The phase started as former Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, now a studio host for Amazon Prime’s NFL protection, shocked present 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy with a FaceTime name in the course of the broadcast, which featured none apart from Marino, a sports activities icon revered by Purdy’s dad.
VIDEO: Brock Purdy assembly his childhood hero, Dan Marino 👏
When Marino answered, and Brock Purdy’s face INSTANTLY LIT UP with a smile as a result of he was assembly him for the very first time.
“My dad and I loved you growing up, you’re the reason I wear 13.”pic.twitter.com/QwZEImq0Ie
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 22, 2023
Purdy, who revealed in the course of the interview that he wears #13 in honor of Marino, shared a enjoyable household anecdote about his connection to Marino, and the way it started the day he was born.
“I feel really the day I used to be born, you guys have been taking part in the Jets – December 27, 1999 – and my dad at all times says I acquired to see you play the day I used to be born,” Purdy shared whereas chatting with Marino.
Fitzpatrick, chiming in with a smile, joked, “You in all probability threw a couple of touchdowns that day, huh Dan?”
Marino responded with a chuckle, “You know, I’d must look it up, however I guess I had at the very least three.”
Little did they know at that second that Marino’s reminiscence was simply as sharp as his throwing arm throughout his taking part in profession. A fast Google search reveals that Marino did certainly throw three touchdowns within the recreation towards the Jets on December 27, 1999. (He conveniently leaves out he additionally threw three interceptions within the recreation, however we’ll chalk that as much as selective reminiscence, one thing most Dolphins followers have discovered to grasp themselves over time.)
Oddly sufficient, the sport on Purdy’s first birthday is one among a restricted variety of Dolphins video games you will discover on YouTube.
It’s as if the celebrities have all aligned. Well, apart from on this really feel good story.
Spoiler alert: The Dolphins misplaced the 1999 recreation. But till lately, what else is new?
Marino’s profession with the Dolphins, spanning 17 seasons, stays the stuff of NFL legend. Unfortunately, Purdy himself noticed none of it stay.
The Dolphins would end that very same 1999 season with a 9-7 file and upset the number-three-seed Seattle Seahawks 20-17 within the Wild Card spherical, earlier than their playoff journey got here to a crashing halt in a humiliating 7-62 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars within the divisional spherical, a recreation memorable for the lopsided rating, however extra in order Marino’s remaining look within the NFL.
Now that Marino is an enormous a part of the Miami Dolphins entrance workplace and mentoring Tua Tagovailoa, it is good to see him getting a second to speak about his taking part in days, and even higher to see a youthful technology appreciating his play as a lot as Dolphins followers did for almost 20 years.
For these ‘Phins followers that simply turned Brock Purdy followers, you will be happy to study he threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns within the 49ers 30-12 latest rout of the Giants, persevering with Purdy’s unbelievable streak of getting by no means misplaced a recreation as a starter within the NFL.