Miami Dolphins announce Ring of Honor member Manny Fernandez has passed away at age 79
One of the staples of the Miami Dolphins’ ‘No Name Defense’ has passed away.
The lore of the Miami Dolphins‘ franchise is rich in the 1970s.
Those early Don Shula led teams were notorious for toughness, grit, and discipline. Heck, even the nickname of their starring defense was the ‘No Name Defense’. No need for flash with that group. One of those hallmark defenders from the era has sadly passed away. The Miami Dolphins announced that Ring of Honor member Manny Fernandez has passed at the age of 79.
Miami Dolphins announce Ring of Honor member Manny Fernandez has passed away at age 79
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Manny Fernandez, a member of the 1972 Perfect Team, a two-time Super Bowl champion, Ring of Honor member and an anchor of the Dolphins’ legendary No-Name Defense. His consistent and selfless contributions on the field were instrumental to the Dolphins’ success throughout the 1970s, particularly in the team’s three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, in which he produced some of the most memorable defensive performances in the history of the game. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones and teammates as we remember one of the best players in Dolphins history.”
— The Miami Dolphins official statement
Fernandez went undrafted out of Utah in 1968 and latched on with the Dolphins. He played his entire career with the franchise. Fernandez logged a sack in each of his three appearances in the Super Bowl. That is, somehow, not his most impressive Super Bowl stat. Fernandez was credited with an incredible 17 total tackles in Super Bowl VII. He was inducted into the Miami Dolphins’ Honor Roll in 2014. He ranks third all-time in team history for postseason sacks (5.5) and 12th all-time for total sacks (35.0) despite his thankless role in the middle of the line.
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