Miami Dolphins At 50: Top 10 OLs

Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com.

No. 6 – Norm Evans

Selected by the Houston Oilers with the 106th overall pick in the 14th round of the 1965 AFL Draft, Norm Evans would be plucked away by the Dolphins in the 1966 Expansion Draft.

The choice would work out exceptionally well for Miami as Evans went on to start in 135 of 138 games. In fact, during Evans’ 10-year career with the Dolphins the right tackle would miss two games.

He has played the second most games of any offensive lineman in team history. That sort of longevity combined with the iron man status is unheard of and makes Evans one of the very best to hit the line.

Remember, Evans started out when the Dolphins were brand new and relatively awful. He contributed what he could to salvage those early days, but when Don Shula arrived Evans was just another recipient to the good times that followed.

Well into his streak of six seasons without missing a game, Evans earned Pro Bowl nominations in 1972 and 1974. He earned first team All-Conference honors by the Sporting News in 1974. He also received accolades in 1973 with a first team All-Conference selection by the AP and a second team All-Conference honor by UPI.

Evans was one of the inside bulls paving the way for the Perfect Backfield of Jim Kiick, Mercury Morris, and Larry Csonka. While those three players get the credit for their running prowess, none of that happens without Evans creating holes on the right side.

And holes he did make as the Dolphins led the NFL in rushing 1971 and 1972. Miami also achieved top five rushing status from 1970 to 1975.

Then he stuck around long enough to help pave the way for the offenses of 1982 and 1984.