Number 54 and the Three Dolphins Who Wore It Best

Zach Thomas the obvious choice here, but what about where he ranks among all-time greats at that number in NFL history?

Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas during a 1996 game against the New York Giants. / RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

The countdown to the start of the 2024 regular season has begun now that we're under 100 days away, so we'll honor every day the best players to wear the corresponding number for the Dolphins.

Today, we're at number 54.

The top players at each number so far have been Jason Taylor at 99, Jared Odrick at 98, Phillip Merling at 97, Paul Soliai at 96, Tim Bowens at 95, Randy Starks at 94,  Trace Armstrong at 93, John Denney at 92, Cameron Wake at 91, Marco Coleman at 90,  Nat Moore at 89, Keith Jackson at 88, Andre Tillman at 87, Oronde Gadsden at 86, Nick Buoniconti at 85, Bill Stanfill at 84, Mark Clayton at 83, Brian Hartline at 82, O.J. McDuffie at 81, Irving Fryar at 80, Jon Giesler at 79, Richmond Webb at 78, A.J. Duhe at 77, Branden Albert at 76, Manny Fernandez at 75, Mark Dennis at 74, Bob Baumhower at 73, Terron Armstead at 72, Todd Wade at 71, Kendall Langford at 70, Keith Sims at 69, Robert Hunt at 68, Bob Kuechenberg at 67, Larry Little at 66, Jeff Dellenbach at 65, Ed Newman at 64, Mark Dixon at 63, Jim Langer at 62, Tim Ruddy at 61, Bert Weidner at 60, Doug Swift at 59, Kim Bokamper at 58, Dwight Stephenson at 57, John Offerdahl at 56, and Earnest Rhone at 55.

As a reminder about the ground rules, the top three will be determined only by what the players did while wearing that uniform for the Dolphins.

Players who wore 54 for at least one regular season game:

LB Wahoo McDaniel (1966-68), LB Dale McCullers (1969), LB Ted Davis (1970), T Howard Kindig (1972), LB Ralph Ortega (1979-80), LB Steve Potter (1981-82), LB Rodell Thomas (1983-84), LB Alex Moyer (1985-86), LB Johnny Taylor (1986), LB Steve Lubischer (1987), LB Larry Kolic (1987-88), LB E.J. Junior (1989-91), LB Chuck Bullough (1993-94), LB Zach Thomas (1996-2007)

The breakdown of 54 with the Dolphins

This is another number where there is no debate when it comes to the top player. Actually, there's a reason no Dolphins player has been assigned number 54 since it was last worn by Zach Thomas in 2007. Zach Thomas IS number 54. His Hall of Fame induction last summer only cemented his legacy. Now, the debate for second and third among those who wore 54 for the Dolphins is a good one. Wahoo McDaniel may be known to a lot of people as a professional wrestler, but that came after a nine-year football career that ended with his three seasons with the Dolphins. McDaniel started 22 of the 30 games he played for Miami. ... E.J. Junior joined the Dolphins as a Plan B free agent (remember that?) after spending eight seasons with the Cardinals, who had made him a first-round pick in 1981. Junior started 12 games in a forgettable first season in Miami, but had six and five sacks, respectively, the next two years working as a pass-rushing specialist.

The top three Dolphins players with number 54

1. LB Zach Thomas

2. LB Wahoo McDaniel

3. LB E.J. Junior

Dolphins 54's among the NFL's all-time best

Thomas became the fourth member of the Hall of Fame who wore mostly 54 in the NFL, joining Brian Urlacher, Randy White and Chuck Howley. For a long time, Urlacher was used as the comp for why Thomas should get inducted, though Urlacher ended up being a first-ballot selection. So maybe that gives him the nod there, but suggesting Zach is a top three player at 54 is no reach.