Best Miami Dolphins players of all-time starts with Dan Marino, Jason Taylor, and Zach Thomas, and that top tier says a lot about the franchise. Marino owns the passing record book. Taylor is the greatest pass rusher in team history. Thomas was the brain and heartbeat of one of the NFL’s most respected defenses.
The Dolphins’ all-time board is deeper than people sometimes remember. Miami has the perfect-season legends, the Don Shula dynasty pieces, the Dan Marino passing era, the Zach Thomas-Jason Taylor defensive years, and several modern standouts who carried rougher periods. This is a franchise with quarterbacks, linebackers, linemen, receivers, corners, and backs who all have real all-time cases.
This is a pure tier list, not a strict 1-through-36 ranking. The tier itself is the ranking. Once players are inside the same tier, they are grouped together in the same Dolphins legacy class rather than ordered from best to worst.
This ranking is based only on what each player did with the Miami Dolphins. Peak, production, longevity, awards, playoff impact, franchise records, championships, era context, and importance to Dolphins history all matter.
Table of Contents
- Full Tier List Table
- How We Ranked the Best Miami Dolphins Players of All-Time
- Tier 7: Important Dolphins Legends and Memorable Franchise Pieces
- Tier 6: Top Dolphins With Strong Careers
- Tier 5: Dolphins Franchise Greats
- Tier 4: Great Dolphins With Major Cases
- Tier 3: Elite Dolphins Legends
- Tier 2: Inner-Circle Dolphins Greats
- Tier 1: Greatest Miami Dolphins Players Ever
- FAQ
- Conclusion
How We Ranked the Best Miami Dolphins Players of All-Time
This ranking weighs each player’s Dolphins career first. Team production, peak value, awards, championships, postseason moments, franchise records, longevity, and era context all count. Paul Warfield has a larger full-career NFL legacy than his Miami-only numbers show, but only his Dolphins years are being weighed here. Xavien Howard is judged only on his Miami peak, not his short Indianapolis ending.
Miami history also needs balance because the franchise has several different identities. The early 1970s Dolphins were a championship machine. The Marino era was built on passing fireworks. The late 1990s and early 2000s teams leaned on Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain Sr., and later Cameron Wake. This is not just a stats list. It is about who mattered most in aqua and orange.
Important tier-list reminder: The tiers are ordered. The names inside each tier are not. Players in the same tier should be viewed as belonging to the same general Dolphins legacy class.
Tier 7: Important Dolphins Legends and Memorable Franchise Pieces

Tier 7 includes Keith Sims, Roy Foster, Xavien Howard, Ryan Tannehill, Ricky Williams, Kim Bokamper, and Jake Long.
Tier 7 still has real Miami value. There are Pro Bowl linemen, a modern ballhawk, a long-term quarterback, a rushing champion-level back, a classic Dolphins defender, and a former No. 1 overall pick at left tackle.
Keith Sims
Dolphins stats/accolades: 8 seasons with Miami, 3 Pro Bowls, longtime starting guard during the Dan Marino era.
Keith Sims gave the Dolphins reliable interior protection during a period when everything revolved around Dan Marino. He was strong, mobile, and good enough to earn three Pro Bowl selections in Miami.
Guards do not always get remembered loudly, but Sims was a high-quality blocker in a pass-heavy era. Marino needed clean pockets, and Sims helped provide them.
Roy Foster
Dolphins stats/accolades: 12 seasons with Miami, 2 Pro Bowls, longtime starting guard, key blocker across the Marino years.
Roy Foster was another steady piece of the Dolphins’ offensive line during the Marino era. He gave Miami size, toughness, and long-term starting value at guard.
Foster’s longevity matters. Twelve seasons with one franchise in the trenches is not easy, especially when the offense asks linemen to protect a quarterback who throws as often as Marino did.
Xavien Howard
Dolphins stats/accolades: 8 seasons with Miami, 29 interceptions, 4 Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection, 2020 NFL interceptions leader.
