This page is dedicated to those unforgettable moments that will live
forever in Dolfans' hearts and minds. On the field and off, Dan has provided
many special moments to many, many people. Close your eyes, hear the cheers, and
visualize your favorite Marino Moment. It can be an unforgettable play, an
event, a personal encounter... simply Unbelievable, Unparalleled, Unforgettable
Dan.
Dan Marino did Monday what he had done for 17 years. He united South Florida in
a way that no else can.
Nobody mesmerized a community the way Dan did. Every
Sunday afternoon, he gave the fans of South Florida hope. To them, he was bigger
than life.
With his wife, Claire, their five children and his
father, Dan Sr., and mother, Veronica, watching, Marino, choking back tears,
announced his retirement from professional football.
"This isn't easy, Joey," Marino said
during his speech as he looked at his 10-year-old son who was smiling and
watching his father.
Marino, 38, was clearly out of his element. The
Dolphins' starting quarterback since 1983 and owner of 30 NFL passing records,
he would much rather have been in a huddle needing 80 yards for a winning
touchdown and only two minutes to play.
"That's where he belongs," Robbie said.
"He had something there that no coach can give him. When he stepped in the
huddle, the other players looked in his eyes and believed that they were going
to win. That's why he led (37) fourth-quarter comebacks and why he has records
that will never be broken. It's also why this room is full of teammates, friends
and media."
Included among those in attendance Monday were
were owner H. Wayne Huizenga, coach Dave Wannstedt, former coach Don Shula and
former teammates Don Strock, Dwight Stephenson, Roy Foster, John Kidd, and Mark
Clayton, Zach Thomas, Lamar Thomas, Olindo Mare, Tim Ruddy and Mark Dixon.
Former coach Jimmy Johnson was not present.
Huizenga announced that Marino's No. 13 would be
retired. He also said that Marino would be inducted into the team's honor roll
at halftime of the Dolphins' first regular-season game next season.
Additionally, he said, a statute of Marino will be erected at Pro Player Stadium
and a street around the stadium will be named after him.
"We know that so many of your fans want to
express their appreciation for all that you have meant to them," Huizenga
said, his voice cracking. "We will hold a huge, and I mean huge, special
ceremony before the start of the season that will be open to the public in
celebration of your career."
Marino was caught off guard by Huizenga's
announcements, even though the two had discussed some of the possibilities
recently.
"It was real emotional," Marino said.
"I was just trying to keep back the tears. If I had looked over at Claire,
I would have been crying. To play in one place for 17 years and be honored that
way, with your jersey retired, to be put in the honor roll and to have a statute
putting you in the same light as Don Shula, is very special."
Marino said that his physical condition and his
family concerns led him to retire. He said he gave serious consideration to an
offer from the Minnesota Vikings. He also said that he met with Wannstedt a
couple of times, but whether he was going to play for the Dolphins wasn't
discussed.
"When it came down to it," Marino said,
"it was the physical aspects of the game. It was a question of the
limitations that I was going to have to deal with and whether or not, I wanted
to deal with them. Claire and the kids said to go to Minnesota and play if I
wanted to go. I didn't want to be away from them."
"I think the Dolphins could have handled
things better, but I don't think it would have changed his football
decision," Demoff said. "Had most of these events never occurred and
Minnesota never occurred and it was just the Dolphins saying they'd like him to
come back and play, I think you'd wind up with the same decision."
Marino made it clear that his relationship with
Johnson wasn't always good, but he didn't indicate that it had anything to do
with him retiring.
"I would have to say that our relationship
was up and down at times," Marino said. "We had some great, great days
together and some fun times. Sometimes, I wasn't very happy while he was
coaching, and that is just being honest."
Marino spoke with former NFL quarterbacks Joe
Montana, Jim Kelly and John Elway about retiring, and they had the same answer,
telling him he would miss the game. Still, he plans to be at the Dolphins' first
regular-season game.
"I'm sure that I'll be upset because I'll
want to be playing," Marino said. "That's something that never leaves
you if you have played as long as I have. The fans have been incredible to me
over the years.
"There is nothing better than running out of
the stadium tunnel on a Sunday afternoon and getting so excited about the game
of football, especially as the starting quarterback of the Dolphins."
Marino did something few athletes in any sport do.
Despite playing in only one Super Bowl and not winning it, Marino's entire
career was with the same team. Since last season ended, there were those who
were concerned that he might move to another franchise.
"Dan's instincts usually lead him to the
right decision," said Dolphins' President Eddie Jones. "I believe that
they did this time. He said that he would always be a Dolphin, and now, he
will."
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Throughout his career, Dan Marino, QB of the Miami Dolphins, has accomplished many great feats and surpassed many records. All of us DolFans know him as the greatest pure passer ever to play the game.
In a press conference held Monday morning by the Miami Dolphins, Dan Marino announced his retirement from the National Football League after 17 record setting seasons. Marino, age 38, decided to retire instead of accepting an offer from the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings had hoped he would decide to make one last run at a Super Bowl Championship.
"I can say I have been blessed with a career greater than I could imagine,'' Marino said from the Dolphins' practice facility.
Owner Wayne Huizenga embraced Marino after the press conference saying, "Just because you didn't win a Super Bowl doesn't mean you weren't a champion. Marino was also joined by his family and former head coach, Don Shula.
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