Dolphins' Marino Calls It Quits

Dan Marino, the NFL's most prolific passer, retired today after 17 years as quarterback of the Miami Dolphins.

"I'm going to miss it," Marino said, struggling to compose himself. "I'm going to miss everything about it."

Marino, 38, wanted to go out like John Elway and retire as a Super Bowl champion. But after parting ways with the Dolphins, he reluctantly rejected an offer to play this year for the Minnesota Vikings.

"I can say I have been blessed with a career greater than I could imagine," Marino said at a news conference at the Dolphins' training facility. "Most of all I am going to miss Sunday afternoons."

Marino's wife, children, parents and former coach Don Shula were with him in the team meeting room the same location used for the departure speeches by Shula and another former coach, Jimmy Johnson.

Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga hugged Marino after his announcement.

"Just because you didn't win a Super Bowl doesn't mean that you are not a champion, because we all know it otherwise," Huizenga said.

The owner also announced that the Dolphins would retire No. 13, as well as build a statue to Marino and name a street for him.

Marino departs owning or being tied for most of the league's passing records. During his career, he completed 4,967 passes for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns, all NFL records. In 1984, his second season, Marino threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns, both still league records.

Marino's decision follows Johnson's retirement Jan. 16. Marino clashed frequently last season with Johnson, who criticized his quarterback for poor decisions and costly turnovers.

Their final bid to win a Super Bowl together ended with a 62-7 playoff loss at Jacksonville, the most lopsided defeat in franchise history. Johnson retired the next day and was succeeded by Dave Wannstedt, who repeatedly refused to say whether he wanted Marino back.

Marino voided his contract in February and became a free agent.

And when the Dolphins signed free agent quarterback Jay Fiedler to a three-year, $3.8 million contract, it was clear Marino had played his last game in Miami.

At the time, Marino said he wasn't insulted by the way the Dolphins treated him after the season.

"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life," he said. "That will never change."

Friends said Marino turned down the opportunity to play for the Vikings because of his bad knees, his loyalty to the Dolphins and his unwillingness to be separated from his wife and five children for an extended time.

Viings coach Dennis Green thought Marino could have extended his career as well as his passing numbers.

"He still in my opinion has the capability to play," Vikings coach Dennis Green said. "I'm happy we offered him an opportunity. He had a choice clear-cut. He made the decision, and I've got the utmost respect and best wishes for him."

Marino's only Super Bowl appearance in his second year in the NFL ended in a disappointing 38-16 loss to San Francisco. Marino spent the next 15 years trying unsuccessfully to return to the title game, and he is widely considered the greatest quarterback never to win an NFL championship.

To some, that's faint praise.

"Dan Marino will go down as the greatest player in the history of the game," former NFL coach Mike Ditka once said.

Injuries took a toll in recent seasons, and Marino's play declined sharply in 1999. He threw 12 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions, by far the worst ratio of his career, and his quarterback rating of 67.4 ranked 30th in the league.

A neck injury sidelined Marino for five games and hindered his arm strength after he returned. He won only two games after Oct. 10, and the Dolphins lost five of seven games after he rejoined the lineup.

Marino was the last active member of the quarterback class of 1983, which also included John Elway, Jim Kelly, Ken O'Brien, Todd Blackledge and Tony Eason. All were drafted before Miami coach Don Shula took Marino with the 27th pick in the first round.

"Now that he's retiring, he'll become a young man again," former Miami quarterback Bob Griese said, "because he's 38, and 38 is damned young."

©2000 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed