Dan Marino facts for kids

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Dan Marino

Color head-and-shoulders shot of Marino, in jacket and tie, wearing broadcaster's headset.

Marino preparing for a 2005 ESPN interview

Miami Dolphins

Position:

Special advisor

Personal information

Born:

September 15, 1961 (age 63)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Weight:

224 lb (102 kg)

Career information

High school:

Central Catholic (Pittsburgh)

College:

Pittsburgh (1979–1982)

NFL Draft:

1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27

Career history

As player:

Miami Dolphins (1983–1999)

As executive:

Miami Dolphins (2014–present)
Special advisor

Career highlights and awards

NFL Most Valuable Player (1984)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1984)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1994)
NFL Man of the Year (1998)
3× First-team All-Pro (1984–1986)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1983, 1994, 1995)
9× Pro Bowl (1983–1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995)
5× NFL passing yards leader (1984–1986, 1988, 1992)
3× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1984–1986)
NFL passer rating leader (1984)
NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1983)
George Halas Award (1995)
Bert Bell Award (1984)
Miami Dolphins Honor Roll
Miami Dolphins No. 13 retired
Dolphins Walk of Fame (2011)
First-team All-American (1981)
First-team All-East (1981)
Pittsburgh Panthers No. 13 retired

NFL records

Lowest sack percentage, season: 1.0% (1988)
Most seasons leading league, completions: 6
Most seasons leading league, pass attempts: 5

Career NFL statistics

Passing attempts:	8,358
Passing completions:	4,967
Completion percentage:	59.4
TD–INT:	420–252
Passing yards:	61,361
Passer rating:	86.4

Player stats at PFR

Pro Football Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame

Dan Marino is a famous American former professional football quarterback. He played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Many people remember him for his super-fast way of throwing the ball and his strong arm.

Marino played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. He was recognized as an All-American in 1981. In the 1983 NFL Draft, he was the last quarterback picked in the first round. Even though he never won a Super Bowl, he is still considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history.

He led the Dolphins to the playoffs ten times and to one Super Bowl. Marino holds many NFL records for quarterbacks. He was the first quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season (1984) and over 40 touchdowns in a season (48 in 1984). He also became the first to reach 50,000 and 60,000 career passing yards, and 400 career touchdown passes.

After he retired in 2000, his jersey number 13 was retired by the Dolphins. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2019, he was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Dan Marino's Early Life

Dan Marino was born on September 15, 1961, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of three children. His father worked delivering newspapers.

He went to Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. There, he was a star in both baseball and football. In 1979, the Kansas City Royals baseball team even drafted him. But Marino chose to play college football instead.

College Football Career

Dan Marino as a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh (1979)

Marino played college football for the University of Pittsburgh from 1979 to 1982. As a freshman in 1979, he helped his team win important games.

In 1980, his team finished as the No. 2 team in the country. During these years, Marino played with other future NFL Hall of Fame players like Rickey Jackson and Russ Grimm. He once said that his offensive line was so good, his uniform rarely got dirty!

In 1981, Marino led the Panthers to a thrilling win in the 1982 Sugar Bowl. He threw a game-winning pass with less than a minute left. This was a very memorable moment for him.

His senior year in 1982 was a bit tougher for the team. Marino finished his college career with 8,597 passing yards and 79 touchdowns.

College Statistics

Season	Team	GP	Passing								Rushing
Season	Team	GP	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
1979	Pittsburgh	12	130	222	58.6	1,680	7.5	10	9	128.9	35	-85	-2.4	1
1980	Pittsburgh	12	116	224	51.8	1,609	7.2	15	14	121.7	14	-53	-3.8	0
1981	Pittsburgh	12	226	380	59.5	2,876	7.6	37	23	143.1	24	-95	-4.0	2
1982	Pittsburgh	12	221	378	58.5	2,432	6.4	17	23	115.2	44	-44	-1.0	0
Career		48	693	1,204	57.6	8,597	7.1	79	69	127.7	117	-277	-2.4	3

Dan Marino's NFL Career

The 1983 NFL Draft

Marino's performance in his senior year of college made some teams unsure about drafting him. Five other quarterbacks were chosen before him in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft.

The Miami Dolphins picked Marino as the 27th player in the first round. Dolphins coach Don Shula later said that being passed over by so many teams motivated Marino to prove them wrong.

Early Years and Super Bowl Appearance

Marino started his first NFL game in week 6 of his rookie season in 1983. As a rookie, he set several records, including a high passer rating and a low percentage of intercepted passes. The Dolphins finished with a 12–4 record and made it to the playoffs.

