List of Miami Dolphins starting quarterbacks

The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the East Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Lawyer Joe Robbie and actor Danny Thomas were granted enfranchisement on August 15, 1965, committing their team as the ninth member of the American Football League (AFL).[1][2]

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Ryan Tannehill (2012–2016, 2018)

The Dolphins have had 36 different starting quarterbacks (QB) in their franchise history; only George Mira and Tyler Thigpen have started only one game for the Dolphins.[3][4][a] The Dolphins' first starting quarterback was Dick Wood during the first inaugural season game in 1966, against the Oakland Raiders; Wood however was replaced a week later by rookie Rick Norton due to inconsistency.[5][6] Notable Dolphin starting quarterbacks include Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Bob Griese and Dan Marino, who together combined for 391 total starts and 239 wins all with the Dolphins.[7][8][9] Other standouts include Earl Morrall, Don Strock, David Woodley, Jay Fiedler, and Chad Pennington.

The Miami Dolphins entered the 2012 season with the franchise's 32nd different starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He is the first rookie to ever start on opening day for the Dolphins.[10]

History

Inception

The Miami Dolphins entered their inaugural season in 1966 with Dick Wood as their starting quarterback against the Oakland Raiders.[11] By the end of the first half Wood had thrown four interceptions, two of which translated to ten points by the Raiders.[5] Rookie replacement Rick Norton finished the second half of the game and started the next two games against the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.[12] Trailing 41–3 against the Bills, Norton was benched in favor of rookie punter George Wilson Jr., who played quarterback in college at Xavier University. Wilson outscored the Bills 21–17 during his 40 minutes of playing time, throwing three touchdowns and passing for 185 yards.[13]

I never thought I'd be the No. 1 Quarterback.

—George Wilson Jr.[13]

Wilson went on to start the next seven games for the Dolphins. During that time Wilson collected the franchise's first and second victories against the Denver Broncos on October 16, and followed it up a week later with a victory against the Houston Oilers.[14] However, during the week twelve game against the New York Jets, Wilson suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.[15]

Dick Wood started the next three games for the Dolphins, but didn't finish the season as rookie quarterback John Stofa started the final game against the Houston Oilers.[11] Stofa led the team to its third and final victory of the season by beating the Oilers, 29–28.[16]

Bob Griese era

Bob Griese, a quarterback from Purdue, was selected by the Miami Dolphins as the fourth pick in the first round of the 1967 Common Draft.[17] Entering the 1967 season, rookie Griese was slated to develop as a backup quarterback behind John Stofa. However, due to an ankle injury suffered during the first game of the season, Stofa was sidelined, and Griese finished the game leading the Dolphins to 35–21 victory over the Denver Broncos. Griese started the next two games, but sustained an injury during the Week 5 game against the New York Jets and was replaced by Rick Norton for three games. Griese resumed the role of starting QB for the remaining eight games of his rookie season.

For the next 13 seasons Griese started a majority of the Miami Dolphins' games. During that tenure Griese became the first Miami Dolphins quarterback to start all of the season's games in 1970, led by head coach Don Shula. In the same year the Dolphins collected their first winning season and playoff berth, but lost against the Oakland Raiders, 21–14, in the Divisional Round. The following year, 1971, the Dolphins made their first Super Bowl appearance against the Dallas Cowboys, but lost, 24–3.

In 1972 Griese started and won the first five games of the season, but fell victim to injury against the San Diego Chargers. Earl Morrall started and won the remaining nine games of season. Morrall started both the Divisional and AFC conference games, but Griese returned to start Super Bowl VII. Griese's 14–7 win against the Washington Redskins completed the NFL's first and only perfect season. Earl Morrall's performance earned him the NFL's inaugural Comeback Player of the Year Award. Starting 11 of the season's 17 games, contributions from his 1972 season and further performances in his career have listed him as one of the top backup quarterbacks in NFL history.

In 1973 Griese started 13 regular-season games, and led the Dolphins to their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, the first in NFL history and second consecutive Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl VIII, the second in NFL history.

Over the next seven years Griese started 74 regular-season and three playoff games. He sustained a multitude of injuries and shared the starting role with quarterbacks Morrall, Don Strock, and David Woodley, but finally in 1980, against the Baltimore Colts, Griese sustained a shoulder injury that would prompt him to retire at the end of the season.

