No. 31 | |||||||
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Position: | Safety | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Gainesville, Florida, U.S. | January 2, 1959||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 192 lb (87 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Buchholz (Gainesville) | ||||||
College: | Miami (FL) | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1982 / Round: 5 / Pick: 112 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Fred Donald Marion (born January 2, 1959), is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 10 seasons with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Marion played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and was recognized as an All-American. [1] [2] Playing with New England, he was named to the Pro Bowl in 1985.
Marion was born in Gainesville, Florida.
He attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where he played for the Hurricanes from 1978 to 1981. As a senior in 1981, he was a consensus first-team All-American.
The New England Patriots selected Marion in the fifth round (112th pick overall) of the 1982 NFL draft, and he played for Patriots from 1982 to 1991. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1985 when he intercepted seven passes for 189 return yards, helping the Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance versus the Chicago Bears.
His only career touchdown came in 1986 against Pittsburgh. He intercepted Bubby Brister and ran back a 37-yard score. [3]
Marion is the younger brother of former New York Giants linebacker, Frank Marion. [4]
Super Bowl XX was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Chicago Bears and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1985 season. The Bears defeated the Patriots by the score of 46–10, capturing their first NFL championship since 1963, three years prior to the birth of the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XX was played on January 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
David Eugene Woodley was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins (1980–1983), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (1984–1985). He played college football for the LSU Tigers.
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2004 season. The Patriots defeated the Eagles by the score of 24–21. The game was played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, the first time the Super Bowl was played in that city.
Frederick Biletnikoff, nicknamed "Scarecrow", is an American former football player and coach. He played as a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons and later was an assistant coach with the team. He retired as an NFL player after the 1978 season, and then played one additional season in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes in 1980. While he lacked the breakaway speed to be a deep-play threat, Biletnikoff was one of the most sure-handed and consistent receivers of his day, with a propensity for making spectacular catches. He was also known for running smooth, precise pass routes. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988) and College Football Hall of Fame (1991).
Edward Earl Reed Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL), spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he played on Miami's 2001 national championship team and was named a unanimous All-American. He was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft and played 11 seasons with them before playing with the Houston Texans and New York Jets in 2013.
John Gary Fencik is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Yale Bulldogs and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the tenth round of the 1976 NFL draft. He was a once first-team All-Pro and twice Pro Bowl selection. Fencik is the Bears all-time leader in interceptions and total tackles. He was also part of the 1985 Bears team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl title in the Super Bowl XX.
Vincent Frank Testaverde Sr. is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons. He played college football at the University of Miami, where he earned consensus All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 1986.
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former professional football player. He played as a fullback and tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets. He was selected in the first round by the Eagles in the 1986 NFL draft. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Charles Carroll "Tony" Eason IV is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. Taken 15th overall by the Patriots in the 1983 NFL Draft, he was one of the six quarterbacks selected during the first round. Eason served as New England's primary starter from 1984 to 1986, where he helped the team make their Super Bowl debut in Super Bowl XX. Competing as the starter with Steve Grogan throughout his Patriots tenure, Eason was released during the 1989 season. He spent his final two seasons as a backup with the New York Jets.
David Russell Duerson was an American professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Bears. As a member of the Bears, he was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls from 1985 to 1988 and was part of the 1985 defense that won the franchise's first Super Bowl in Super Bowl XX. He also played for the New York Giants and Phoenix Cardinals, winning Super Bowl XXV with the former.
Wilber Buddyhia Marshall is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for five teams from 1984 until 1995. Marshall played college football for the Florida Gators, was twice recognized as a consensus All-American, and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kenneth John O'Brien Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. One of the six quarterbacks in the famed quarterback class of 1983, O'Brien was the first quarterback in the franchise history of the Jets to finish with the highest passer rating in a season. He held the team record for most consecutive pass completions (17) in a game. In 1997, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Guss T'Mar Scott is an American former college and professional football player was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the early 2000s. Scott played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the New England Patriots and Houston Texans of the NFL.
Marquand Alexander Manuel is an American football coach and former safety who is the Safeties coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and as an assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks. After playing college football for the University of Florida, he was selected in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played for eight seasons in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Detroit Lions. He was the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2017 to 2018.
Roland Orlando James is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 11 year career for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and early 1990s. James played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning All-American honors. He was selected in the first round of the 1980 NFL draft.
The 1985 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League (NFL) and 26th overall. The Patriots had a record of eleven wins and five losses and finished third in the AFC East Division. They then became the first team in NFL history ever to advance to the Super Bowl by winning three playoff games on the road, defeating the New York Jets 26–14 in the AFC Wild Card Game, the Los Angeles Raiders 27–20 in the AFC Divisional Game and the Miami Dolphins 31–14 in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots' win in Miami was their first victory at the Miami Orange Bowl since 1966 and while they did defeat Miami on the road in 1969 that game was played in Tampa Bay. The win over the Dolphins in the game has gone down as one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, as the Dolphins were heavily favored.
Kenneth Phillips is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Giants 31st overall in the 2008 NFL draft and won Super Bowl XLVI with the team over the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Miami. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints.
Jarvis Eric Williams, Sr. was an American professional football player who was a defensive back for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Williams played college football for the Florida Gators, earning recognition as a first-team All-American in 1987. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants of the NFL. Williams died unexpectedly at the age of 45.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's seventh season and third in the National Football League (NFL). The team was led by third-year head coach Don Shula and achieved the only perfect season in NFL history. It also led the league in both points scored and fewest points allowed.
Robert James Weathers is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft. His brother, Clarence Weathers, also played in the NFL.