Former Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Fernandez has died, per a team announcement made on Tuesday. He was 79.
Fernandez played a complete of eight seasons (1968-75), starting his profession when Miami was within the AFL. On the onset of the post-merger period, the previous undrafted free agent was instrumental within the Dolphins’ success. That included key roles leading as much as and in the course of the team’s three consecutive Super Bowl appearances early within the Nineteen Seventies.
A full-time starter for many of his profession – which was spent exclusively in Miami – Fernandez enjoyed productive showings within the regular season. He’s, nonetheless, best remembered for his output in the course of the playoffs and in Miami’s Super Bowls. Fernandez is officially credited with 4.5 profession postseason sacks, and his performance in Super Bowl LVII was critical in cementing Miami’s perfect campaign in 1972. To today, that is still the one undefeated regular and postseason in NFL history.
Miami went on to win the next Super Bowl and further cement the legacy of head coach Don Shula and the core players who led the strategy to that sustained success. Fernandez was definitely amongst that group, totaling at the least 4 sacks in each of his first six seasons. His profession took place before tackles became an official statistic, however the Utah product served as a key figure against the run along with his work as a pass rushing presence.
Every member of the ’72 team was ultimately inducted into the Dolphins’ Ring of Honor. Fernandez’s accolades – which included a top-10 finish in MVP voting in 1970 – made him considered one of the players honored again on a person basis, though. That took place in 2014, further highlighting his significance to the Dolphins and to the ‘No-Name’ defense which he played a central role in across the course of his decorated profession.