2024 Hula Bowl Hall of Fame Profile: Dan Marino

Established in 2019, the Hula Bowl Hall of Fame is inducting five players and a contributor in 2024, joining an illustrious list of honorees. Coaches like Bobby Bowden, Lou Holtz, and Steve Spurrier. Players like the indomitable Reggie White, Willie Roaf, Ron Simmons, Drew Brees, and Marcus Allen.

The third among the 2024 honorees to be profiled is the legendary Pitt Panther and Miami Dolphins’ Dan Marino. The Pittsburgh native was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the annals of the NFL. He stayed close to home and attended Pitt for college. After his sterling collegiate career, he became an NFL legend, actor, entrepreneur, and pitchman. Mr. Marino was one of four Panthers to participate in the 1983 Hula Bowl game. He joins a pair of ’83 Hula Bowl alums, Jesse Sapolu and Darryl Talley in the Hall of Fame.

at Pitt

1979

The iconic Marino signed with the University of Pittsburgh in 1979. He started every game as a true freshman, producing 1,680 yards, ten touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Marino led the Panthers to an 11-1 record, which included a Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona. The Panthers finished that season as the seventh-ranked team in the AP poll.

1980

As a sophomore, he completed 52% of his passes for 1,609 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He led the Panthers to the 1980 National Championship, and a Gator Bowl win over South Carolina. The Panthers finished second in the polls after a future bowl opponent Georgia with an 11-1 record; the one loss coming to a previously second-ranked Florida State team. This team laid the foundation for an epic run during the 1981 season. A team that included Hugh Green who won the Lombardi, Maxwell, and Walter Camp Awards. Green would later become a teammate of Marino’s once again in Miami. The offensive line was the stuff of legends. The line featured Russ Grimm, Mark May, and Jimbo Covert, all of whom played in the NFL and had great success.

1981

Marino’s junior season was his peak as a collegian, statistically. He threw for 2,876 yards and 34 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to a true national championship. Pitt was selected as champion that season as well. The Bulldogs played in several dramatic Sugar Bowls in the early 1980s. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy race behind winner Marcus Allen. The legendary USC runner is also a member of the Hula Bowl Hall of Fame. A truly elite superstar who joins Marino in completing the trifecta of Pro, College, and Hula Bowl Hall of Fame.

1982

The 1982 campaign saw a downturn in production under new leadership. Marino fell off a bit along with the team from their lofty standards. The leading man for the Panthers threw for 2,432 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to 23 interceptions.

NFL Career

The much-fabled 1983 quarterback draft class saw Marino fall to the 27th overall selection held by Miami. That draft class was very lucrative in terms of talent acquisition. There were eight NFL Hall of Famers, multiple Pro Bowlers, and a couple of future head coaches. 1967, 1981, and 2011 are similar classes that could rival the 1983 class from top to bottom.

1980s

Marino got off to a hot start after being named a Pro Bowler in his first five seasons. He was also selected as a First Team All-Pro in three consecutive seasons. Statistically, the peak was his second season in which he threw for 48 touchdowns and became the founding member of the 5000 club. The 5000 club happens when a player passes for 5,000 yards in a single regular season, which is a rare achievement in the National Football League (NFL). That 1984 campaign resulted in his only Super Bowl appearance. Among the litany of records bearing his name, he was the fastest to 100 career touchdowns in just 44 games. The gunslinger often found himself locked in duels with some of the best-ever passers to grace the league. It could be said that he was a worthy successor to the venerable Bob Griese.

1990s

The 1990s saw a similar start as the beginning of his career. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times in six seasons. The touchdown production started to fade as he got older, however. The injury history got concerning as he tore an Achilles in 1993. A hip injury occurred in 1995. Marino was the first quarterback ever to throw for 50,000 yards and 400 touchdowns in a career during this decade. The first one to have more than three 4,000-yard seasons. He was also the first member of the 60,000-yard club in 1999. After the 1999 season, he retired after 16 years of service to the Dolphins with numerous records and a record of 147-93.

Legacy

Joe Montana once said that Dan Marino is the GOAT of all GOAT throwers. It could be said that he was the greatest forefather of the passing game explosion that we see today. The production was immense for any era but he battled many legendary contemporaries like Elway, Montana, Kelly, Moon, Fouts, and Aikman. Marino retired with 61,361 yards, 420 touchdowns, and 252 interceptions on his resume. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005. The former Dolphin established his dominance all over the passing record book for future generations to break. Marino still ranks within the all-time top ten for passing yards and touchdowns. He’s the only one to have started his career in the 1980s.

All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference and Sports Reference