Dan Marino: The Man Part 2

Dan Marino: The Man Part 2

Dan Marino: The Man Part 2

The second half of Dan Marino’s storied career in the National Football League saw the successful quarterback establish more records for other quarterbacks to aim for, and while he slowed down somewhat due to shortened seasons, Marino remained as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

In 1991 Marino started all 16 regular season games and went 8-8, completing 318 of 549 pass attempts for 3970 yards and 25 touchdowns, recording a 57.9 completion percentage and only throwing 13 interceptions. In 1992 Marino again started 16 games and went 11-5, completing 330 of 554 pass attempts for 4116 yards and 24 touchdowns, recording a 59.6 completion percentage and throwing 16 interceptions. 1993 was a brief season for Marino as he started only 5 games due to a torn Achilles tendon. Marino went 4-1, completing 91 of 150 pass attempts for 1218 yards and 8 touchdowns, recording a 60.7 completion percentage.

Marino would bounce back in 1994 as he started 16 games and went 10-6, completing 385 of 615 pass attempts for 4453 yards and 30 touchdowns, recording a 62.6% completion percentage and throwing 17 interceptions. In 1995 Marino started 14 games and went 9-5, completing 309 of 482 pass attempts for 3668 yards and 24 touchdowns, recording a 64.1 completion percentage and throwing 15 interceptions. In 1996 Marino started 13 games and went 7-6, completing 221 of 373 pass attempts for 2795 yards and 17 touchdowns, recording a 59.2 completion percentage and throwing just 9 interceptions.

In 1997 Marino started all 16 games and went 9-7, completing 319 of 548 pass attempts for 3780 yards and 16 touchdowns, recording a 58.2 completion percentage and throwing just 11 interceptions. In 1998 Marino started 16 games and went 10-6, completing 310 of 537 pass attempts for 3497 yards and 23 touchdowns, recording a 57.7 completion percentage and throwing 15 interceptions. 1999 would be Marino’s final year in the NFL, and starting 11 games he went 5-6, completing 204 of 369 pass attempts for 2448 yards and 12 touchdowns, recording a 55.3 completion percentage and throwing 17 interceptions.

Before the start of the 2000 NFL season Dan Marino opted to announce his retirement from the game of football, stating his main reason for leaving was because of the health of his legs and the uncertainty that his legs could take another football season.

By the time he retired, Marino’s football legacy became cemented in the records that he established at the quarterback position despite never winning a Super Bowl. He once held the record for most games of 300 or more passing yards in a career with 63. Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos passed this mark in 2012 with 72. In the playoffs Marino had the most games of passing for 400 yards or more with 2, but this would be surpassed by Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints in the 2012 playoffs with 3. However, Dan Marino still claims the top spot for having the most games of at least 400 yards passing in a career with 17.

Marino once had the most seasons of at east 3000 yards passing with 13, accomplishing this feat from 1984 to 1992, 1994 and 1995, and then 1997 and 1998. Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers would pass this mark in 2005. Marino also had the most completions in a career with 4967, a mark that would be passed by Favre in 2007 and Manning in 2012. Marino’s 8358 career passing attempts were the most for a career until Favre eclipsed that total in 2007.

Marino once spent the fewest games in reaching 40,000 career passing yards with 153, but Brees would best that with 152 in 2011. Marino also spent the fewest games in reaching 50,000 career passing yards with 193 until Manning in 2009. Marino also held the record for most passing yards in an entire career with 61,361, but Favre would pass that total in 2007.

The most career touchdown passes record was held by Marino with 420, but this has since been passed by Favre in 2007 and Manning in 2012. Marino’s consistency in finding the endzone is also a great highlight of his career as he once had the most games throwing at least 3 touchdown passes with 62. Favre in 2007 and Manning in 2010 would overtake Marino’s record.

Legendary head coach of the Miami Dolphins Don Shula was the one who eagerly wanted to draft Dan Marino in the first place in the 1983 NFL Draft, and Shula’s decision would reward him and the Dolphins organization greatly. Shula served as the Dolphins head coach from 1970 all the way until 1995, and with Marino he shared the record for the most wins by a head coach and quarterback duo with 116. In 2011 this record would be broken by head coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.

Out of all the teams Dan Marino has defeated in his career, no team had it harder than the Indianapolis Colts as Marino once had the most wins against them with 24. This record would be passed by Brett Favre in 2007, who would go on to defeat the Detroit Lions more times. Marino also held the most wins by a quarterback in 31 different stadiums, which would be bested by Favre in 2008.

Despite not winning a Super Bowl, Marino had a knack for winning games, especially if his team was behind late in games. Marino has the most game-winning drives in the 4th quarter or overtime of games in a career with 51, including the playoffs. Peyton Manning tied this record in 2013.

Dan Marino currently holds career records for most seasons in leading the NFL in pass attempts with 5, doing so in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1992 and 1997, and for most seasons in leading the NFL in completions with 6, doing so in 1984 to 1986, 1988, 1992 and 1997. Marino also holds plenty of Monday Night Football records, such as passing yards with 9654, completions with 798, pass attempts with 1303, touchdown passes with 74, and wins with 20.

Dan Marino’s 17 years in the NFL serve as a reminder of the old saying that “records are meant to be broken”, as he has paved the way for other talented quarterbacks to match and eclipse records that he previously established.