Xavien Howard was the Dolphins’ best ballhawk of the modern era. When he was healthy and locked in, he had rare instincts, length, and confidence at cornerback.
Howard’s Miami chapter ended after the 2023 season, but the Dolphins peak still belongs here. His 10-interception 2020 season remains one of the best ballhawking years any Miami corner has produced.
Ryan Tannehill
Dolphins stats/accolades: 7 seasons with Miami, 88 starts, 20,434 passing yards, 123 touchdown passes, franchise rookie passing records.
Ryan Tannehill’s Dolphins career was uneven, but he gave Miami several years of legitimate quarterback stability after a long stretch of searching. He had athleticism, toughness, and enough arm talent to keep the offense functional.
His best NFL years came later in Tennessee, but the Miami years still produced enough volume to earn a place in the lower tiers. For a franchise that spent years searching at quarterback after Marino, that stability mattered.
Ricky Williams
Dolphins stats/accolades: 7 Miami seasons across multiple stints, 6,436 rushing yards, 48 rushing touchdowns, 2002 NFL rushing leader, First-Team All-Pro selection.
Ricky Williams had one of the strangest and most productive Dolphins careers. The interruptions and retirements complicated the story, but the peak was impossible to ignore.
His 2002 season was massive: 1,853 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. When Ricky was right, Miami could build the entire offense around him.
Kim Bokamper
Dolphins stats/accolades: 9 seasons with Miami, Pro Bowl selection, linebacker and defensive end versatility, starter on the early 1980s Super Bowl teams.
Kim Bokamper gave the Dolphins a tough, versatile front-seven player. He could play linebacker, work as a defensive end, and fit into different looks for Don Shula’s defenses.
His role on the early 1980s Dolphins teams gives him postseason weight. Bokamper was not just a recognizable name. He was a useful and durable defender.
Jake Long
Dolphins stats/accolades: 5 seasons with Miami, 4 Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection, 2008 No. 1 overall pick.
Jake Long looked like exactly what the Dolphins wanted when they drafted him first overall in 2008. He became a Pro Bowl left tackle immediately and gave Miami high-level blind-side protection early in his career.
Injuries shortened the elite stretch, but from a Dolphins-only view, the peak was strong enough to make the list. It did not last as long as Miami hoped, but the best version looked like a franchise left tackle.
Tier 6: Top Dolphins With Strong Careers

Tier 6 includes Tim Bowens, Tim Ruddy, Nick Buoniconti, Jim Kiick, Patrick Surtain Sr., and Tony Nathan.
Tier 6 mixes eras nicely: dominant defensive tackles, reliable centers, perfect-season pieces, elite cornerback play, and a versatile running back who became a major part of the Marino-era offense.
Tim Bowens
Dolphins stats/accolades: 11 seasons with Miami, 2 Pro Bowls, 1994 Defensive Rookie of the Year, longtime defensive tackle.
Tim Bowens was a massive interior defender who gave Miami power in the middle for more than a decade. He arrived as Defensive Rookie of the Year and became one of the defense’s most reliable pieces.
Bowens did not always get flashy numbers, but defensive tackles rarely do. His job was to control space, collapse pockets, and make life easier for the linebackers behind him.
Tim Ruddy
Dolphins stats/accolades: 10 seasons with Miami, Pro Bowl center, longtime starter during the late Marino and post-Marino years.
Tim Ruddy was a steady center during a changing period of Dolphins football. He played through the end of Marino’s run and helped hold the offensive line together after the franchise shifted eras.
Centers need intelligence, toughness, and durability. Ruddy gave Miami all three for a long time.
Nick Buoniconti
Dolphins stats/accolades: 7 seasons with Miami, 2 Super Bowl titles, leader of the No-Name Defense, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Nick Buoniconti was one of the defensive leaders of the Dolphins’ perfect-season era. He brought experience, intelligence, and toughness to the middle of the No-Name Defense.
His full career includes major Boston Patriots years too, which keeps him lower than a Dolphins-only résumé might otherwise feel. But his Miami chapter still helped produce two championships and the NFL’s only perfect season.
