Dwight Stephenson

**Dwight Stephenson**
Personal information
No. 57
Center
Date of birth: (1957-11-20) November 20, 1957 (age 66)
Place of birth: Murfreesboro, North Carolina
High School: Hampton (VA)

Career information
College: Alabama
NFL Draft: 1980 / Round: 2 / Pick: 48
Debuted in 1980 for the Miami Dolphins
Last played in 1987 for the Miami Dolphins


Career history
Miami Dolphins ( 1980– 1987)
Career highlights and awards
5× Pro Bowl selection (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987) 5× All-Pro selection (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987) 2× AFC Champion (1982, 1984) NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Walter Payton Man of the Year (1985)
Games played	114
Games started	87
Fumble Recoveries	3
Stats at NFL.com
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Dwight Eugene Stephenson (born November 20, 1957, in Murfreesboro, North Carolina) is a former American football offensive lineman and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 1998. He played for the Miami Dolphins from 1980 until 1987, when his left knee sustained an injury in a play involving New York Jets Marty Lyons and Joe Klecko.

Stephenson was an All-American at the University of Alabama, under coach Bear Bryant. Bryant called Stephenson the best player he ever coached, regardless of position. He was drafted by Don Shula and the Dolphins in the second round of the 1980 draft. The 6'2", 255 pound center would eventually become regarded by many^[who?] as one of the best centers of all time, but was used on special teams only until late in the 1981 season, when Mark Dennard was injured.

With the exceptionally explosive Stephenson as offensive captain, the Dolphins offensive line gave up the least sacks in the National Football League for a record 6 straight seasons, from 1982–1987, which doubled the length of the previous record. After he left, the Dolphins' line would continue to protect the pocket superbly, extending the record to 9 straight seasons.

File:Dolphins Honor Roll1.jpg

Stephenson on the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll at Dolphin Stadium.

Stephenson was voted as an All-Pro five consecutive times from 1983 to 1987. He was selected to play on five Pro Bowl squads over the same span. He started at center in the AFC Championship Game three times, in 1982, 1984, and 1985. He was the starting center in the last two Dolphin Super Bowl appearances:Super Bowl XIX and Super Bowl XVII. In 1985, Dwight was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

On December 12, 1994 he was added to the The Miami Dolphin Honor Roll.

Despite the brevity of his career, in 1999, he was ranked number 84 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Also, in 1999, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2011 he was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, for his contributions to sports in southeastern Virginia.

In 2005 he was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year.

His son, Dwight Jr. was a linebacker and defensive lineman at the University of Notre Dame from 2003 to 2007.

External links[]

Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile

v · d · eSEC Football Legends

Alabama Crimson Tide	Lee Roy Jordan Harry Gilmer Billy Neighbors John Hannah Holt Rast Johnny Musso Dwight Stephenson Joe Namath Vaughn Mancha Jeremiah Castille Cornelius Bennett Steve Sloan Ken Stabler Antonio Langham Bart Starr Bob Baumhower Cornelius Griffin Dennis Homan Paul Crane

Arkansas Razorbacks	Lance Alworth Joe Ferguson Chuck Dicus Jim Benton Clyde Scott Bill Montgomery Ronnie Caveness Steve Atwater Loyd Phillips Wayne Harris Fred Marshall Quinn Grovey Ken Hatfield Wayne Harris Billy Ray Smith Gary Anderson Frank Broyles Leotis Harris Pat Summerall

Auburn Tigers	Tracy Rocker Tucker Frederickson Joe Cribbs Zeke Smith Pat Sullivan Jackie Burkett Stacy Danley Mike Kolen Terry Beasley Steve Wallace Jimmy "Red" Phillips Ed Dyas Bo Jackson Al Del Greco Quentin Riggins Ken Rice Gregg Carr Buddy McClinton James C. Owens

Florida Gators	Carlos Alvarez Jack Youngblood Kerwin Bell John Reaves Neal Anderson Nat Moore Glenn Cameron Huey Richardson Brad Culpepper Larry Smith Lomas Brown Trace Armstrong Louis Oliver Ralph Ortega Reidel Anthony Errict Rhett Kevin Carter Ike Hilliard Steve Tannen

Georgia Bulldogs	Fran Tarkenton Herschel Walker Charley Trippi Bill Stanfill Terry Hoage John Rauch Kevin Butler Tommy Lyons Scott Woerner George Patton Matt Stinchcomb Mike Wilson Zeke Bratkowski Garrison Hearst Rex Robinson Eric Zeier Ben Zambiasi Boss Bailey David Greene

Kentucky Wildcats	Babe Parilli Derrick Ramsey Wallace Jones Jerry Claiborne Bob Gain Steve Meilinger Lou Michaels Sam Ball Art Still Dermontti Dawson George Blanda Warren Bryant Jeff Van Note Larry Seiple Jim Kovach Irv Goode Tim Couch Rodger Bird Sonny Collins

LSU Tigers	Billy Cannon Jim Taylor Dalton Hilliard Charles Alexander Bert Jones Jerry Stovall Roy Winston Tommy Hodson Mike Anderson Eric Martin Paul Dietzel Y. A. Tittle Tommy Casanova Michael Brooks Lance Smith Wendell Davis Fred Miller George Bevan Kevin Mawae

Mississippi State Bulldogs	Johnny Baker Jimmy Webb Hunter Corhern Steve Freeman Johnie Cooks D. D. Lewis Kent Hull Rockey Felker Harper Davis Tyrone Keys Art Davis Joe Fortunato Billy Stacy Tom Goode Billy Jackson Wayne Harris Eric Moulds Tom Neville Walt Harris

