Phins At 50: Top 10 Backs

No. 5 – Tony Nathan

If you want to talk all-purpose yards. Then you want to talk Tony Nathan.

Nathan is sixth all-time in rushing yards, eighth in career receiving yards, and 16th in kick returns. Put them all together and you get 8,752 all-purpose yards.

That kind of yardage would put Nathan in between Mark Duper and Mark Clayton‘s receiving yards.

Nathan played nine season with the Dolphins from 1979 to 1987. During that time he played with Bob Griese, Don Strock, Dave Woodley and Dan Marino and he was productive for every single one of them.

One of Nathan’s best games came in the 1981 playoffs against the San Diego Chargers. Nathan’s longest rush of the day put the Dolphins up 38-31 and he caught 19 passes for 114 yards to lead Miami in receiving.

He never produced a 1,000 yard rushing season, but produced four 1,000 yard rushing and receiving seasons. In his rookie campaign, he returned 45 kicks for 1,015 yards and earned a First Team All-Pro selection.

Nathan may not get the accolades of a Duper or Clayton, but his production overall is comparable to theirs easily making him a top five back for the franchise.