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Dan Marino may be the greatest quarterback in NFL history to never win a championship and the greatest passer to ever play. He also may be one of the greatest humanitarians in any sport.
The recently retired Marino is first in numerous statistical categories: yards thrown for a career, 61,361; career passes, 8,358; completions, 4,967; touchdowns, 420; yards for a season, 5,084; 400 yard passing games for a career, 13; 300 yard passing games for a career, 63 and touchdowns for a season, 48, in 1984. Kurt Warner with 41 touchdowns passing last season to help the St. Louis Rams win the Super Bowl, is the only other player to ever throw 40 or more touchdowns in a season.
While the Miami Dolphins never won a Super Bowl under Marino, some football experts have noted the team never had a consistently strong defense or running game when he played. They have also noted then coach Don Shula, who won two Super Bowls in the 70's and was known for his running game changed the Dolphins to a passing team because of Marino's talent. The Dolphins did play in one Super Bowl under Marino and were consistent contenders.
One quarterback who did win four Super Bowls, Joe Montana, with San Francisco has said that although he was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he would have felt an "emptiness" without a championship. He also felt Marino may have been the game's greatest passer, however.
"I don't think one [statistics versus championships] can outweigh the other," Montana said in an article in Knight Ridder News Service. "But rings are just a sentimental thing. Some of us have a ring, but he's [Marino] got everything else. Dan has, by far, outperformed all of us."
As a humanitarian, Marino is also second to none. He has been involved in numerous charities. His Dan Marino Foundation, founded in 1992 has helped meet the physical, educational and emotional needs of area children. One way this was done was area businesses giving money for each touchdown he threw, through the Touchdowns for Tots program.
The Miami Children's Hospital, Dan Marino Center has provided evaluation and treatment for children with special needs. The center has provided neurological and developmental services for children in South Florida and South America.
Marino has also met the wishes of more than 100 dying children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The wishes have included: the children attending the Dolphins practice the day before a game; a tour; a personal meeting with Marino and other players and coaches; a photograph session; tickets to a game, the chance to catch a pass from Marino and a locker room visit after a game.
"When they [Make-A-Wish Foundation] gave him a packet to fill out to list his wishes, it took him 20 hours to pick a second wish," one grateful mother, whose son had a brain tumor said of Marino in a Florida newspaper story. "It was this or nothing."
Marino has granted the wishes of children with other serious diseases, including lukemia.
Marino was also one of three players to act as a spokesman and do public service anouncements for the United Way in 1998, the 25th year the charity was affiliated with the NFL.
He has also raised money for the foundation through the sponsorship of a celebrity golf tournament.
As a result of his work with charity, Marino was named the NFL Man Of The Year in 1998.
In some of the categories Marino leads in passing, the next closest player statistically isn't even close. While Marino threw for more than 61,000 yards, the second place passer, John Elway, of the Denver Broncos threw for about 51,000. While he threw 8,358 passes and had 4,967 completions, Elway threw 7,250 and 4,123. He had 13 400 yard games in his career; Montana had 7. Marino was first for the most yards thrown in a season, with 5,084 and third with 4,746.
Some of the greatful recipients of his charity work may feel few people are close to Marino in that regard.
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