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Dan Marino was the quintessential quarterback of his generation.
Marino — known as arguably the best pocket passer of all time — set records during his 17-season NFL career, once holding the all-time touchdowns mark, passing yardage record, and completions. While those have been broken in the 25 years since Marino retired, the former Miami Dolphins great is still considered one of the very best quarterbacks of all time.
The 6-foot-4 two-sport athlete — he was a highly-ranked baseball prospect in Pennsylvania and went undefeated as a pitcher — led the Dolphins to playoff appearances in 10 of his 17 seasons, including winning NFL MVP in his second year while leading Miami to a Super Bowl appearance.
In other words, when Marino talks quarterbacks, you take notice. The 64-year-old Hall of Fame quarterback notices a number of quality quarterbacks in the game today, specifically mentioning the likes of Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
“Well, to play that position, you gotta play at a high level, especially in the NFL,” Marino told PokerScout in an exclusive interview. “With Tua (Tagovailoa), Josh Allen, those guys came up around the same time. Mahomes is a special player, he has been a special player, but he’s already won. He’s got a chance to win every game he’s in. But when you look at quarterbacks in general around the league, they’re all playing at a pretty high level, because it’s tough. It’s a tough job.”
Marino acknowledges that the game is played drastically differently now compared to when he played in the 80s and 90s. During his time, John Elway and Steve Young were known as the mobile dual-threat quarterbacks.
Fast forward to now, and their mobility would probably be considered standard among the quarterbacks of today.
“I didn’t have the mobility some of these guys have now,” said Marino. “I mean, I was able to make people miss a little bit. But running the ball down the field was not my best thing. I don’t know if I really relate from that standpoint, from 25 years ago, 30 years ago to now. But there’s the guys that you do have to respect that run with it. And the way Josh Allen runs the football is pretty amazing.”
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Marino Names Three Quarterbacks He Wants to See Win Their First Super Bowl
Marino knows all about how difficult it is to win a Super Bowl. Despite playing in a Super Bowl in his second season, the greatest quarterback in Dolphins franchise history was never able to make it back.
There are a number of great quarterbacks that fit that mold in today’s era with Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, to name a few. All happen to play in the AFC where they’ve failed to win one up until this point in large part due to the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominance.
The Chiefs have been the superpower of the AFC since 2019, representing the conference in the big game every year except for one season.
With the Chiefs dropping their most recent game to the Houston Texans and now sitting at 6-7, their playoff hopes are now slim, and they’re two games out of a playoff spot. That means it’s a wide-open race in the AFC for the first time in years.
“The AFC, I would say it’s kind of wide open right now,” said Marino. “Josh Allen is one that everybody’s been talking about having an opportunity to win the Super Bowl. I would love to see our guy, Tua, win the Super Bowl, too. Lamar too, he’s a local kid from Fort Lauderdale. I would love at some point to see him win a championship.”
Marino on Aaron Rodgers: ‘Hopefully He Continues to Play’
Marino is obviously a Pittsburgh native, having been born there, attending high school, and playing college ball there. He was once actually offered to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers after retiring in 2000, but decided instead to remain retired.
The current Steelers are in solid shape right now with 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers leading the way. They’re currently trying to hold off the Baltimore Ravens — they defeated them in Week 14 — to win the division and clinch a playoff spot for the third consecutive season.
It also just so happens that the Steelers will host the Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 15, with both teams trying to remain in position to clinch a playoff in a competitive AFC.
While Rodgers hasn’t definitively stated that this is his last season, he said before the season started that he’s “pretty sure” the 2025 season will be it. He signed a one-year deal with the Steelers.
He’s had a strong season so far, especially for a quarterback in his 21st season. Rodgers has 20 touchdowns against seven interceptions for a 96.2 passer rating this season, ranking 12th in the NFL in the latter category. If he’s able to lead the Steelers to a playoff appearance and a win in the postseason for the first time in nine years, that would be the perfect way to go out.
While Marino doesn’t regularly communicate with Rodgers, he says they’ve had run-ins at golf tournaments, and he’s interviewed the future Hall of Fame quarterback before when he was working for CBS Sports.
“I’ve met him a few times, but never really had dinner or other things,” Marino said of Rodgers. “We played golf one time years ago when he first got in the league out in Lake Tahoe when they had the celebrity event. Other than that, just some interviews I did with CBS, but he has been an incredible player. He throws it as good as anybody ever has in the league, and hopefully he continues to play.
“Because it’s in your heart, it’s in your soul, your mind,” Marino continues. “You want to do it. He’s been doing it at a high level for a very long time. Hopefully, he can continue to do that.”
When asked what is his legacy, or what is Rodgers’ best trait in his opinion, Marino says it’s his arm. He also mentions what a “competitor” the four-time MVP has always been.
“His arm, his ability to make all the throws,” said Marino of Rodgers. “The velocity he has on the ball, the location, all those things. Plus, he’s been a mobile quarterback. He makes things happen with his legs, all those things. He’s a competitor. The big thing, we talk about all the quarterbacks, the ones current or past and you got to have guys that want to compete and want to win in the worst way.
“Big-time competitor, playing the way he’s played,” Marino continued to say. “Like I said, his arm talent. The way he’s played the game in that position has been special.”
