Deal Was Verbally Agreed To But Don Shula Got Cold Feet

Published on February 5th, 2024 5:55 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Don Shula was tired of missing the playoffs.

The Miami Dolphins had just finished 8-8 and had missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

Shula thought that a big change was needed, and that involved moving the team's superstar quarterback, Dan Marino.

Marino was just 28 years of age at the time - still in his absolute prime, with at least a decade of play ahead of him.

The Dolphins, however, were treading water, and Shula wanted a change.

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The Los Angeles Raiders also finished 8-8 in 1989.

The team was a good one, anchored by Bo Jackson, Howie Long and others.

The team seemingly just needed a top QB to put them over the top.

So, Shula rang up the owner of the Raiders, Al Davis, to talk about a potential trade for Marino.

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The two men went back and forth and eventually hammered out a framework for a deal that would send Marino to Los Angeles.

Al Davis must have been doing flips in his office - it's not every day that a future Hall of Fame quarterback falls into your lap.

This feeling, however, wouldn't last.

Shula called back and said that he needed more for Marino.

Davis was obviously a bit miffed at this but acquiesced - after all, he didn't want to lose out on Dan Marino!

A second deal was reached between the two men.

A short time later, Shula came back to Davis AGAIN and said that he needed more for Marino.

This time, Davis decided that he couldn't pay anymore and refused.

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Marino would stay with the Dolphins and the team quickly turned the corner, finishing 12-4 in 1990.

Marino would spend another ten years with the team, retiring after the 1999 season.

There would be no Super Bowls for Marino, however, which ultimately begs the question - would the franchise have been better off trading Marino away in 1989?