Dan Marino turned 65 in September, a fine excuse for Dolphins fans to relive the quickest release the NFL has ever seen: 17 seasons, one shirt, 61,361 passing yards and a 1984 campaign that rewrote the record books.
He never lifted a Super Bowl trophy, yet few made the game look so thrilling. Wear the legend with our Miami Dolphins collection.
Dan Marino Fact File
| Full name | Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. |
|---|---|
| Date of birth (age) | 15 September 1961 (age 65) |
| Place of birth | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Nationality | American |
| Current team/status | Retired (1983–1999, Miami Dolphins); Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2005 |
| Shirt number | 13 (retired by the Dolphins in 2000) |
Career History
| Seasons | Team | Games | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–1982 | Pittsburgh Panthers (college) | – | 8,597 | 79 | 69 |
| 1983 | Miami Dolphins | 11 | 2,210 | 20 | 6 |
| 1984 | Miami Dolphins | 16 | 5,084 | 48 | 17 |
| 1985–1989 | Miami Dolphins | 76 | 20,559 | 152 | 102 |
| 1990–1994 | Miami Dolphins | 69 | 17,320 | 108 | 60 |
| 1995–1999 | Miami Dolphins | 70 | 16,188 | 92 | 67 |
| NFL total | Miami Dolphins | 242 | 61,361 | 420 | 252 |
NFL figures are regular-season passing statistics only, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Pro-Football-Reference; playoffs are not included. College figures are his Pitt career totals.
Early Years in Pittsburgh
At Pittsburgh's Central Catholic High School, Dan was a Parade All-American quarterback and such a gifted baseball player that the Kansas City Royals drafted him in 1979. He chose football at the University of Pittsburgh.
He led the nation with 34 touchdown passes in 1981 as a first-team All-American and won the 1982 Sugar Bowl with a late strike to John Brown.
Relive it with our Dan Marino Dolphins American Football Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
Pick 27 and the 1984 Season
Five quarterbacks, John Elway and Jim Kelly among them, went before Miami took Marino 27th overall in 1983. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Then came 1984. He threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns, the first 5,000-yard season ever, as Miami went 14–2 and he was named NFL MVP. He then threw four touchdowns in a 45–28 AFC Championship win over his hometown Steelers, but Super Bowl XIX ended in a 38–16 defeat by San Francisco, his only appearance on the big stage.
Relive it with our Dan Marino Dolphins American Football Icon Frame Men's T-Shirt.
Records, Comebacks and the Fake Spike
Marino led the league in completions, yards and touchdowns from 1984 to 1986, and the milestones kept coming: first to 50,000 career yards in 1996, 400 touchdown passes in 1998 and 60,000 yards in 1999.
After injury cut short his 1993 season, he threw for 4,453 yards in 1994 to win Comeback Player of the Year. That year brought his famous trick: against the Jets he signalled a spike, then fired the winning touchdown instead in a 28–24 comeback known as the Clock Play.
Retirement and Legacy
Marino retired in March 2000 after 17 seasons in Miami. The Dolphins retired his No. 13 that September, and in 2005 he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. A statue of him stands outside Hard Rock Stadium.
Honours
Individual awards
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1984)
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1984)
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1994)
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (1998)
Selections
- 9× Pro Bowl (1983–1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995)
- 3× First-team All-Pro (1984–1986)
- 5× Second-team All-Pro (1983, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1995)
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team (2019)
Halls of Fame and tributes
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005)
- College Football Hall of Fame (2003)
- Dolphins Honor Roll (2000)
Away From the Game
In 1992 Dan and his wife Claire set up the Dan Marino Foundation, which supports people with autism and developmental disabilities. He later spent over a decade as an analyst on CBS's The NFL Today. Since 2014 he has been back with the Dolphins as a special advisor.
FAQs
How old is Dan Marino?
Dan Marino was born on 15 September 1961, so he is 65 years old.
Where was Dan Marino born?
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
How tall is Dan Marino?
Dan Marino stands 6 ft 4 in, which is about 1.93 m.
What teams did Dan Marino play for?
Only the Miami Dolphins, from 1983 to 1999, after college at Pittsburgh.
How many passing yards and touchdowns did Dan Marino throw?
He finished with 61,361 regular-season passing yards and 420 touchdown passes.
Did Dan Marino ever win a Super Bowl?
No. His only Super Bowl was Super Bowl XIX after the 1984 season, which Miami lost 38–16 to the San Francisco 49ers.
Shop the Dan Marino Collection
Pick your favourite made-to-order Dan Marino design.
Explore more in our American football collection and Miami Dolphins collection, or put your own name on the back with our custom name men's hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Tom Brady Career Story: Pick 199 to Seven Super Bowl Rings and Peyton Manning Career Story: Two Rings and 55 Touchdowns.
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