft hands allowed him to overachieve when the Dolphins needed a receiver to step up to the plate. Hartline’s two 1,000 yard seasons commanded over 260 targets in that timespan — he was a volume receiver as much as anything else.
His emergence coincided with the meltdown of receiver Davone Bess, Miami’s UDFA slot receiver who enjoyed several productive seasons with the Dolphins before off-field troubles shut down his pro career.
As for Hartline, a happier ending. Hartline played one season in Cleveland after 6 with the Dolphins before hanging up the cleats, but he still finds himself flourishing in football — on the sidelines. Hartline is the wide receivers coach at his alma mater, Ohio State.