In his second season (1984), Marino had an amazing year. He broke six NFL passing records, including most touchdown passes (48) and most passing yards (5,084). He was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player (MVP). The Dolphins had a fantastic 14–2 record.

Marino's jersey displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Marino led the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX in 1985. They played against the San Francisco 49ers and their star quarterback Joe Montana. The Dolphins lost the game 38–16. This was Marino's only Super Bowl appearance.

In 1985, Marino continued to play well, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. He led the Dolphins to the AFC Championship game. He also helped the Dolphins beat the Chicago Bears, who only lost one game that entire season.

By 1986, Marino became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 30 or more touchdowns in three straight seasons. He also led the league in completions, yards, and touchdowns for three years in a row.

Mid-Career Highlights

In 1988, Marino became the first quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards in four different seasons. He continued to be one of the league's top passers.

In 1992, Marino again led the Dolphins to the AFC Championship game. He led the entire NFL in passing yards that year.

In 1993, Marino suffered a serious injury, tearing his Achilles tendon. This kept him out for the rest of the season. However, he worked hard to recover.

He made an incredible comeback in the 1994 season. In one famous game against the New York Jets, Marino tricked everyone with a fake spike play, throwing the winning touchdown pass. This play is known as "The Clock Play". He was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.

In 1995, Marino continued to play well, leading the Dolphins to the playoffs again. In 1996, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 50,000 career passing yards. By 1998, he was also the first to reach 400 career touchdown passes.

Final Season and Retirement

Marino's final season was in 1999. He led the Dolphins to a playoff win against the Seattle Seahawks. This was his first playoff road win.

His last game was a tough loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round. After the 1999 season, Marino decided to retire. He chose to play his entire career with one team, the Miami Dolphins.

Marino's bronze bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Dan Marino's Legacy

During his career, the Dolphins often made it to the playoffs, reaching the postseason in 10 of his 17 seasons. Marino was chosen for nine Pro Bowls. He won three major individual awards: NFL MVP (1984), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1994), and NFL Man of the Year (1998). The Man of the Year award recognizes players for their charitable work.

Marino was known for his quick release, meaning he could throw the ball very fast. He was also good at moving around in the pocket to avoid defenders. As of 2025, his 155 wins rank among the top NFL quarterbacks. He is also the quarterback with the most wins who never won a Super Bowl.

Life After Football

A life-sized bronze statue of Marino outside Hard Rock Stadium.

On September 17, 2000, the Miami Dolphins retired Dan Marino's jersey number 13. They also put up a life-size bronze statue of him at their stadium and renamed a street to Dan Marino Boulevard.

In 2003, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. His oldest son, Daniel, introduced him at the ceremony.

Marino worked as a football analyst for CBS Sports from 2002 to 2013. In 2014, he returned to the Dolphins as a special adviser. Current Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has said that Marino often attends team meetings to share his advice.

Dan Marino Foundation

The Dan Marino Foundation was started in 1992 by Marino and his wife, Claire. They created it after their son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism. The foundation helps children with developmental disabilities by supporting research and treatment programs.

The Dan Marino Center opened in 1995. It helps diagnose and treat children with developmental and psychological challenges. The foundation also organizes events like the "Walk about Autism" to raise awareness and money.

Dan Marino in Popular Culture

Marino has appeared in several movies and TV shows. He played himself in the 1994 comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective with Jim Carrey. He also had a cameo in the Adam Sandler film Little Nicky.

In 1999, he voiced himself in an episode of The Simpsons. He also appeared in a music video for the band Hootie and the Blowfish. Marino has been in advertisements for various companies over the years.

NFL Records

Here are some of the records Dan Marino set during his career. Some of these records have since been broken by other players.

Active Records (Still Held by Marino)

Most seasons leading the league in pass attempts: 5
Most seasons leading the league in lowest sack percentage: 10
Most consecutive seasons leading the league in lowest sack percentage: 7
Lowest sack percentage in a single season: 1.0% (1988)
Lowest sack percentage in a career: 3.1%
On Monday Night Football, he holds records for most passing yards (9,654), most completions (798), most attempts (1,303), and most touchdown passes (74).

