Miami Dolphins Name 6 To Legendary Status

MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Six former Miami Dolphins have been given legendary status with their induction into the team's prestigious Walk of Fame, according to team officials. The newly minted all-time greats include safety Dick Anderson, wide receiver Mark Clayton, wide receiver Mark Duper, tackle Jon Giesler, linebacker John Offerdahl and defensive end/linebacker Jason Taylor.

"The six combined to earn 22 Pro Bowl selections, seven first-team All Pro nods, won seven AFC Championships and two Super Bowl titles," team officials said Tuesday in announcing the selections. "The group collectively played 61 seasons for the Dolphins, appearing in 828 games with 741 starts."

A ceremony will be held at the Walk of Fame outside the North Gate of Hard Rock Stadium prior to the team's Dec. 2 game against the Buffalo Bills. The honorees will also be welcomed onto the field at halftime.

Created in 2011, the Walk of Fame was established to recognize individuals who played significant roles in franchise history. The walkway is located at Joe Robbie Alumni Plaza and features a statue of Dolphins Founder Joe Robbie.

The six newest honorees become the 25th through 30th former Dolphins to earn a prestigious star on the walkway.

Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 marks the team's Alumni Weekend presented by Baptist Health South Florida. The proceeds from Alumni Weekend benefit the education impact area of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, according to team officials. On Friday, Nov. 30, the Dolphins will host an Alumni Weekend Golf Tournament presented by Waste Management at the Miami Beach Golf Club.

Festivities continue on Saturday, Dec. 1 with the Alumni Weekend Party presented by Verizon at Wynwood Walls with activities to include a live and silent auction. Click here for tickets.

Read more about each of the six new inductees below:

Dick Anderson was a three-time Pro Bowl safety (1972-74) and played in 10 seasons (1968-77) for the Dolphins. One of the leaders on the No Name Defense, he was a first-team All-Pro selection on the 1972 undefeated team. In 1973, Anderson led the league in interceptions (8) and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, assisting the Dolphins in winning their second straight Super Bowl. His 34 career interceptions are still second all-time in Dolphins history. Anderson was named to the Dolphins Honor Roll on Dec. 3, 2006, is a member of the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team and Dolphins’ 50th Season All-Time Team. Anderson was also enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Mark Clayton was a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver (1984-86, 1988, 1991) and played 10 seasons (1983-92) for the Dolphins. He saw action in 142 games with 127 starts during his Dolphins tenure and totaled 550 receptions for 8,643 yards (15.7 avg.) and 81 touchdowns. His 550 receptions and 81 receiving touchdowns are both franchise records that still stand today. Clayton set the NFL record (since eclipsed) with 18 receiving touchdowns in 1984. He also led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1988 (14). He was inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll on Dec. 15, 2003 and is a member of the team’s 50th Season All-Time Team.

Mark Duper played 11 seasons with the Dolphins (1982-92) and was a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver (1983-84, 1986). He totaled four 1,000-yard seasons (1983-84, 1986, 1991) and 22 100-yard efforts. He is the team’s all-time leader with 8,869 career receiving yards. His 511 receptions are second in team history while his 59 touchdown receptions are third. A downfield threat, Duper averaged 17.4 yards per reception throughout his career, the second-best mark in franchise annals and the sixth-highest in NFL history among receivers with 500-plus career catches. He was inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll on Dec. 15, 2003 and is a member of the team’s 50th Season All-Time Team.

Jon Giesler played 10 NFL seasons (1979-88), all with the Dolphins. He played in 126 career games with 105 starts, all at left tackle. As the anchor of Miami’s offensive line, Geisler helped the Dolphins lead or tie for the league lead in fewest sacks allowed in each of his final seven seasons (1982-88). He helped Miami win two AFC Championships (1982 and 1984) and protected the blind side of Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino for the first six years of Marino’s career. He was the team’s 1987 nominee for the Ed Block Courage Award and was selected by fans to the organization’s silver anniversary team.

John Offerdahl was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (1986-90) and the 1986 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after the Dolphins selected him in the second round (52nd overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft. Offerdahl earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1990. He was named to the Dolphins Honor Roll on Oct. 31, 2013 and is a member of the team’s 50th Season All-Time Team. Offerdahl was named the team’s Ed Block Courage Award nominee in 1993 and is a three-time recipient (1989-90, 1993) of the team’s Nat Moore Community Service Award.

Jason Taylor is a six-time Pro Bowl defensive end/linebacker (2000, 2002, 2004-07), three-time first-team All-Pro honoree (2000, 2002, 2006) and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played 13 seasons with the Dolphins (1997-2007, 2009, 2011) and is the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks (131). His 204 games played and 186 starts are second in team annals and he has the organization’s second-longest consecutive-games played streak when he appeared in 130 straight games from 1999 until 2007. Taylor was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2007 and is a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team. He was inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll on Oct. 14, 2012 and is a member of the team’s 50th Season All-Time Team.

Previous inductees to the Walk of Fame are: Class of 2014 – Jeff Cross, Sam Madison, Tony Nathan and Ed Newman; Class of 2013 – Kim Bokamper, O.J. McDuffie, Mercury Morris and Keith Sims; Class of 2012 – Tim Bowens, A.J. Duhe, Manny Fernandez, Nat Moore, Earl Morrall and Don Strock; Class of 2011 – Nick Buoniconti, Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Dan Marino, Joe Robbie, Don Shula, Dwight Stephenson and Paul Warfield.

Photos courtesy Miami Dolphins