Jim Kiick
Dolphins stats/accolades: 7 seasons with Miami, 2 Super Bowl titles, key running back on the 1972 perfect-season team.
Jim Kiick was the versatile back who helped make the early 1970s Dolphins offense work. He could run, catch, block, and do the unglamorous things that championship teams need.
Kiick was not just riding along with Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris. He was a real part of the backfield identity that powered Miami’s dynasty.
Patrick Surtain Sr.
Dolphins stats/accolades: 7 seasons with Miami, 29 interceptions, 3 Pro Bowls, one of the top cornerbacks of the early 2000s Dolphins defense.
Patrick Surtain Sr. gave the Dolphins high-end cornerback play during the Zach Thomas-Jason Taylor defensive era. He had size, ball skills, and the confidence to handle tough assignments outside.
His pairing with Sam Madison gave Miami one of the best cornerback duos in the league. That secondary was a major reason those Dolphins defenses traveled well.
Tony Nathan
Dolphins stats/accolades: 9 seasons with Miami, 3,543 rushing yards, 3,592 receiving yards, key offensive weapon during the early Marino era.
Tony Nathan was one of the most useful offensive players the Dolphins had in the 1980s. He could run, catch, protect, and give Dan Marino a reliable outlet.
His best value came as an all-purpose back. Nathan’s receiving production was especially important in an offense that loved to attack through the air.
Tier 5: Dolphins Franchise Greats

Tier 5 includes Nat Moore, Norm Evans, Ed Newman, Sam Madison, Vern Den Herder, and Bill Stanfill.
Tier 5 is full of real Dolphins substance. There are receivers, linemen, defensive backs, and defensive ends who helped define different eras of Miami football.
Nat Moore
Dolphins stats/accolades: 13 seasons with Miami, 510 catches, 7,546 receiving yards, 74 receiving touchdowns, Pro Bowl selection.
Nat Moore was one of the most reliable Dolphins receivers before the full Marino-to-Clayton/Duper explosion. He had hands, toughness, and enough scoring production to stay high in the franchise record book.
Seventy-four receiving touchdowns is serious team history. Moore gave Miami a long, productive receiving career across multiple quarterback eras.
Norm Evans
Dolphins stats/accolades: 10 seasons with Miami, 2 Pro Bowls, starting right tackle on the 1972 perfect-season team and back-to-back Super Bowl champions.
Norm Evans was one of the key blockers on the Dolphins’ championship offensive line. He handled right tackle while Miami leaned into a physical run game and efficient passing.
The perfect season does not happen without line play. Evans was part of the group that gave Miami its championship identity.
Ed Newman
Dolphins stats/accolades: 12 seasons with Miami, 4 Pro Bowls, longtime starting guard.
Ed Newman gave the Dolphins dependable guard play for more than a decade. He played with strength, toughness, and enough consistency to earn four Pro Bowl selections.
Newman’s career stretched from the post-perfect-season years into the Marino era. That kind of longevity across team transitions matters.
Sam Madison
Dolphins stats/accolades: 9 seasons with Miami, 31 interceptions, 4 Pro Bowls, 2 First-Team All-Pro selections.
Sam Madison was a top-tier cornerback during the Dolphins’ late 1990s and early 2000s defensive run. He could play the ball, handle tough matchups, and make quarterbacks pay for mistakes.
His pairing with Patrick Surtain Sr. gave Miami a premium cornerback duo. Madison’s peak was not just good by Dolphins standards. It was elite by NFL standards.
Vern Den Herder
Dolphins stats/accolades: 12 seasons with Miami, 2 Super Bowl titles, long-term defensive end and member of the championship-era defense.
Vern Den Herder was a classic Dolphins defender: tough, smart, and reliable. He played defensive end through the championship years and stayed productive into the post-title era.
His career is not built on modern sack totals, but the role and longevity are strong. Den Herder was part of the defensive front that helped Miami stay physical.
