Dan Marino facts for kids
Marino preparing for a 2005 ESPN interview
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| Miami Dolphins | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Special advisor | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | September 15, 1961 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| 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 | ||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. (born September 15, 1961) is a famous American former football quarterback. He played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Many people consider him one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history.
Marino was known for his super-fast way of throwing the ball and his strong arm. He led the Dolphins to the playoffs ten times. He even played in one Super Bowl, Super Bowl XIX, but his team didn't win the championship. Even without a Super Bowl win, he holds many NFL records. He has the most career wins (155) among quarterbacks who never won a Super Bowl.
In 1984, Marino was named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP). That year, he set amazing records for passing yards (5,084) and touchdown passes (48). He was also named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1994 and the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1998. This award is for players who do great charity work.
After he retired, Marino was honored in many ways. His jersey number 13 was retired by the Dolphins. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2019, he was named one of the top 10 quarterbacks of all time on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Dan Marino was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the oldest of three children. His father worked delivering newspapers. Dan grew up in the South Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
He went to Central Catholic High School. There, he was a star in both baseball and football. In football, he earned special honors as a Parade All-American. He was even drafted by the Kansas City Royals baseball team in 1979. But he chose to play college football instead.
College Football Career
Marino played college football for the University of Pittsburgh from 1979 to 1982. As a freshman, he led his team to important wins. In 1980, his team finished as the No. 2 team in the country.
During these years, Marino played with other future NFL stars. These included Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm, and Hugh Green. Marino once said that his offensive line was so good, his uniform often stayed clean!
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. He called this his most memorable college pass. His team had three straight seasons with 11 wins and only 1 loss.
Professional Football Career
Becoming an NFL Quarterback
In the 1983 NFL Draft, five other quarterbacks were chosen before Dan Marino. These included future Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and John Elway. Marino was picked 27th overall by the Miami Dolphins. He didn't expect the Dolphins to draft him.
The Dolphins' coach, Don Shula, later said that being picked so late motivated Marino. It made him want to prove everyone else wrong.
Starting Strong and the Super Bowl
Marino chose to sign with the Dolphins instead of another league. He started his first NFL game in Week 6 of the 1983 season. As a rookie, he set several records. He had a high passer rating and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. The Dolphins finished the season with a 12–4 record.
In his second season (1984), Marino had an incredible year. He broke six NFL passing records! He threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns. He was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. The Dolphins had a fantastic 14–2 record.
Marino led the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX. They played against the San Francisco 49ers and their star quarterback, Joe Montana. Marino threw for 318 yards and one touchdown. However, the Dolphins lost the game 38–16. This was Marino's only Super Bowl appearance.
In 1985, Marino continued to play at a high level. He threw for over 4,100 yards and 30 touchdowns. He led the Dolphins to the AFC Championship game. He also led his team to a big win over the Chicago Bears, who only lost one game that year.
By 1986, Marino became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 100 touchdowns in just 44 games. He also became the first to have three seasons in a row with 30 or more touchdown passes.
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 1993, Marino suffered a serious injury. He tore his Achilles tendon, which meant he was out for the rest of the season. He worked hard to recover.
In 1994, Marino made an amazing comeback. In the first game of the season, he threw for 473 yards and five touchdowns. Later that season, he made a famous play called "The Clock Play" against the New York Jets. He faked spiking the ball to stop the clock, then threw a winning touchdown pass! For his great return, he was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.
In 1996, Marino 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 last season was in 1999. He led the Dolphins to a playoff win against the Seattle Seahawks. This was his first playoff road win. His final game was a tough loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Before the 2000 season, Marino decided to retire. He had offers from other teams, but he chose to finish his career with the Dolphins. He was happy to play his entire career with one team.
Marino's Legacy in Football
During his career, the Dolphins made the playoffs in 10 of his 17 seasons. He 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 is for players who do a lot of good work off the field.
Marino was known for his quick release of the ball. He was also great at avoiding defenders in the pocket. As of 2020, his 155 wins rank seventh among all NFL quarterbacks. He is also the winningest quarterback who never won a Super Bowl.
Life After Football
After retiring, Dan Marino received many honors. On September 17, 2000, his jersey number 13 was retired by the Miami Dolphins. This means no other Dolphins player will wear that number. A life-size bronze statue of Marino was also placed outside the Dolphins' stadium.
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 also worked as a football analyst for CBS Sports from 2002 to 2013. In 2014, he returned to the Dolphins as a special adviser. He even attends quarterback meetings to help the current players.
Life Outside Football
NASCAR Team Ownership
In 1998, Dan Marino co-owned a NASCAR racing team called Elliott-Marino Motorsports. The team's car number was #13, just like Marino's jersey number. The car's colors were similar to the Miami Dolphins' colors. The team raced for one season.
The Dan Marino Foundation
The Dan Marino Foundation was started in 1992 by Dan and his wife, Claire. They created it after their son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism. The foundation helps children with developmental disabilities. It has given over $22 million to support research and treatment programs.
In 1995, the Dan Marino Center opened. It helps diagnose and treat children with developmental and psychological problems. The center helps thousands of children every year. Marino works with other famous people to raise awareness about autism.
In 2010, The Dan Marino Foundation held its first "Walk about Autism." Over 6,000 people participated to raise money for autism support groups and centers.
NFL Records and Achievements
Dan Marino set many NFL records during his career. Some of these records have since been broken, but many still stand.
Records He Still Holds
- Most seasons leading the league in pass attempts: 5
- Most seasons leading the league in lowest sack percentage: 10
- Lowest sack percentage in a single season: 1.0% (in 1988)
- Lowest sack percentage in a career: 3.1%
- Most passing yards on Monday Night Football: 9,654
- Most touchdown passes on Monday Night Football: 74
Former Records (Now Broken)
- Most passing yards in a season: 5,084 (in 1984)
- Most touchdown passes in a season: 48 (in 1984)
- Most career passing yards: 61,361
- Most career touchdown passes: 420
- Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass in the playoffs: 13
Other Notable Achievements
- Named NFL Most Valuable Player (1984).
- Started 240 of 242 career games.
- Had a regular-season record of 147 wins and 93 losses as a starter.
- First quarterback in NFL history to have six seasons with over 4,000 passing yards.
- First quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 5,000 yards in a single season (5,084 in 1984).
- Holds the Dolphins team record for most seasons played (17).
- Won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award 18 times.
Images for kids
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Dan Marino as a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh in 1979.
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Dan Marino's jersey at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
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Marino pictured in 1990 with Marines from the Parris Island Marine Band.
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A life-sized bronze statue of Dan Marino outside Hard Rock Stadium.
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Dan Marino's #13 NASCAR racecar.
