Dan Marino

Marino's selection status in the 1983 NFL Draft plummeted after his weaker senior season at Pitt,[15] and rumors of recreational drug use.[16] 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?")[15]

The Miami Dolphins chose Marino as the 27th pick in the first round. He had not expected to be available for the team to draft, so never spoke to head coach Don Shula or anyone else from the Dolphins before the coach called after the selection.[17] Opinion was divided on the wisdom of the team's decision; Chris Berman said that 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."[15]

Marino was the first draft pick in the history of the United States Football League, selected by the Los Angeles Express.[14] 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.[18][19] 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.[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. Marino led the league in completions, yards, and TD passes and 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.[21][22] The next week the Dolphins defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game 45–28.[23] In that game, Marino set AFC Championship Game records with 421 passing yards and 4 touchdowns, despite throwing his last pass of the game with 11:07 still remaining on the clock. Both records still stand as of 2021.

Dan Marino jersey shown 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.[21][24]

In 1985, Marino threw for 4,137 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading the Dolphins to the AFC Championship game.[25] 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.[26] Then on December 2, Marino threw for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns against the vaunted Chicago Bears defense in a 38–24 victory.[27] The loss was the only one that the Bears experienced that season. Marino again led the league in completions, yards and touchdown passes and was named first team All-Pro in 1985.[28][29]

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.[30] 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 completions, yards and touchdown passes (the first and only QB in NFL history to lead in all three categories for three consecutive seasons) and was named 1986 first team All-Pro.

In 1988, Marino threw for 4,434 yards and 28 touchdowns. As a result of his 4,434 yards passing, Marino became the first QB in NFL history to throw for 4,000 or more yards in four different seasons. Marino had been tied with Dan Fouts for the most 4,000 yard passing seasons with three.

In 1992, Marino again led the Dolphins to the AFC Championship game while passing for 4,116 and 24 touchdowns. His 4,116 passing yards led the entire NFL and marked the fifth time in his NFL career that he led the league in passing yards.

In 1993, Miami was strongly favored at the start of the year to make it back to the AFC championship game and possibly the Super Bowl. However, after throwing a swing pass at a game in Cleveland, Marino, who was untouched on the play, crumpled to the ground in pain with a torn Achilles tendon and was out for the season. Marino later said, "I felt like I got kicked".[31] Backup quarterback Scott Mitchell had an impressive series of starts before suffering an injury of his own. Steve DeBerg started the last 4 games of the season. Mitchell signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Lions, and Miami signed veteran quarterback Bernie Kosar from the Dallas Cowboys as a backup. Wearing a special shoe on one foot, and having a right calf that was visibly atrophied, Marino was the starting quarterback at the opening of the 1994 season.

In the 1994 season opener, a home game versus the New England Patriots and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the two quarterbacks put up a combined 894 yards (Marino, 473 yards; Bledsoe, 421 yards) and nine passing touchdowns (Marino, 5; Bledsoe, 4), with Miami winning 39–35. Later in the season, Marino led a comeback win on the road against the New York Jets (28–24), a game famous for Marino's execution of a fake spike for the winning touchdown pass, a play known as "The Clock Play". The Dolphins finished 10–6 that year, and Marino passed for 4,453 yards and was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association. After missing the postseason in 1993, Miami came back to the playoffs in 1994.[32] Placing third overall in the AFC, Miami was pitted against the Kansas City Chiefs in what became the final NFL game played by Montana.[33][34] Marino threw 257 yards and two touchdown passes, contributing to Miami's 27–17 win.[33] The Dolphins reached the AFC Divisional Playoff round, where they competed with the San Diego Chargers. Three touchdown passes by Marino in the first half allowed the Dolphins to lead 21–6, before the Chargers staged a comeback and took the lead toward the end of the fourth quarter. In the final moments of the game, Marino tried to set up a good position for a field goal, but with little time left at the Chargers' 30-yard line, Pete Stoyanovich was forced to attempt a 48-yard field goal. Stoyanovich missed, ending the game with a 22–21 loss for Miami.[35]

Marino started in 14 out of 16 games in the 1995 season. He suffered a hip injury in week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts and was replaced by Bernie Kosar in the following two games. Throughout the regular season, Marino threw 3,668 yards, which included 24 touchdowns. Despite falling to 9–7 and to third place in the AFC East, the Dolphins again advanced to the playoffs because they placed sixth in the AFC. In the wildcard round against the Buffalo Bills, Miami dominated in passing – with Marino passing 432 yards – while Buffalo was far ahead of Miami for rushing yards (341 yards). In terms of scoring, Buffalo held a wide lead throughout the game. The Dolphins remained scoreless until the fourth quarter, when they scored 22 points, which included two touchdown passes from Marino. However, Miami fell well short of a comeback and lost 37–22.