Bill Stanfill
Dolphins stats/accolades: 8 seasons with Miami, 5 Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection, 2 Super Bowl titles.
Bill Stanfill was one of the best defensive linemen on the early 1970s Dolphins. He brought pass-rush ability and edge toughness to a defense that often let the offense get the bigger headlines.
Five Pro Bowls and two rings make his case strong. Stanfill was not just a perfect-season passenger. He was a standout.
Tier 4: Great Dolphins With Major Cases

Tier 4 includes Dick Anderson, Mark Clayton, Mark Duper, Bob Baumhower, and Cameron Wake.
Tier 4 has serious star power. It includes the Marks Brothers, one of the best safeties of the 1970s, a long-term nose tackle, and a pass rusher who became one of the greatest CFL-to-NFL success stories ever.
Dick Anderson
Dolphins stats/accolades: 10 seasons with Miami, 34 interceptions, 3 Pro Bowls, 1973 Defensive Player of the Year, 2 Super Bowl titles.
Dick Anderson was one of the best safeties in Dolphins history. He had range, instincts, toughness, and the ability to turn games with interceptions.
His 1973 Defensive Player of the Year season was the peak, but the full résumé is strong: perfect season, two rings, and a major role in the No-Name Defense.
Mark Clayton
Dolphins stats/accolades: 10 seasons with Miami, 550 catches, 8,643 receiving yards, franchise-record 81 receiving touchdowns, 5 Pro Bowls.
Mark Clayton was Dan Marino’s favorite touchdown weapon. He had quickness, timing, and a feel for the end zone that made him perfect for Marino’s aggressive passing style.
His 18-touchdown season in 1984 remains one of the great receiver seasons in Dolphins history. Clayton belongs in any Dolphins-focused best wide receivers of all-time discussion.
Mark Duper
Dolphins stats/accolades: 11 seasons with Miami, 511 catches, franchise-record 8,869 receiving yards, 59 receiving touchdowns, 3 Pro Bowls.
Mark Duper was the deep-threat half of the Marks Brothers. He gave Marino speed, explosiveness, and the ability to punish defenses vertically.
Duper still owns the Dolphins receiving yards record, which says everything about how dangerous he was. Clayton had the touchdowns. Duper had the yardage. Together, they made Miami terrifying.
Bob Baumhower
Dolphins stats/accolades: 10 seasons with Miami, 5 Pro Bowls, nose tackle and defensive line anchor of the late 1970s and early 1980s Dolphins.
Bob Baumhower was the middle of Miami’s defensive front during the transition from the Shula championship years into the Marino era. He gave the Dolphins size, toughness, and Pro Bowl-level interior play.
Nose tackles rarely get easy stat cases, but five Pro Bowls are hard to ignore. Baumhower was one of the best defensive linemen the Dolphins have had.
Cameron Wake
Dolphins stats/accolades: 10 seasons with Miami, 98 sacks, 5 Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection.
Cameron Wake is one of the best pass rushers in Dolphins history. His path from the CFL to NFL stardom made the story even better, but the production is what keeps him here.
Wake’s first step was deadly, and his 98 sacks with Miami rank near the top of the franchise list. He belongs in any Dolphins discussion around the best pass rushers of all-time.
Tier 3: Elite Dolphins Legends

Tier 3 includes Jim Langer, Dwight Stephenson, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, and Jake Scott.
Tier 3 is Hall of Fame-heavy and championship-heavy. These are players who would be even higher on many franchise lists: elite centers, a power back, a Hall of Fame receiver, and a Super Bowl MVP safety.
Jim Langer
Dolphins stats/accolades: 10 seasons with Miami, 6 Pro Bowls, multiple First-Team All-Pro selections, 2 Super Bowl titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jim Langer was the center of the Dolphins’ perfect-season offensive line. That sentence alone carries real weight. He was tough, smart, and central to Miami’s physical identity.
Langer helped block for Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kiick during the franchise’s greatest stretch. He belongs in any serious best offensive linemen of all-time conversation.
