CONTACTS: HARVEY GREENE/NEAL
GULKIS/SETH LEVIT
PHONE: (954) 452-7010
MIAMI – Former Dolphins and Hall of Fame Head Coach Don Shula, former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly will highlight the Miami Dolphins public tribute to Dan Marino, which will be held on Wednesday, August 23, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Pro Player Stadium.
Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, drafted Marino in 1983 and served as his Head Coach through 1995. He was one of the most influential people in Marino‘s 17-year professional career. The Dolphins posted 116 regular season victories with Shula as Head Coach and Marino as the starting quarterback, and 122 wins overall, including playoffs. The 116 wins are the most of any head coach-quarterback combination in NFL history. In addition, the 13 seasons that Shula and Marino served together are tied for the second-longest tenure for a head coach-quarterback tandem in league history, along with Dallas’ Tom Landry and Danny White (1976-88). They trail only Pittsburgh’s Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw, who were together for 14 years, from 1970-83.
Elway, Kelly and Marino all entered the NFL the same year, in 1983. The trio proved to be three of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history, with each having compiled at least 100 regular season victories as a starter. Elway (148) and Marino (147) are the two winningest starting quarterbacks in league annals, respectively. In addition, all three threw for at least 200 touchdowns in their careers, while Marino and Elway are two of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to reach the 300 mark.
This celebration of Marino’s 17-year Dolphins career also will feature a performance by Hootie & the Blowfish, as well as special guest appearances by many of Marino’s other friends in athletics and entertainment. NFL Films will produce a special tribute video highlighting Marino’s career which will be custom-made for the event. In addition, all fans will receive a special, one-of-a-kind commemorative Dan Marino poster that night, available only to those in attendance. A gala fireworks display will conclude the night’s festivities.