In his career, Griese played in six Pro Bowls and two all-star games, was elected the Dolphins' MVP six times, and was named All-Pro in 1971 and 1977. Throughout the 1970s the Miami Dolphins had the highest winning percentage in all of professional sports. Griese was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Following the end of Griese's tenure, quarterback David Woodley became the Dolphins' starting quarterback and continued the Dolphins' success. Woodley made it to the playoffs in 1981 and in 1982. During the 1982 season the Dolphins lost in their fourth Super Bowl appearance against the Washington Redskins, 27–17. In 1983, Woodley lost the starting job to rookie quarterback Dan Marino. David Woodley is known as being the transition quarterback between Bob Griese and Dan Marino.

Dan Marino Era
University of Pittsburgh freshman (1979)

Dan Marino, a quarterback from the University of Pittsburgh, was selected by the Miami Dolphins as the 27th pick, in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Much like Griese, Marino was slated to develop under starting quarterback David Woodley. During the third game of the season against the Los Angeles Raiders, Marino saw his first action as an NFL quarterback, and passed for ninety yards and threw for two touchdowns. Following a loss during week 4, Marino replaced Woodley, and the following week started his first game against the Buffalo Bills. Miami, however, lost the game in overtime 38–35.

Starting quarterbacks by season
YearColumn links to corresponding team season
(#)Number of games started in the regular season or postseason win–loss record
†Inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame[7]

Regular season
Matt Moore (2011, 2016–2017)
Chad Henne (2009–2011)
Chad Pennington (right) (2008–2010)
Dan Marino (1983–1999)
Bob Griese (1967–1980)
Quarterbacks listed in order of appearance in each season
Season(s)Quarterback (Games)References
1966Dick Wood (4)Rick Norton (2)George Wilson (7)John Stofa (1)[18]
1967John Stofa (1)Bob Griese† (10)Rick Norton (3)[19]
1968Bob Griese† (13)Rick Norton (1)[20]
1969Bob Griese† (9)Rick Norton (5)[21]
1970Bob Griese† (14)[22]
1971Bob Griese† (13)George Mira (1)[3][23]
1972Bob Griese† (5)Earl Morrall (9)[24]
1973Bob Griese† (13)Earl Morrall (1)[25]
1974[26]
1975Bob Griese† (10)Earl Morrall (1)Don Strock (3)[27]
1976Bob Griese† (13)Don Strock (1)[28]
1977Bob Griese† (14)[29]
1978[c]Don Strock (7)Bob Griese† (9)[30]
1979Bob Griese† (12)Don Strock (4)[31]
1980Bob Griese† (3)Don Strock (2)David Woodley (11)[32]
1981David Woodley (15)Don Strock (1)[33]
1982[b]David Woodley (9)[34]
1983David Woodley (5)Dan Marino† (9)Don Strock (2)[35]
1984Dan Marino† (16)[36]
1985[37]
1986[38]
1987[b]Dan Marino† (12)Kyle Mackey (3)[39]
1988Dan Marino† (16)[40]
1989[41]
1990[42]
1991[43]
1992[44]
1993Dan Marino† (5)Scott Mitchell (7)Steve DeBerg (4)[45]
1994Dan Marino† (16)[46]
1995Dan Marino† (14)Bernie Kosar (2)[47]
1996Dan Marino† (13)Craig Erickson (3)[48]
1997Dan Marino† (16)[49]
1998[50]
1999Dan Marino† (11)Damon Huard (5)[51]
2000Jay Fiedler (15)Damon Huard (1)[52]
2001Jay Fiedler (16)[53]
2002Jay Fiedler (10)Ray Lucas (6)[54]
2003Jay Fiedler (11)Brian Griese (5)[55]
2004Jay Fiedler (7)A. J. Feeley (8)Sage Rosenfels (1)[56]
2005Gus Frerotte (15)Sage Rosenfels (1)[57]
2006Daunte Culpepper (4)Joey Harrington (11)Cleo Lemon (1)[58]
2007Trent Green (5)Cleo Lemon (7)John Beck (4)[59]
2008Chad Pennington (16)[60]
2009Chad Pennington (3)Chad Henne (13)[61]
2010Chad Henne (14)Tyler Thigpen (1)Chad Pennington (1)[4][62]
2011Chad Henne (4)Matt Moore (12)[63]
2012Ryan Tannehill (16)[64][65]
2013[66]
2014[66]
2015[66]
2016Ryan Tannehill (13)Matt Moore (3)[66]
2017Jay Cutler (14)Matt Moore (2)
2018Ryan Tannehill (11)Brock Osweiler (5)[66][67]
2019Ryan Fitzpatrick (13)Josh Rosen (3)[68]
2020Ryan Fitzpatrick (7)Tua Tagovailoa (9)[69]

