Miami Dolphins At 50: Top 10 DLs
By Dan Heaning
Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com
No. 4 – Bill Stanfill
Bill Stanfill was the 11th overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft and the University of Georgia alum lived up to those expectations.
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It’s rare for a rookie to return an interception for a touchdown, it’s rarer for a rookie defensive end to do the same. So when Stanfill did it twice during his rookie campaign it was the equivalent of being struck by lightning while being eaten by shark.
From 1969 to 1974, Stanfill failed to appear in only two games and missed only four starts. During that time he would rack up 59 (unofficial) sacks and about 377 tackles.
In 1973, Stanfill was a wrecking ball. His 18.5 sacks helped to propel the team total to 45, an AFC high, and aided the “No Name Defense” in allowing only 150 points. They also limited opposing offenses to 3.7 yards per rush and 3.5 yards per pass that season.
Stanfill would start 95 of his 109 appearances, earn five Pro Bowl appearances, a First Team All-Pro honor, and racked up 67.5 unofficial sacks during his career. Oh yeah, and a few Super Bowls too.
Stanfill’s career would end inauspiciously as injuries would hamper his 1976 season as the team went 6-8 and missed the playoffs.