He was unquestionably the "thinking man's quarterback." Bob Griese, renowned for his poised leadership and ingenious play calling, sustained the Dolphin offense with a flair for winning from 1967-80.

The bespectacled quarterback becoame the 14th passer in the NFL's exclusive 25,000-yard club in 1980. On the same day he reached that milestone, he suffered a shoulder injury which ultimately forced his retirement on June 25, 1981. His number 12 jersey became the first to be retired May 6, 1982, in ceremonies at the Dolphins' annual awards banquet. In 1990, he was also voted the quarterback on the Dolphins' Silver Anniversary all-time team, and on November 19, 1990, he was enshrined on the Dolphin Honor Roll at Joe Robbie Stadium.

He had a .698 winning percentage (91-39-1) under Coach Don Shula. "Cornerstone of the franchise," Dolphin founder Joe Robbie called him. He was a consensus All-Pro quarterback in the 1971 and 1977, made six appearances in the Pro Bowl and was voted the teams Most Valuable Player six times by South Florida media.

Since becoming eligible for induciton into the Hall of Fame in 1985, Griese was named as a finalist all five years before being elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990.

"He's probably the most unselfish guy I've ever been around," Shula said. "He got as much of a thrill calling the right running play for a touchdown as he did connecting on a bomb. That's just his makeup."