Zachary Michael Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was selected in the fifth round, 22nd pick, in the 1996 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, and played for the Dolphins in his first 12 seasons in the NFL, before playing his 13th and final season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Kevin Bradley Burnett is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.
Derek Mecham Smith is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State.
Renaldo Hill is an American football coach and former player who is the pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos from 2019 to 2020, the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 to 2022. Currently in 2023 serves as an assistant defensive coach for the Miami Dolphins.
Kevin Darnell Vickerson is a former American football defensive end. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.
Robert Joseph Carpenter III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He also played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots.
Reynold Tala Maualuga is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at USC, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins.
Justin Ryan Durant is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hampton University.
Dante Santiago Rosario is a former American football tight end. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at Oregon.
Jeff Ireland is an American football executive who is the assistant general manager and college scouting director for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the general manager of the Miami Dolphins from 2008 to 2014 and also served for the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs in various executive roles. Before his career as a football executive, Ireland was an assistant football coach at the University of North Texas, and a player at Baylor University. Ireland was also a childhood ball boy for the Chicago Bears.
The 2008 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 43rd overall and the first under new head coach Tony Sparano. During the regular season the Dolphins completed the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history, going from a 1–15 regular season record in 2007 to an 11–5 record in 2008. The previous record for most improved team one year after a 1–15 season belonged to the 1997 New York Jets, who went 9–7. The 1999 Indianapolis Colts were the only other team to accomplish a 10-game turnaround, winning 13 games after winning 3 in 1998, which was also the first year of the Peyton Manning era. Additionally, Miami won the AFC East, becoming the first team in NFL history to win their division after only having one win the previous season. The division title also snapped the Patriots' 5-year streak of winning the AFC East. Their season would come to an end in the Wild Card round when they were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens, which coincidentally, was also the only team they beat last season in overtime to save the Dolphins from suffering a winless season. With their 11–5 record and division title, the Dolphins had hopes of achieving their first playoff victory since 2000, or to possibly become the first team ever to make the Super Bowl after winning only one game the previous season, similar to how the Carolina Panthers went 1–15 in 2001 and made Super Bowl XXXVIII just two seasons later.
Jasper Jerrell Brinkley is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of South Carolina. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of 2009 NFL Draft. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.
Kyle Van Noy is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Van Noy played college football at BYU. He was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, with whom he spent his first three seasons. Van Noy played his next four seasons for the New England Patriots, where he won Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII. Following a year as a member of the Miami Dolphins, he rejoined New England in 2021. Van Noy signed with the Los Angeles Chargers the following season.
Christian Cornelius McCain is a mixed martial artist and an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He played college football at California. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
Malik Terrell Jefferson is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas. As a senior at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, Jefferson won the 2014 Butkus Award given to the best linebacker in high school. He has been a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL).
Jeff Adams is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at Columbia University.
Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogbah is a Nigerian professional American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma State, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.
Neville Hewitt is an American football linebacker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Marshall, where he was a safety and linebacker. Hewitt signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
Jeremiah "A.J." Hendy is an American football safety for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Maryland. After going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft he signed with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans in the NFL. He also had stints with the New York Guardians and Houston Roughnecks of the XFL, and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Christian C. Sam is an American football linebacker for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Arizona State, in 2017 leading the Pac-12 with 127 tackles, while also leading the Pac-12 with 87 solo tackles. He has been a member of the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Bandits, New Orleans Breakers, and Arlington Renegades.
