Dolphins Quarterbacks Revisited: The 5 Leaders in Passing Touchdowns
Since its inception in the National Football League in 1966, the Miami Dolphins have participated in five Super Bowls, securing two championships. They achieved an immaculate 14-0 record and claimed the Super Bowl title in 1972, subsequently repeating their success the next year after finishing with a 12-2 record.
Over the course of 59 seasons, 88 players have taken the field under center, each having thrown at least one pass for the Dolphins. Although Bob Griese propelled the team to consecutive championships, no quarterback in Dolphins history has matched the regular season success of Dan Marino. This player holds the franchise records for games played (242), passing yards (61,361), and touchdowns (420). However, a closer examination of the careers of Marino, Griese, and Miami's other three top-five quarterbacks—ranked by regular season touchdowns—reveals a rich legacy of talent and achievement.
Dan Marino (420)
Prior to Miami's selection of Dan Marino at 27th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, five quarterbacks had already been chosen. Dolphins coach Don Shula, however, did not anticipate that the University of Pittsburgh standout would still be on the board at that juncture in the draft. He also seemed unconcerned with the statistic that Marino had thrown more interceptions (23) than touchdowns (17) during his senior year. It did not take long for Marino to validate Shula's belief, rapidly establishing himself as one of the premier quarterbacks in the league.
During his rookie season, Marino achieved a 7-2 record as Miami's starting quarterback, subsequently guiding the Dolphins to a remarkable 14-2 record in the following season. This included leading all quarterbacks in pass completions (362), yards (5,084), and touchdowns (48). He was awarded the AP MVP that year and continued to dominate the league in passing yards and touchdowns in both 1985 and 1986. Throughout his entire 17-year career with the Dolphins, Marino consistently threw for at least 20 touchdowns in 13 of those seasons. Upon his retirement after the 1999 season, he held the NFL's all-time records for pass attempts (8,358), completions (4,967), yards, and touchdowns. Ultimately, the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
"You were basically at Dan's mercy," Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott said of Marino. "All the great ones see the game so quickly that when everybody else is running around like a chicken with his head cut off, they know exactly where they want to go with the ball. It's like they see everything in slow motion."
Bob Griese (192)
Although Marino is often regarded as an exceptional quarterback, he only once in his career led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl, ultimately failing to secure a victory in that game. In contrast, Griese was a key figure among the QB’s for the Dolphins during their remarkable undefeated season in 1972. During that year, they clinched their first Super Bowl title and subsequently defended it successfully the following season. Selected fourth overall in the 1967 NFL Draft, after attending the University of Purdue, Griese achieved consecutive Pro Bowl selections in his initial two seasons, despite the fact that Miami experienced losing records at that time. Notably, he commenced five games in 1972, amassing 638 yards and four touchdowns. Furthermore, he guided Miami to an impressive 12-1 record over 13 games in the subsequent season, throwing for 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Over the course of 14 seasons with the Dolphins, Griese accumulated 192 touchdowns. In 1977, he stood out as the leading QB with 22 touchdowns. This impressive career led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Ryan Tannehill (123)
Standing at an impressive 6-foot-4, Ryan Tannehill, a product of Texas A&M, enjoyed a commendable 11-year tenure in the NFL, which was divided between the Dolphins and the Tennessee Titans. Drafted eighth overall by the Dolphins during the 2012 NFL Draft, he spent six seasons in Miami, where he amassed an impressive total of 20,434 passing yards and 123 touchdowns, leading the team to a commendable 42-26 record. Notably, he achieved at least 20 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2015. However, in March 2019, Miami traded Tannehill to the Titans. The following year he experienced the pinnacle of his career, leading the league in yards per attempt (9.6) and passer rating (117.5), while throwing for 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions. This remarkable performance earned him the AP Comeback Player of the Year award, as well as his first and only Pro Bowl selection.
Tua Tagovailoa (86)
In his fifth season with the Dolphins, former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa commenced the 2024 season with 81 touchdowns; he had already achieved 86 in his first four games. He experienced a career year in 2023, recording a career-best (marks in passing yards: 4,624) and touchdowns (29). He garnered his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023 and he was ranked top 10 in MVP voting the previous year. However, the expectations are high this season, because he has proven his capabilities, although challenges remain.
Jay Fiedler (66)
Jay Fiedler, a 52-year-old native of Oceanside, New York, played collegiate football at Dartmouth. He went undrafted; however, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 1998. That season, he participated in only a handful of snaps and played sparingly the subsequent year with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although he initially struggled, Fiedler proved to be a capable starter during five seasons with the Dolphins from 2000 to 2004. In those years, he led Miami to a combined record of 37-23, accumulating 11,040 passing yards and 66 touchdowns. Notably, he achieved a career-best of 20 touchdowns in 2001. This level of performance demonstrated his potential, because it solidified his status as a reliable quarterback in the league.