A first-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, Marino became an instant NFL sensation, setting the standard for quarterback excellence. He became the only rookie quarterback ever to start in the Pro Bowl (1983) and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in his second season (1984). The nine-time Pro Bowler (1983-87, 1991-92, 1994-95) played in 18 playoff games and led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in 1985 against San Francisco.

Dan won the Dolphins' MVP Award 12 times, and the team has since named the award after him. In the 1984 season alone, he completed an incredible 48 touchdown passes and had the most prolific season by a passer in NFL history, with 5,084 yards.

Upon retirement, Dan held 25 NFL regular-season quarterback records and was tied for five others, quarterbacked Miami for 17 years, positioning the Dolphins as perennial championship contenders throughout his career. One of three players ever to do so, he twice won the Dolphins' Community Service Award (1996 and 1998), and was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1998. Dan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2005 and in 2010 he was ranked number 25 on the NFL's Top 100 Greatest Players list.

Dan Marino continued to stay close to the game and joined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for the CBS Television Network's NFL pre-game show, The NFL Today for 12 years. Along with CBS Dan has developed equity partnerships in numerous business ventures including Nutrisystem, 3Cinteractive, Anthonys Coal Fired Pizza, Modernizing Medicine, ZiNG Sock Club and Universal Insurance to just to name a few. Upon reaching the milestone, Dan joined AARP as the Men’s Life Ambassador in 2012. Dan currently is an Executive Advisor to the Owner and CEO of the Miami Dolphins.

Dan attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played football and earned a degree in communications. In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate degree in broadcast journalism from his Alma Mater.

Inspired by experiences in raising his second son, Michael who has autism, Dan and his wife Claire became one of the first families to advocate for children with autism. Founding The Dan Marino Foundation in 1992, they have raised over $45 million to provide services and fund first of their kind initiatives including the Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center, the Marino Autism Research Institute, the DMF Jobs Development Program and the Marino College. The Marino Campus provides an inclusive, supportive and welcoming atmosphere where young adults can experience success, learn vital life skills and most importantly, gain independence.