Regular season stats

Updated through the 2020 season

Click on heading to sort
Quarterback Games Wins Losses Ties Win %
John Beck404—.000
Daunte Culpepper13.250
Jay Cutler1468.429
Steve DeBerg422.500
Craig Erickson31.333
A. J. Feeley835.375
Jay Fiedler593623.610
Ryan Fitzpatrick20911.450
Gus Frerotte1596.600
Trent Green505.000
Bob Griese15192563.619
Brian Griese532—.600
Joey Harrington1156.455
Chad Henne311318.419
Damon Huard651.833
Bernie Kosar202.000
Cleo Lemon817.125
Ray Lucas624.333
Kyle Mackey312.333
Dan Marino24014793.613
George Mira1101.000
Scott Mitchell734.429
Matt Moore1789.471
Earl Morrall12111.917
Rick Norton11110.091
Brock Osweiler523.400
Chad Pennington20128.600
Josh Rosen303.000
Sage Rosenfels202.000
John Stofa201.000
Don Strock20146.700
Tua Tagovailoa963.667
Ryan Tannehill884246.477
Tyler Thigpen101.000
George Wilson725.286
Dick Wood404.000
David Woodley4027121.688
Totals8444673774.553

Postseason stats
Quarterback Games Wins Losses Ref.
Jay Fiedler312[70]
Bob Griese1165[71]
Dan Marino18810[72]
Matt Moore101
Earl Morrall220[73]
Chad Pennington101[74]
David Woodley532[75]
Totals412021.488

Postseason games
QuarterbackSeasonGameOpponentScoreWin %Ref
Bob Griese1970DivisionalOakland14–21.545[71]
1971DivisionalKansas City27–24 OT2
AFC ChampionshipBalt. Colts21–0
Super Bowl VIDallas03-24 3–24
1972Super Bowl VIIWashington14-0714–7
1973DivisionalCincinnati34–16
AFC ChampionshipOakland27–10
Super Bowl VIIIMinnesota24-0724–7
1974DivisionalOakland26–28
1978DivisionalHouston Oilers09-179–17
1979DivisionalPittsburgh14–34
Earl Morrall1972DivisionalCleveland20–141.000[73]
AFC ChampionshipPittsburgh21–17
David Woodley1981DivisionalSan Diego38–41 OT.600[75]
1982First RoundNew England28–13
Second RoundSan Diego34–13
AFC ChampionshipNew York Jets14–0
Super Bowl XVIIWashington17–27
Dan Marino1983DivisionalSeattle20–27.444[72]
1984DivisionalSeattle31–10
AFC ChampionshipPittsburgh45–28
Super Bowl XIXSan Francisco16–38
1985DivisionalCleveland24–21
AFC ChampionshipNew England14–31
1990Wild CardKansas City17–16
DivisionalBuffalo34–44
1992DivisionalSan Diego31–0
AFC ChampionshipBuffalo10–29
1994Wild CardKansas City27–17
DivisionalSan Diego21–22
1995Wild CardBuffalo22–37
1997Wild CardNew England03-17 3–17
1998Wild CardBuffalo24–17
DivisionalDenver03-38 3–38
1999Wild CardSeattle20–17
DivisionalJacksonville07-627–62
Jay Fielder2000Wild CardIndianapolis23–17 OT.333[70]
DivisionalOakland00-270–27
2001Wild CardBalt. Ravens03-20 3–20
Chad Pennington2008Wild CardBalt. Ravens09-27 9–27.000[74]
Matt Moore2016Wild CardPittsburgh09-27 12–30.000
QuarterbackSeasonGameOpponentScoreWin %Ref

See also

Notes

References
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