Miami Dolphins at 50: Top 10 LBs

Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com

No. 4 – A.J. Duhe

Something that isn’t exactly common, but seems to be prevalent with great Miami Dolphins defensive players is their ability to play multiple positions.

Case in point, A.J. Duhe was drafted as a defensive lineman in the 1977 NFL Draft with the 13th pick, and in his first two seasons as a Dolphin he played that position as well. However, in an injury plagued 1979 season, Duhe made the jump from DE to linebacker and he never looked back.

Duhe missed only one game and two starts in his first four seasons at the linebacking position. He would earn his first and only Pro Bowl in 1984. During that season, Duhe recorded about 52 tackles and two sacks while appearing in 12 games and starting in eight.

He excelled in the playoffs as well. In the 1982 Super Bowl run, he recorded three sacks in the AFC’s first two rounds then picked off New York Jets quarterback Richard Todd three times. He returned one for a touchdown and en route to a 14-0 victory over their bitter rival and stamped their ticket to Super Bowl XXVII.

Duhe put together 486 tackles, 37.5 sacks, three interceptions, and six fumble recoveries. He started 89 of his 108 appearances which makes him the sixth most tenured linebacker in team history.