Dwight Stephenson
Dolphins stats/accolades: 8 seasons with Miami, 5 Pro Bowls, 5 First-Team All-Pro selections, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dwight Stephenson had a shorter career than some other Dolphins legends, but his peak was outrageous. He was one of the best centers football has ever seen.
Stephenson’s quickness, intelligence, and technique made him perfect for protecting Dan Marino. Injuries cut the career short, but the prime was absolutely Tier 1 quality by position.
Larry Csonka
Dolphins stats/accolades: 8 seasons with Miami across two stints, franchise-record 6,737 rushing yards, 53 rushing touchdowns, 2 Super Bowl titles, Super Bowl VIII MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Larry Csonka was the power identity of the Dolphins dynasty. He ran like contact was part of the design, not a problem to avoid.
Csonka was the centerpiece of Miami’s championship rushing attack and still owns the franchise rushing record. He belongs in any Dolphins-focused best running backs of all-time conversation.
Paul Warfield
Dolphins stats/accolades: 5 seasons with Miami, 2 Super Bowl titles, 1972 perfect season, Hall of Fame wide receiver and deep-threat weapon.
Paul Warfield’s Dolphins numbers do not tell the whole story because Miami did not need him catching 100 passes. His job was to terrify defenses, stretch the field, and make the run game even more dangerous.
That worked beautifully. Warfield gave Miami a Hall of Fame receiving threat during its championship peak, and his impact was much bigger than the box score.
Jake Scott
Dolphins stats/accolades: 6 seasons with Miami, 35 interceptions, 5 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl titles, Super Bowl VII MVP.
Jake Scott was one of the greatest defensive backs in Dolphins history. He had range, toughness, return ability, and huge-game production.
Winning Super Bowl VII MVP on the perfect-season team gives him one of the strongest postseason arguments in franchise history. Scott was a star on a defense built around team identity.
Tier 2: Inner-Circle Dolphins Greats

Tier 2 includes Bob Griese, Larry Little, Richmond Webb, and Bob Kuechenberg.
Tier 2 is loaded with Dolphins foundation pieces: a Hall of Fame quarterback, two elite offensive linemen from the championship years, and Dan Marino’s longtime left tackle.
Bob Griese
Dolphins stats/accolades: 14 seasons with Miami, 25,092 passing yards, 192 touchdown passes, 8 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bob Griese was the quarterback of the Dolphins’ perfect-season dynasty. He did not need to throw like Dan Marino to be great. His job was to lead, protect the ball, make timely throws, and help Miami win.
Griese’s résumé has what most Dolphins quarterbacks do not: championships. Two rings, a perfect season, and Hall of Fame status keep him near the top of this list.
Larry Little
Dolphins stats/accolades: 12 seasons with Miami, 5 Pro Bowls, 5 First-Team All-Pro selections, 2 Super Bowl titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Larry Little was one of the greatest guards in football history. He played with power, movement skills, and the nasty edge that Miami’s championship rushing attack needed.
Little’s work on the perfect-season line was essential. When people talk about why those Dolphins teams could control games, the offensive line is one of the biggest answers.
Richmond Webb
Dolphins stats/accolades: 11 seasons with Miami, 7 Pro Bowls, 2 First-Team All-Pro selections, longtime left tackle for Dan Marino.
Richmond Webb protected Dan Marino’s blind side for more than a decade. That is one of the most important jobs in Dolphins history.
Webb was excellent immediately and made seven straight Pro Bowls to open his career. He belongs among the best offensive linemen the franchise has ever had.
Bob Kuechenberg
Dolphins stats/accolades: 14 seasons with Miami, 6 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl titles, starting lineman on the 1972 perfect-season team.
Bob Kuechenberg gave the Dolphins toughness and versatility across the offensive line. He could play guard, handle center work, and bring the physical style Don Shula wanted.
Kuechenberg’s Hall of Fame case has long been discussed because the career was that strong. In Miami history, he is safely inside the inner circle.
Tier 1: Greatest Miami Dolphins Players Ever

Tier 1 includes Dan Marino, Jason Taylor, and Zach Thomas.