Former Records (Broken by Others)

Most yards passing in a season: 5,084 in 1984 (first to reach 5,000 yards)
Most fourth-quarter comeback wins in a career (including playoffs): 36
Most touchdown passes in a season: 48 in 1984
Most completions in a career: 4,967
Most attempts in a career: 8,358
Most passing yards in a career: 61,361
Most touchdown passes in a career: 420 (first to reach 400 touchdowns)

NFL Records Tied

Most games with 400 or more passing yards in a season: 4 in 1984
Most seasons leading the league in yards gained: 5
Most seasons leading the league in completions: 6
On Monday Night Football, most wins as a starter: 20

NFL Career Statistics

Legend
	AP NFL MVP & OPOTY
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games			Passing								Rushing				Sacks		Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Sck	SckY	Fum	Lost
1983	MIA	11	9	7−2	173	296	58.4	2,210	7.5	20	6	96.0	28	45	1.6	2	10	80	5	0
1984	MIA	16	16	14−2	362	564	64.2	5,084	9.0	48	17	108.9	28	−7	−0.3	0	13	120	6	0
1985	MIA	16	16	12−4	336	567	59.3	4,137	7.3	30	21	84.1	26	−24	−0.9	0	18	157	9	6
1986	MIA	16	16	8−8	378	623	60.7	4,746	7.6	44	23	92.5	12	−3	−0.3	0	17	119	8	3
1987	MIA	12	12	7−5	263	444	59.2	3,245	7.3	26	13	89.2	12	−5	−0.4	1	9	77	5	2
1988	MIA	16	16	6−10	354	606	58.4	4,434	7.3	28	23	80.8	20	−17	−0.9	0	6	31	10	3
1989	MIA	16	16	8−8	308	550	56.0	3,997	7.3	24	22	76.9	14	−7	−0.5	2	10	86	7	5
1990	MIA	16	16	12−4	306	531	57.6	3,563	6.7	21	11	82.6	16	29	1.8	0	15	90	3	1
1991	MIA	16	16	8−8	318	549	57.9	3,970	7.2	25	13	85.8	27	32	1.2	1	27	182	6	2
1992	MIA	16	16	11−5	330	554	59.6	4,116	7.4	24	16	85.1	20	66	3.3	0	28	173	5	1
1993	MIA	5	5	4−1	91	150	60.7	1,218	8.1	8	3	95.9	9	−4	−0.4	1	7	42	4	1
1994	MIA	16	16	10−6	385	615	62.6	4,453	7.2	30	17	89.2	22	−6	−0.3	1	18	113	9	2
1995	MIA	14	14	9−5	309	482	64.1	3,668	7.6	24	15	90.8	11	14	1.3	0	22	153	7	2
1996	MIA	13	13	7−6	221	373	59.2	2,795	7.5	17	9	87.8	11	−3	−0.3	0	18	131	4	2
1997	MIA	16	16	9−7	319	548	58.2	3,780	6.9	16	11	80.7	18	−14	−0.8	0	20	132	8	4
1998	MIA	16	16	10−6	310	537	57.7	3,497	6.5	23	15	80.0	21	−3	−0.1	1	23	178	9	4
1999	MIA	11	11	5−6	204	369	55.3	2,448	6.6	12	17	67.4	6	−6	−1.0	0	9	66	5	3
Career		242	240	147−93	4,967	8,358	59.4	61,361	7.3	420	252	86.4	301	87	0.3	9	270	1,930	110	41

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games			Passing								Rushing				Sacks		Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Sck	SckY	Fum	Lost
1983	MIA	1	1	0−1	15	25	60.0	193	7.7	2	2	77.6	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
1984	MIA	3	3	2−1	71	116	61.2	1,001	8.6	8	5	94.1	1	0	0.0	0	4	29	1	0
1985	MIA	2	2	1−1	45	93	48.4	486	5.2	3	3	61.5	1	0	0.0	0	1	14	1	1
1990	MIA	2	2	1−1	42	79	53.2	544	6.9	5	2	85.6	5	−1	−0.2	1	2	8	1	1
1992	MIA	2	2	1−1	39	74	52.7	435	5.9	4	2	77.3	1	−2	−2.0	0	4	25	1	1
1994	MIA	2	2	1−1	46	67	68.7	519	7.7	5	0	116.4	2	4	2.0	0	2	13	1	0
1995	MIA	1	1	0−1	33	64	51.6	422	6.6	2	3	63.4	1	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
1997	MIA	1	1	0−1	17	43	39.5	141	3.3	0	2	29.3	1	2	2.0	0	4	21	2	1
1998	MIA	2	2	1−1	49	71	69.0	478	6.7	1	3	74.7	1	−1	−1.0	0	2	12	0	0
1999	MIA	2	2	1−1	28	55	50.9	291	5.3	2	2	63.5	2	−1	−0.5	0	3	19	2	2
Career		18	18	8−10	385	687	56.0	4,510	6.6	32	24	77.1	15	1	0.1	1	22	141	9	6

Images for kids

Marino in 1990
Marino's #13 NASCAR racecar
Marino with Shannon Sharpe and Boomer Esiason at Super Bowl XLI