The quarterback who bridged the gap between two Hall of Fame legends
In short: Before Dan Marino transformed the Miami Dolphins, David Woodley was the man under center. An eighth-round pick who rose to lead his team to a Super Bowl, Woodley’s career was defined by statistical anomalies and a historic transition between eras of NFL greatness.
Acting as a crucial link, David Woodley's time with the Miami Dolphins connected the Bob Griese era to Dan Marino's arrival. Even as an 1980 NFL draft eighth-round pick, Woodley found instant glory, winning the franchise's MVP during his debut year. He set a franchise record for rookie pass completions with 176, a mark that stood until 2012 when it was broken by Ryan Tannehill.
Woodley displayed impressive versatility; during 1982, he joined a rare group of NFL players to score touchdowns via passing, rushing, and receiving in one season. During that campaign, he guided the Dolphins to an American Football Conference championship and a Super Bowl XVII appearance. At the age of 24 years and three months, he held the record for the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. However, the game saw him benched in the fourth quarter after a difficult second half, with the Redskins winning 27–17.
His career is marked by a striking statistical paradox. Alongside Ken Stabler, Woodley remains one of just two NFL quarterbacks to keep a career winning percentage over .600 while recording at least 10 more interceptions than touchdowns. His career record stands at 34–18–1 (.651), despite throwing 63 interceptions against 48 career touchdown passes. After his time in Miami, he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers before his career ended in 1987.
Woodley's life after football was marked by health struggles. Following a liver transplant in March 1992, he passed away on May 4, 2003, from complications related to kidney and liver failure. At his passing, he was the youngest Super Bowl starting quarterback to die, a distinction held only by Steve McNair, who was murdered in 2009 at age 36.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: David Woodley
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-david-woodley.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