Tier 1 belongs to the players who define Miami football across generations. Marino is the quarterback icon. Taylor is the pass-rushing king. Thomas is the linebacker brain and emotional engine.
Dan Marino
Dolphins stats/accolades: 17 seasons with Miami, franchise-record 61,361 passing yards, franchise-record 420 touchdown passes, 1984 NFL MVP, 9 Pro Bowls, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dan Marino is the greatest Miami Dolphins player of all-time. No Super Bowl ring makes the national argument louder than it needs to be, but inside the franchise, the answer is clean.
Marino changed what quarterback production could look like. His 1984 season was ahead of its time, and his arm talent remains part of every serious best quarterbacks of all-time conversation.
Jason Taylor
Dolphins stats/accolades: 13 seasons across three Miami stints, franchise-record 131 sacks, 6 Pro Bowls as a Dolphin, 2006 Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jason Taylor is the greatest defensive player in Miami Dolphins history. He could rush the passer, force fumbles, drop into space, and score defensive touchdowns like few edge defenders ever have.
His 2006 Defensive Player of the Year season was the peak, but the full Miami résumé is what locks him in Tier 1. Taylor belongs in any real best pass rushers of all-time debate.
Zach Thomas
Dolphins stats/accolades: 12 seasons with Miami, 7 Pro Bowls, 5 First-Team All-Pro selections, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Zach Thomas was the brain of the Dolphins defense for more than a decade. He was undersized by old linebacker standards, but he processed the game faster than almost everyone.
Thomas diagnosed plays, cleaned up tackles, and gave Miami weekly leadership during one of the franchise’s strongest defensive stretches. His Hall of Fame induction finally matched what Dolphins fans already knew.
Full Tier List Table: Best Miami Dolphins Players of All-Time
Note: This is a tier list, not a numbered ranking. The tiers are ranked, while the players inside each tier are grouped into the same Dolphins legacy class rather than ordered from best to worst.
| Tier | Player | Position | Dolphins Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Dan Marino | QB | 1983–1999 |
| Tier 1 | Jason Taylor | EDGE | 1997–2007, 2009, 2011 |
| Tier 1 | Zach Thomas | LB | 1996–2007 |
| Tier 2 | Bob Griese | QB | 1967–1980 |
| Tier 2 | Larry Little | G | 1969–1980 |
| Tier 2 | Richmond Webb | OT | 1990–2000 |
| Tier 2 | Bob Kuechenberg | G/C | 1970–1983 |
| Tier 3 | Jim Langer | C | 1970–1979 |
| Tier 3 | Dwight Stephenson | C | 1980–1987 |
| Tier 3 | Larry Csonka | FB | 1968–1974, 1979 |
| Tier 3 | Paul Warfield | WR | 1970–1974 |
| Tier 3 | Jake Scott | S | 1970–1975 |
| Tier 4 | Dick Anderson | S | 1968–1977 |
| Tier 4 | Mark Clayton | WR | 1983–1992 |
| Tier 4 | Mark Duper | WR | 1982–1992 |
| Tier 4 | Bob Baumhower | NT | 1977–1986 |
| Tier 4 | Cameron Wake | EDGE | 2009–2018 |
| Tier 5 | Nat Moore | WR | 1974–1986 |
| Tier 5 | Norm Evans | OT | 1966–1975 |
| Tier 5 | Ed Newman | G | 1973–1984 |
| Tier 5 | Sam Madison | CB | 1997–2005 |
| Tier 5 | Vern Den Herder | DE | 1971–1982 |
| Tier 5 | Bill Stanfill | DE | 1969–1976 |
| Tier 6 | Tim Bowens | DT | 1994–2004 |
| Tier 6 | Tim Ruddy | C | 1994–2003 |
| Tier 6 | Nick Buoniconti | LB | 1969–1976 |
| Tier 6 | Jim Kiick | RB | 1968–1974 |
| Tier 6 | Patrick Surtain Sr. | CB | 1998–2004 |
| Tier 6 | Tony Nathan | RB | 1979–1987 |
| Tier 7 | Keith Sims | G | 1990–1997 |
| Tier 7 | Roy Foster | G | 1982–1993 |
| Tier 7 | Xavien Howard | CB | 2016–2023 |
| Tier 7 | Ryan Tannehill | QB | 2012–2018 |
| Tier 7 | Ricky Williams | RB | 2002–2003, 2005, 2007–2010 |
| Tier 7 | Kim Bokamper | LB/DE | 1977–1985 |
| Tier 7 | Jake Long | OT | 2008–2012 |
FAQ: Best Miami Dolphins Players of All-Time
Who is the greatest Miami Dolphins player of all-time?
