The following is the transcript of Dan Marino's retirement speech at the Miami Dolphins headquarters in Davie, Fla.:
|  | | Dan Marino gives wife Claire a kiss after his retirement press conference. |
After 17 years, I would like to announce my retirement from the Miami Dolphins. After playing the game of football for most of my life, this was an extremely difficult decision. But I know that I have made the right decision for me and my family. I'm very proud of the success that we have had as a team for 17 years as well as all my individual accomplishments.
Not many people have the opportunity to spend 17 years of their life doing what they truly love to do. I stand here before you today ... I can say that I have been blessed with a career greater than I could have ever imagined. I'm extremely proud of the fact that I was able to play 17 years for the Miami Dolphins. And I'm going to miss it. I'm going to miss everything about it. I'm going to miss the relationships with the players. I'm going to miss the fans. I'm going to miss the great friends that I've made over this time. I'm going to miss all the good times that we've had together. But most of all, I'm going to miss Sunday afternoons.
There are not many situations in life that can compare to the emotions, the competition and the preparation that go into a football game. And it is a great game.
I've been blessed over the years. I have a great family and support from them, and today they are here. My mother and dad are here. I want to thank them for everything over the years, the support they have given me, and especially because through my whole career and ever since I've been a little boy, they've been able to watch every game that I've played. Not many guys can say that.
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Coach (Shula), not only have you been a
tremendous impact on my career but you have
taught me how to be a true professional. And I'm
very proud of the fact that we were able to win
more games than any other coach/quarterback
combination in the history of
football. ” |
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To my dad: He's the best coach that I've ever had. Thank you both.
To my wife Claire: We've been through this 16 years together. We've had a lot of ups and downs but we've accomplished a lot of things. You've always been by my side. You're an incredible mother and you're my best friend. Thanks.
And we have five fabulous children. Michael, Dano, Joey -- Joey's just smiling, huh Joe? This is not easy, Joe (laughs) -- and Ally and Niki. I was always hopeful that I would play long enough for them to see me play the game that I love. And they were able to do that and I hope that they always have fabulous memories of me being a Miami Dolphin. Thanks guys.
There are so many people that I would like to thank, starting with the Robbie family. I want to thank the late Joe Robbie and his son Tim for giving me the opportunity to play here. And a special thanks to the Huizenga family -- Wayne and Marty, you've always been very supportive. It was an honor to have been a part of your football team, but most importantly, I want to thank you for your friendship.
And I am honored that coach Shula is here today. Coach, not only have you been a tremendous impact on my career but you have taught me how to be a true professional. And I'm very proud of the fact that we were able to win more games than any other coach/quarterback combination in the history of football.
I thank all the coaches that I have worked with over the years. And all the great players. To the Dolphins staff, the people that are in the building here that you see here each and every day, to our team president Eddie Jones, thank you. To the guys that work and help the players in what they're doing each and every day -- the equipment staff: Tony Egues, Charlie (Thiele), Joe (Cimino) -- guys that are important to the players. A guy that's not here anymore is Bobby Monica; he's a friend. The trainers -- guys that take care of me, get me in shape, try to make me the player that I am -- Ryan Vermillion, Troy Maurer, Brad Roll that's here and John Gamble, thank you. And the public relations staff. Harvey Greene has been great -- 11 years I've worked with Harvey. Fudge Browne and the community relations -- thank you, Fudge. There's one person that's kind of unique -- our video man, Dave Hack. He's the only person who's seen every touchdown pass that I've ever thrown. I thought that was kind of neat.
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But
there will always be a special place in my heart
for Duper and Clayton. They caught more
touchdown passes than anybody that I've ever
played with. As they have always said, they made
me look good. They made me a
star. ” |
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I've played with so many different players over the years. I've thrown touchdown passes to 20, or 51 different players. But there are some special players in my career that I would like to acknowledge. When I started out here with the Miami Dolphins, I had a great group of receivers. Mark Duper and Mark Clayton, Nat Moore, Jim Jensen, Jimmy Cefalo. But there will always be a special place in my heart for Duper and Clayton. They caught more touchdown passes than anybody that I've ever played with. As they have always said, they made me look good. They made me a star.
Don Strock, thanks for helping me when I was a young quarterback. Thanks to Dwight Stephenson, who was the most incredible leader on the field. He's a Hall of Fame player as well as a Hall of Fame person. Thank you, Dwight.
More recently to Richmond Webb, who was on my left side and taken care of me for so many years. And to probably the toughest football player I ever played with, O.J. McDuffie -- I thank all of you guys. You made life easy for me.
Some special friends are here. Marvin Demoff -- we've been through a lot this past month. I want to thank Marv for coming from Los Angeles. Another person, Ralph Stringer, who's helped me a lot in my community work here. I want to thank him. I want to thank the members of the media for covering me throughout my career and supporting a lot of the things that I do charitable-wise. I have some close friends that have done a lot of work with me, and I appreciate that.
And finally, to the Dolphin fans. It has been an honor to play here in front of great and supportive fans. Together, we have shared many memories. I feel that I have always had a special relationship with Dolphin fans everywhere. I thank you for being behind me throughout my career. I hope you've enjoyed these 17 years as much as I have.
I want to thank everybody in the organization, all the players that I've ever played with and my family and for the media coming out here today. It's been great. Thank you very much.
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Dan Marino retrospective
VIDEO
  Dan Marino announces his retirement from the Miami Dolphins. RealVideo: 28.8 Hank Goldberg with analysis on Dan Marino's decision. avi: 1558 kRealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1  Wayne Huizenga wants to keep the Marino legacy alive for Dolphins fans. wav: 168 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 |
