Manny Fernandez became part of the Miami Dolphins organization in 1968, having not been selected in the draft. After an eight-year tenure, he departed the team as an iconic figure.
The team confirmed on Tuesday the passing of Fernandez, who was 79 years old and had been honored with induction into the team’s ring of honor in 2014.
His outstanding performance as a nose tackle distinguished Fernandez, earning him recognition with MVP votes further down the ballot during the 1970 NFL campaign. This particular season represented a breakthrough for the Dolphins, initiating a streak of five consecutive playoff qualifications for the organization.
The team’s fortunes continued to improve following the 1970 season. Despite an initial playoff defeat that year, the Dolphins advanced to the Super Bowl the subsequent season, ultimately falling to the Dallas Cowboys.
During 1972, Fernandez, along with the Dolphins, achieved an unprecedented feat by completing an undefeated season through both the regular schedule and the postseason, culminating in a Super Bowl victory. His display in that championship game, a 14-7 triumph against Washington, garnered significant commendation, with some observers advocating for him to be designated MVP, having been credited with 17 stops.
The Dolphins maintained a comparable level of success the subsequent season. Although they did not replicate their undefeated record, the team secured another Super Bowl championship. Fernandez was recognized for recording sacks in each of the team’s two Super Bowl triumphs.
Throughout his professional football career spanning eight years, Fernandez accumulated an estimated 35 sacks; however, these statistics are considered unofficial, given that the NFL officially began tracking sacks only from 1982 onward.
Following his active playing days, Fernandez’s esteemed reputation in football persistently expanded. In 2007, he was selected for the Dolphins’ All-Time roster and has been featured on multiple All-Super Bowl squads.
Frank Schwab, writing for Yahoo Sports in 2015, ranked Fernandez as the tenth most outstanding performer in Super Bowl history.
Although the entirety of the 1972 Dolphins roster was enshrined in the team’s ring of honor — referred to as the honor roll — Fernandez stands among a select group of players from that squad to receive individual acknowledgment on the team’s ring of honor.
In their official announcement on Tuesday, the Dolphins characterized Fernandez as “among the premier athletes in the franchise’s history.”