Dan Marino is the greatest Miami Dolphins player of all-time. He owns the franchise records for passing yards and passing touchdowns, won the 1984 NFL MVP award, made nine Pro Bowls, and became the defining quarterback in team history.
Who is the best quarterback in Miami Dolphins history?
Dan Marino is the best quarterback in Miami Dolphins history. Bob Griese won two Super Bowls and led the perfect-season era, but Marino’s passing records, MVP season, and all-time quarterback legacy keep him first.
Who is the best defensive player in Miami Dolphins history?
Jason Taylor is the best defensive player in Miami Dolphins history. He is the franchise sack leader, won 2006 Defensive Player of the Year, made multiple Pro Bowls, and became a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Who has the most sacks in Miami Dolphins history?
Jason Taylor has the most sacks in Miami Dolphins history with 131 sacks.
Who is the best running back in Miami Dolphins history?
Larry Csonka is the best running back in Miami Dolphins history from a full franchise-legacy standpoint. He is the team’s all-time rushing leader, won Super Bowl VIII MVP, and powered the perfect-season dynasty.
Who has the most rushing yards in Miami Dolphins history?
Larry Csonka has the most rushing yards in Miami Dolphins history with 6,737 rushing yards.
Who is the best wide receiver in Miami Dolphins history?
Paul Warfield has the strongest all-time wide receiver peak and Hall of Fame case, while Mark Clayton owns the franchise receiving touchdown record and Mark Duper owns the franchise receiving yards record.
Who has the most receiving yards in Miami Dolphins history?
Mark Duper has the most receiving yards in Miami Dolphins history with 8,869 receiving yards.
Where does Xavien Howard fit among the best Dolphins players of all-time?
Xavien Howard belongs in Tier 7 of this Miami Dolphins all-time tier list. His Dolphins peak included four Pro Bowls, a First-Team All-Pro selection and a 10-interception season in 2020.
Which recent Dolphins players are included on this all-time tier list?
Recent Dolphins players on this tier list include Xavien Howard, Ryan Tannehill, Cameron Wake, Jake Long and Ricky Williams. They are included for their Dolphins careers, not for anything they did after leaving Miami.
Conclusion: Ranking the Greatest Dolphins Ever
The best Miami Dolphins players of all-time list starts with Dan Marino because he is the franchise’s defining player. Marino owns the passing records, changed quarterback expectations, and remains the cleanest No. 1 choice even without a Super Bowl ring.
Behind him, the Dolphins have real all-time depth. Jason Taylor is the franchise’s greatest defensive player. Zach Thomas finally has the Hall of Fame recognition his career deserved. Bob Griese, Larry Little, Jim Langer, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, and Jake Scott connect directly to the perfect-season dynasty.
The next version of this list will depend on whether the current Miami era eventually produces players with enough longevity, playoff impact and franchise records to break into the graphic. Xavien Howard, Ryan Tannehill, Cameron Wake, Jake Long and Ricky Williams are included for what they did in Miami.
More NFL All-Time Player Rankings
For more all-time NFL rankings, check out our NFL team rankings hub, position rankings and historical tier lists. Staying in the AFC East, you can also read our best Buffalo Bills players of all-time, best New England Patriots players of all-time and best New York Jets players of all-time lists. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history graphics.