On November 10, 1996 vs. Indianapolis, Marino became the first QB in NFL History to throw for 50,000 career passing yards.

On November 29, 1998 vs. New Orleans, Marino threw for three TD's. His second TD pass, a 7 yarder to wide receiver OJ McDuffie, gave him 400 for his career as Marino became the first QB in NFL History to reach 400 career TD passes.

The Dolphins opened the 1999 season on September 13 at the defending Super Bowl champions Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Marino threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns in the Dolphins' 38–21 victory. For that performance, Marino earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Marino earned that honor again on October 10 as he threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns in thrilling 34–31 comeback victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Then on October 17 versus the New England Patriots, Marino became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 60,000 career passing yards.

Marino's final win was his first playoff road win and his 36th comeback win, as the Dolphins defeated the Seattle Seahawks 20–17 on January 9, 2000, in the final football game ever in the Seattle Kingdome. In the next round (January 16), also on the road, Marino and the Dolphins lost 62–7 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins' 55-point margin of loss was the worst in the AFC playoffs' history. Marino was replaced by backup Damon Huard after playing one series in the second half. However, he did end the first half on a high note, leading the Dolphins on an 80-yard scoring drive and throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to receiver Oronde Gadsden with 20 seconds remaining. The Jacksonville game marked the end of Jimmy Johnson's coaching career; Johnson announced his retirement the next day.

Before the 2000 season, Marino decided to retire,[36] after declining offers from Minnesota, Tampa Bay and his hometown of Pittsburgh when the Dolphins declined his option on his contract. Marino later admitted that he seriously considered the offer from the Vikings, but that he turned it down not because of his arm, but because he was not sure that his legs could take another season. He also appreciated the fact that unlike many of his contemporaries, he got to play his entire career with one team.

During Marino's career, the Dolphins were perennial playoff contenders, reaching the postseason in 10 of his 17 seasons. He was selected to play in nine Pro Bowls (1983–1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995), 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.[37] 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.[38] In 2010, he was ranked number 25 on the NFL's Top 100 Greatest Players list.[39] 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.[40] As of the conclusion of the 2020 NFL regular season, Marino's 155 wins rank seventh among NFL quarterbacks, behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, and John Elway. Marino is also the winningest quarterback without a Super Bowl victory.[41]

Marino's #13 NASCAR racecar

In 1997, Marino became involved in a marketing role with Team Cheever of the Indy Racing League through FirstPlus Mortgage, the sponsor of the car. In 1998, Marino co-owned a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing team with driver Bill Elliott, creating Elliott-Marino Motorsports.[45] The team's car number was #13, Marino's uniform number, and had primary sponsorship from FirstPlus Mortgage, whose company colors, coincidentally, were turquoise, orange, and white – similar to aqua and coral, the team colors of the Miami Dolphins. The team chose rookie driver Jerry Nadeau to pilot the car at the start of the season; he was later released and the team went through a rotation of drivers. The team failed to qualify for several races, but did post a top-5 finish at Phoenix International Raceway late in the season with Ted Musgrave driving. The team only lasted the 1998 season and closed afterward.

The Dan Marino Foundation was established in 1992 by Marino and his wife, Claire, after their son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism.[46] The foundation has distributed over $22 million to research, services, and treatment programs serving children with neurodevelopment disabilities. The Dan Marino Center, which opened in 1995 along with the Miami Children's Hospital, is an integrated neurodevelopmental center specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of children at risk for developmental and psychological problems. The center saw more than 48,000 children last year alone. Marino has teamed with other celebrities to raise awareness about autistic spectrum disorders, including fellow NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, whose son also has an autism diagnosis.

