:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14152135/20120716_mse_se1_322.0.jpg)
We move on to day eight in our countdown of the top numbers in Miami Dolphins history. Today, we take a look at the third ranked number in team history.
Our third best number for the Dolphins' franchise is first number on our countdown that has been retired. It's also a Hall of Fame number for the Dolphins. Our third ranked number is the 12.
Only one person has ever worn the 12 for the Dolphins, quarterback Bob Griese. Over a 14 year career, Griese would lead the Dolphins to two Super Bowl Championships, along with an AFC Championship. He ended his career with a 92-56-3 record, a 61% winning rate.
Griese was drafted in the first round, with the fourth overall selection, in the 1967 Draft.He would start 10 games as a rookie, while appearing in the other two, throwing for 2,005 yards with 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, along with a 50.2% completion rate, and a 61.6 passer rating, earning the first of his two AFL All Star berths.
He would go on to earn another AFL All Star Game appearance in 1968, then six Pro Bowl berths (1970-1971, 1973-1974, 177-1978), as well as being a First Team All Pro selection after the 1971 and 1977 seasons. Over his career, Griese would thrown 3429 passes, with 1,926 completions (56.2%), for 25,092 yards. He recorded 192 passing touchdowns, with 172 interceptions, and a career 77.1 passer rating.
He also ran 261 times for 994 yards, with 7 rushing touchdowns.
Griese is best remembered for winning Super Bowls VII and VIII. The Griese led Dolphins had also appeared in Super Bowl VI, making the 1971-1973 seasons the first three consecutive appearances in Suepr Bowls by any team in NFL history.
Griese missed most of the 1972 Undefeated Season with a broken ankle, but returned in the second half of the AFC Championship Game and started the Super Bowl, sparking the team in wins in both cases.
He retired after the 1980 season, despite winning his starting job back from rookie David Woodley and Don Strock midseason, following an shoulder injury.
Following his retirement as a player, the Dolphisn retired the number 12. Griese was also in the first group of players inducted into the Dolphins' Ring of Honor on November 19, 1990.
Griese was a finalist for the Hall of Fame in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989 before finally being inducted in 1990.