As the 2024 NFL regular season approaches within 100 days, excitement builds with a daily celebration of standout Miami Dolphins players by jersey number. Today, we spotlight number 54.
Notable Dolphins who have donned the jersey number 54 include linebackers Wahoo McDaniel (1966-68), E.J. Junior (1989-91), and the unforgettable Zach Thomas (1996-2007). Zach Thomas stands out as the quintessential number 54 for the Dolphins, a belief further solidified by his Hall of Fame induction last summer. Since Thomas last wore the number in 2007, no other Dolphin has been assigned it, underscoring his iconic status with the team.
Wahoo McDaniel, more famous to some for his wrestling career, also made a significant impact on the gridiron, including a productive stint with the Dolphins where he started 22 of his 30 games. E.J. Junior, after an eight-season tenure with the Cardinals, joined the Dolphins and showcased notable skills as a pass rusher in his later seasons.
Here are the top three Dolphins to wear number 54:
1. Linebacker Zach Thomas
2. Linebacker Wahoo McDaniel
3. Linebacker E.J. Junior
In NFL history, Thomas joins other legendary players like Brian Urlacher, Randy White, and Chuck Howley, who have excelled while wearing number 54. Though Urlacher was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, comparisons between him and Thomas have highlighted Thomas’s elite status, affirming his position as one of the top players to wear 54 in the league.
