Miami Dolphins At 50: Top 10 DLs

Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com

No. 5 – Tim Bowens

No defensive tackle in Miami Dolphins history has played more games than Tim Bowens and only two defensive ends have topped Bowens’ 157 games.

To boot, Bowens started all but two of those contests and missed a grand total of two games between his rookie campaign in 1994 to 2002. If you were to include 2003, he only missed five games.

Selected with the 20th overall pick in 1994, Bowens earned the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award after a 52-tackle, three-sack season that also included two forced fumbles and one recovery.

Bowens was one of the few players to survive the rampant turnover after the coaching change from Don Shula to Jimmy Johnson in 1996. Though he was switched over to the right defensive tackle spot in Johnson’s first year, but he would return to the left side and stay there for the remainder of his career.

While Bowens was a given to be in the line-up throughout his career, his last season saw him only start and play in two games.

Shockingly, Bowens only earned two Pro Bowl nods, one in 1998 and the other in 2002.

Bowens completed his career as a Miami Dolphin with 407 tackles, 22 sacks, one pick, nine forced fumbles, five recoveries, and one fumble returned for a touchdown.

Bowens was the anchor for the Jimmy Johnson era defense, the model of consistency, longevity, and the constant warrior. This can be attested to the fact he did all this on three toes in his left foot after a lawn mower accident in school.