In the NFL, player jersey numbers are determined by their position. Quarterbacks, for instance, can only select jersey numbers from 0-19. Defensive backs can only have jersey numbers lower than 50 and offensive linemen must have numbers between 50-79. Unlike the NHL and MLB, the NFL doesn’t retire jersey numbers leaguewide, but the majority of teams have retired numbers based on player performance. The San Francisco 49ers, for example, have 12 numbers retired, including No. 16 (Joe Montana), No. 8 (Steve Young), No. 37 (Jimmy Johnson), and No. 80 (Jerry Rice).
The Miami Dolphins, despite having played in the NFL since 1970 and being the only team to have a perfect 17-0 season (1972), have only retired the following three numbers: No. 12, No. 13, and No. 39. Jersey numbers 54 and 99, last worn by Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor in 2007 and 2011, respectively, appear to be unofficially retired. Miami also honors past greats in their Honor Roll, which has more than two dozen players and executives, including most recent addition, Tim Bowens, a defensive tackle inducted in October 2024.
Here’s a look at the only three players to have their jerseys retired by the Dolphins.
Bob Griese (No. 12)
Bob Griese’s No. 12 jersey was the first one to be retired by the Dolphins. Miami retired the former quarterback’s jersey at a ceremony during its annual awards banquet in 1982, just two years after he played his last game with the franchise. Griese was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame eight years later in 1990. He was also one of the first four players selected to the Dolphins Honor Roll that year.
Miami drafted Griese fourth overall in 1967 out of Purdue University. He made his first of eight Pro Bowl appearances as a rookie, throwing 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while leading the Dolphins to a 3-7 regular season record. Miami had losing seasons in each of Griese’s first three years, but had a winning percentage above .500 in nine of his next 10 seasons with the team. Griese steered the team to a 5-0 start as the quarterback during the Dolphins’ undefeated season in 1972 and started in the Super Bowl that season after recovering from an injury. He also led the team to a successful defense of its Super Bowl title in 1973, going 3-0 with two touchdowns and 266 yards passing.
Griese played his entire 14-year career in Miami and had 192 touchdowns, 172 interceptions, and 25,092 passing yards. He was an All-Pro in 1971 and 1977, finishing second in MVP voting in the latter season.
Dan Marino (No. 13)
Quarterback Dan Marino was only the second player in Dolphins history to wear No. 13 and will forever be the last. The team retired his number, also worn by Jake Scott from 1970-75, during halftime of a September 2000 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Marino, the franchise’s all-time passing leader (61,361 yards), never won a Super Bowl, but was one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history when he retired following the 1999 season. At that time, he was the all-time leader in passing yards, completions (4,967), touchdown passes (420), and game-winning drives (47).
Selected by the Dolphins 27th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, Marino had an impressive rookie season, earning his first of nine Pro Bowl appearances with 20 touchdowns, six interceptions, and 2,210 passing yards in 11 games. He won MVP the following season, setting a new NFL record for most passes in a single season (48). Marino also led all quarterbacks in touchdowns in 1985 (30) and 1986 (44).
Marino was a three-time All-Pro selection and also was the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) Comeback Player of the Year in 1994 and Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1998. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Larry Csonka (No. 39)
Unlike Marino and Griese, running back Larry Csonka had to wait several years after retirement to have his jersey retired. The Dolphins retired Csonka’s No. 39 jersey during halftime of a game against the Chicago Bears in December 2002, more than 20 years after he last played with the team. He is the only player in franchise history to wear No. 39, however.
Miami selected Csonka eighth overall in the 1968 NFL Draft out of Syracuse University. He played eight seasons with the team, earning five Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 1971, 1972, and 1973 and was a key part of the Dolphins’ Super Bowl-winning teams. Csonka played three seasons with the New York Giants from 1976-78, but retired as a member of the Dolphins following the 1979 season.
Csonka rushed for 6,737 yards and scored 53 rushing touchdowns in 106 career games with the Dolphins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.