On November 7, 2005, the National Basketball Association's Miami Heat honored Marino's charitable works and recognized his service to South Florida with a halftime tribute, as well as a large donation to the Marino Foundation. Though a Heat jersey with his name and #13 was unveiled, this did not constitute retirement of his number by the Heat,[46] and was worn by Heat guard/forward Mike Miller as recently as the 2012/2013 NBA season.

On March 23, 2010, The Dan Marino Foundation held its first "Walk about Autism". Over 6000 walkers participated, as well as 420 volunteers provided by the Miami Dolphins Special Teams.

The money raised benefited several funds including the Autism Societies of Miami-Dade and Broward; the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities; the Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities; and the Dan Marino Foundation.

Marino acted in the 1994 comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective alongside Jim Carrey and Courteney Cox where he played himself. Marino made a cameo appearance in the Adam Sandler film Little Nicky wherein he asked Satan for a Super Bowl ring. In 1999, he voiced himself in a guest-starring role in The Simpsons Season ten episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday". Marino also had cameo roles in Holy Man and Bad Boys II. He worked as a project consultant on Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday, and some observers noticed a resemblance between him and Dennis Quaid's character, Jack Rooney.[47] Marino's actual house was used as the fictional quarterback's house in the film.[48]

In 1995, Hootie and the Blowfish featured Marino in their music video for their single "Only Wanna Be with You."

Marino is currently featured in advertisement campaigns for Hooters, NutriSystem weight loss programs,[49] Maroone, Papa John's, Nutrasource.com and Empi Select (a TENS device).[50] Previously, Marino endorsed Isotoner gloves and FirstPlus Mortgage against whom he later filed suit due to contracts related to his racing team.[51]

In April 2012, Marino became the AARP's "Men's Life Ambassador", through which he planned to share his point of view and expertise on a variety of men's interests, including health, fitness, sports, lifestyle, entrepreneurship, aging and community service, primarily through the website.[52]

• Most seasons leading league, pass attempts: 5 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997)
• Most seasons leading league, completions: 6 (1984–1986, 1988, 1992, 1997)
• Most seasons leading league, lowest sack percentage: 10 (1983–1989, 1994, 1997, 1999)
• Most consecutive seasons leading league, lowest sack percentage: 7 (1983–1989)
• Lowest sack percentage, season: 1.0% (1988)[58]
• Lowest sack percentage, career: 3.1%[59]
• 200 touchdown passes in fewest games to start career: 89 (September 17, 1989 at New England)
• Monday Night Football, most passing yards: 9,654[60]
• 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

• Most yards passing, season: 5,084, in 1984 (surpassed by Drew Brees in 2011 with 5,476; as of 2019 season, now tenth 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 (1984–1992) (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 and by Patrick Mahomes (50) in 2018).
• 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 (1984–1992, 1994–1995, 1997–1998) (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 games to start career: 153 (surpassed by Drew Brees with 152 games in 2011)[61]
• 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)[62]
• 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)[63]
• 50,000 career passing yards in fewest games to start 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)
• Most games, four or more touchdown passes, season: 6 (1984); tied by Peyton Manning in 2004. Surpassed by Patrick Mahomes in 2018 (8)
• Most seasons, 40 or more touchdown passes: 2 (1984, 1986); (surpassed by Aaron Rodgers in 2020)

• Most games, 400 or more yards passing, season: 4 in 1984; tied by Peyton Manning in 2013[64] and Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2018
• Most seasons leading 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)
• 300 TD passes in fewest games to start career: 157 (9/4/1994 vs. New England); tied by Peyton Manning in 2007
• 30,000 career passing yards in fewest games to start career: 114 (November 25, 1990 at Cleveland); tied by Kurt Warner, October 18, 2009

• 5th most consecutive games of throwing at least one touchdown pass: 30[65]

• Named NFL Most Valuable Player (1984)
• Started 240 of 242 career games
• Compiled a 147−93 regular season record as a starter (147 wins rank fifth most all-time)
• First quarterback in NFL history to have six 4,000-yard seasons (1984–1986, 1988, 1992, 1994)
• First quarterback in NFL history to pass for 5,000 yards or more in a single season (5,084 in 1984)
• Holds Dolphins team record for most seasons played (17)
• Won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor 18 times in the regular season (20 times overall, including playoffs)