Missouri Tigers	Johnny Roland

Ole Miss Rebels	Charlie Conerly Archie Manning Barney Poole Johnny Vaught John "Kayo" Dottley Charlie Flowers Robert Khayat Ray Poole Ben Williams Billy Ray Adams Allen Brown Andre Townsend Jake Gibbs Wesley Walls Jimmy Lear Bobby Ray Franklin Everett Lindsay Deuce McAllister Glynn Griffing

South Carolina Gamecocks	George Rogers Alex Hawkins Sterling Sharpe Todd Ellis Bobby Bryant Rick Sanford Harold Green Robert Brooks Jeff Grantz Dickie Harris Dan Reeves Warren Muir Willie Scott Duce Staley Brad Edwards Tommy Suggs Andrew Provence Brandon Bennett Ko Simpson

Tennessee Volunteers	Bob Johnson Doug Atkins Condredge Holloway Peyton Manning John Michels Richmond Flowers Steve Kiner Steve DeLong Stanley Morgan Reggie White Johnny Majors Frank Emanuel Larry Seivers Chip Kell Willie Gault Heath Shuler Doug Dickey Al Wilson Bobby Majors Peerless Price

Texas A&M Aggies	John David Crow

Vanderbilit Commodores	Bill Wade Bob Asher John Hall Bucky Curtis Charley Horton Bob Werckle Herb Rich Will Wolford Jim Arnold Whit Taylor Boo Mitchell Chris Gaines Eric Jones Chuck Scott Shelton Quarles Jamie Duncan Corey Chavous Corey Harris Hunter Hillenmeyer

v · d · e1978 Alabama Crimson Tide football—AP national champions

Buddy Aydelette Byron Braggs Jim Bunch Billy Jackson Amos Jones E. J. Junior Barry Krauss Marty Lyons Curtis McGriff Don McNeal Tony Nathan Jeff Rutledge Randy Scott Steadman Shealy Dwight Stephenson Rich Wingo Head coach: Bear Bryant Assistant coaches: Ken Donahue Sylvester Croom Mal Moore Bill Oliver

v · d · e1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions

Buddy Aydelette Byron Braggs Jim Bunch Billy Jackson Amos Jones E. J. Junior Eddie Lowe Curtis McGriff Don McNeal Benny Perrin Mike Pitts Randy Scott Steadman Shealy Dwight Stephenson Head coach: Bear Bryant Assistant coaches: Ken Donahue Sylvester Croom Mal Moore Bill Oliver

Walter Camp Man of the Year

1967 — Hamilton Fish 1968 — Ted Blair 1969 — Pete Rozelle 1970 — Harry Kipke 1971 — Doc Blanchard 1972 — Clinton Frank 1973 — Duffy Daugherty 1974 — Jake Gaither 1975 — Pete Dawkins 1976 — Edward Krause 1977 — Fred Dunlap 1978 — Floyd Little 1979 — Jack Kemp 1980 — Gale Sayers 1981 — Otto Graham 1982 — Merlin Olsen 1983 — Roger Staubach 1984 — Don Shula 1985 — Rocky Bleier 1986 — Willie Davis 1987 — Levi Jackson 1988 — Andy Robustelli 1989 — Paul Brown 1990 — Nick Buoniconti 1991 — Mel Blount 1992 — Bob Griese 1993 — Warren Moon 1994 — Dick Anderson 1995 — Reggie Williams 1996 — Lynn Swann 1997 — Calvin Hill 1998 — Lou Holtz 1999 — Gil Brandt 2000 — Howie Long 2001 — Mike Singletary 2002 — Jim Kelly 2003 — Ozzie Newsome 2004 — Anthony Munoz 2005 — Dwight Stephenson 2006 — Mike Utley 2007 — Dick Butkus 2008 — Morten Andersen 2009 — John Elway 2010 — Will Shields

Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

1970: Unitas · 1971: Hadl · 1972: Lanier · 1973: Dawson · 1974: Blanda · 1975: Anderson · 1976: Harris · 1977: Payton · 1978: Staubach · 1979: Greene · 1980: Carmichael · 1981: Swann · 1982: Theismann · 1983: Benirschke · 1984: Lyons · 1985: Stephenson · 1986: Williams · 1987: Duerson · 1988: Largent · 1989: Moon · 1990: Singletary · 1991: Muñoz · 1992: Elway · 1993: Thomas · 1994: Seau · 1995: Esiason · 1996: Green · 1997: Aikman · 1998: Marino · 1999: Carter · 2000: Flanigan & Brooks · 2001: Bettis · 2002: Vincent · 2003: Shields · 2004: Dunn · 2005: Manning · 2006: Brees & Tomlinson · 2007: Taylor · 2008: Warner · 2009: Waters · 2010: Williams

National Football League | NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team

v · d · ePro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1998

Paul Krause Tommy McDonald Anthony Muñoz Mike Singletary Dwight Stephenson

v · d · eMiami Dolphins Hall of Famers

1983: Paul Warfield 1987: Larry Csonka 1987: Jim Langer 1990: Bob Griese 1993: Larry Little 1997: Don Shula 1998: Dwight Stephenson 2001: Nick Buoniconti 2005: Dan Marino

v · d · eMiami Dolphins Honor Roll inductees

1972 Undefeated Team Dick Anderson Nick Buoniconti Bob Baumhower Doug Betters Mark Clayton Larry Csonka Mark Duper Bob Griese Bob Kuechenberg Jim Langer Larry Little Dan Marino Nat Moore Joe Robbie Don Shula Dwight Stephenson Paul Warfield Richmond Webb Jason Taylor Zach Thomas Bill Arnsbarger

Persondata
Name	Stephenson, Dwight
Alternative names
Short description	Player of American football
Date of birth	November 20, 1957
Place of birth	Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Date of death
Place of death

Dwight Stephenson

External links[]

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