Miami Dolphins: Power Ranking the 12 Greatest Linebackers in Franchise History
Slowly but surely, the Miami Dolphins linebacker corps is morphing into an elite unit; perhaps one of the league's best.
Cameron Wake is ravaging sack-master, Koa Misi promises to build off of a stellar rookie season, Karlos Dansby is one of the game's premier linebackers, and even Channing Crowder brings a veteran savvy and unrelenting swagger.
Here is a list of the 12 great 'backers in Dolphins history.
No. 12: Cameron Wake
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Sure, it's premature to say Cameron Wake is a Dolphin great. But based on his first two seasons in Miami, it's safe to say that he will only ascend towards the top of this list.
Prior to the 2009 season, Miami allocated some of their scouting resources across the boarder into the CFL where they stumbled across Wake, the league's most dominant player.
The Dolphins soon won a bidding war between a handful of other potential suitors, and Wake has since established himself as one of the league's best overall players, racking up 19.5 sacks in just two seasons.
No. 11: Larry Gordon
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Former Arizona State great Larry Gordon arrived in Miami just after their era of greatness in the early 1970s, but that did not prevent him from achieving greatness with the Dolphins.
Don Shula drafted Gordon in 1976 and immediately plugged the stocky linebacker into the starting lineup. Incredibly, Gordon would miss only two starts over the six seasons before retiring in 1982.
Although the NFL did not record tackles during his era, Gordon would have probably ranked amongst Miami's finest defenders on a statistical platform.
No. 10: Bob Matheson
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Four years after the Cleveland Browns selected Bob Matheson with their 1967 first round pick, the team deemed him a bust and shipped the linebacker off to Miami.
Although Matheson would never live up to his first round billing or even become a starter with the Dolphins, but he was an integral part of the No Name Defense, and was on the roster for all of the team's Super Bowl appearances.
Matheson did not become a full-time starter until 1975, and he enjoyed three very successful years in the starting rotation until his retirement in 1979.
No. 9: Bob Brudzinski
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Four years into a very productive career with the Los Angeles Rams, linebacker Bob Brudzinski was traded to the Dolphins in exchange for draft picks.
It's a trade the Rams may have soon regretted.
Brudzinski became a key component of the Dolphins' "Killer B's" defense. He started in both Super Bowl XVII and XIX.
Brudzinski played nine years with the Dolphins before retiring after the 1989 season.
No. 8: Mike Kolen
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Mike Kolen's name is often overshadowed by the likes of Anderson and Scott, but that is why he was a part of the "No Name" Defense.
Kolen started every game for the Dolphins' 1972 perfect season at linebacker, and maintained a primary role with the defense until his retirement after the 1977 season.
He is widely remembered for his infamous role in the "Sea of Hands" play during the 1974 playoffs that subsequently eliminated Miami from the playoffs; however, Kolen's career was spectacular nonetheless.
No. 7: Joey Porter
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Looking to provide an emotional and physical spark to his new team, recently hired head coach Cam Cameron and then-GM Randy Mueller signed Joey Porter to a massive five-year contract.
Porter, however, was a monumental bust during his first year in Miami.
But with the departure of Cameron and Mueller came the real arrival of Joey Porter. In the midst of the Dolphins' epic turnaround in 2008, Porter had 17.5 sacks, earning a Pro Bowl selection.
Porter was the emotional heartbeat of that team, and he quickly became a fan favorite and one of the faces of the franchise.
In 2009, age or a lack of desire caught up to Porter and his production cut in half. He totaled only nine sacks and appeared to have simply quit on the team. He was let go prior to the 2010 season.
No. 6: Kim Bokamper
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The Dolphins selected San Jose State linebacker Kim Bokamper with the 19th overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft. Bokamper started right away, and soon became a leader of Miami's "Killer B's" defenses of the 1980s.
Although Bokamper is rarely heralded as a star, he served the Dolphins admirably for the entirety of his nine year career, making starts in both Super Bowl XVII and XIX. He also earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1979.
Bokamper's legacy has been extended by his presence with the Dolphins as a radio and television personality.
No. 5: A.J. Duhe
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Looking to rebuild his 1970s championship defenses, Don Shula spent a 1977 first round draft pick on LSU linebacker A.J. Duhe.
Duhe was named 1977 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year while playing defensive end.
Eventually, the Dolphins moved back to linebacker where he enjoyed equal success—most notably intercepting three passes during the second half of the 1982 AFC Championship.
He earned his only Pro Bowl bid in 1984, the final season of his career.
No. 4: Bryan Cox
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Bryan Cox's outspoken and zany character eventually led him to become a journeyman during his NFL career. But before Cox began swapping jerseys so often, he was a sack and tackle machine for the Dolphins.
Miami drafted Cox in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft, placing him in the starting lineup immediately. Cox had a lackluster rookie campaign, but he burst onto the national scene in 1992 with 14 sacks and 127 tackles, good enough for a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro bid.
He went onto to enjoy three more very fruitful years with the 'Fins (two of which were Pro Bowl seasons), but Cox bolted for Chicago after the 1995 season.
For some reason, his production plummeted after he left Miami, and Cox never again amassed more than 70 tackles.
No. 3: John Offerdahl
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Most south Florida residents connect the name "Offerdahl" with the popular restaurant chain before they connect it with a once dominant Dolphins linebacker.
John Offerdahl was selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 1986 Draft, and he wasted no time in making his presence felt league wide.
The linebacker was voted into five straight Pro Bowls staring with his rookie season in '86, and earned a First Team All-Pro selection in 1990.
No. 2: Nick Buoniconti
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New England Patriots fans might remember Nick Buoniconti for his domineering days with the Boston Patriots in the 1960s, but Miami Dolphins fans remember him for anchoring the No Name Defense of the 1970s.
Buoniconti is the only member of the No Name Defense to be enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame.He was elected to six AFL All-Star games, two Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pro rosters.
In 1973, Buoniconti recorded an unofficial 162 tackles—a number that would easily stand as a franchise record.
No. 1: Zach Thomas
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Considering he is only one year into his retirement, Zach Thomas' legacy with the Dolphins is far from cemented. Canton probably won't carve a bust for him, but Thomas' longevity, impact and production with the Dolphins is almost unparalleled.
Thomas was a diamond in the rough, selected in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He racked up a career high 120 tackles in his rookie season, quickly establishing himself as an elite player.
The undersized linebacker went on to earn five First Team All-Pro selections, two Second Team All-Pro selections, seven Pro Bowl selections and a spot on the NFL 2000s All Decade Team. His record 1,041 career tackles with the team will remain intact for a very, very long time.
Thomas is truly everything a franchise desires from a player. He was an absolute class act and will always be remembered as so.
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