Bama in the NFL: Miami Dolphins Leading Linemen were both Crimson

Although the Miami Dolphins have had four high-profile first-round draft selections out of the Alabama Crimson Tide over the years, from Don McNeal to Minkah Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle of the Nick Saban era, the two players who have had the biggest impact with the franchise so far were a pair of lineman, both second-round picks near the end of the Paul "Bear" Bryant era.

It seems sort of fitting considering the franchise's history with the Crimson Tide coaches, being turned down by Bryant and Saban leaving South Florida to return to the college game in Tuscaloosa.  

The first, of course, was center Dwight Stephenson, who went from playing mostly special teams at first with the Dolphins to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It wasn’t until Mark Dennard was injured during the 11^th game of the 1981 regular season that he stepped in and played in 107 straight games, including 80 consecutive games until the 1987 players’ strike ended the streak. He earned both All-Pro and All-AFC recognition five straight years from 1983 to 1987, and was named the AFC or NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year in various major polls four times.

“Dwight Stephenson was the best center I ever coached,” Bryant said. “He was a man among children.”

Although a knee injury would cut his career short, Stephenson was selected for five straight Pro Bowl games, the first four as a starter (injuries prevented him from playing in the 1987 and 1988 games). He also started in Super Bowls XVII and XIX, and the 1982, 1984 and 1985 AFC Championship games.

In addition to his intensity and explosive charge off the snap, Stephenson was also known for his uncanny speed and ability quickly make powerful blocks after hiking the ball. He was the Dolphins’ offensive captain while anchoring the line in front of quarterback Dan Marino, which allowed the fewest quarterback sacks in the National Football League for six straight years.

“Dwight Stephenson was a bear,” former Dolphins defensive lineman Bob Baumhower, who also played for Alabama, once said. “He was the toughest guy I ever played against, and that made it so much easier for me on game day.”

Baumhower, the first Crimson Tide player the Dolphins ever drafted with the 40th-overall selection in 1977, helped formed the core of the “Killer Bees” defense.

The Dolphins’ defense led the National Football League in 1982, when Miami reached Super Bowl XVII, but Baumhower’s knees didn’t last much longer as he retired after the 1986 season. His professional accomplishments included being named to the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll and five Pro Bowls. 

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 20th story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.

AFC

• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Denver Broncos
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers

NFC

• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Dallas Cowboys
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Los Angeles Rams