Number 78 and the Three Dolphins Who Wore It Best

Richmond Webb towers above all others at this number, but who were the other top performers?

Tackle Richmond Webb (78) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium in 1995. / 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 78.

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, and Jon Giesler at 79.

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 78 for at least one regular season game for the Dolphins:

G/T Maxie Williams (1966-70), T Wayne Mass (1971), DT Jim Dunaway (1972), G/T Tom Drougas (1975-76), DT Carl Barisich (1977-80), DE Ken Poole (1981), DE Charles Benson (1983-84), DE/DT Jerome Foster (1986), DE Derek Wimberly (1987), OL Doug Marrone (1987), G Alvin Powell (1989), T Richmond Webb (1990-2000), G Jeno James (2004-06), DT Tony McDaniel (2009-12), T Bryant McKinnie (2013), DE Terrence Fede (2014-17), T Laremy Tunsil (2018), T Andrew Donnal (2019), T Adam Pankey (2019-21)

The debate on the best 78 on the Dolphins

Let's say it right away: There is no debate here. In fact, this will be one of the biggest slam dunks for any number because tackle Richmond Webb is the one and only chance for 78. Webb is a borderline Hall of Famer who made an impact immediately after being the ninth overall selection in 1990 and was selected to the Pro Bowl each of his first seven seasons with the Dolphins. Now, when it comes to rounding out a top three for number 78, it gets tough because no one really jumps out. Maxxie Williams started 63 of 69 games in his five seasons with the Dolphins, including nine in 1970 when the franchise earned its first playoff berth. Carl Barisich played 45 games for the Dolphins over four seasons, but never started a game. Jeno James started all 39 games he played for the Dolphins, including nine in 2006 in his final season in the NFL. Tony McDaniel was a solid backup for four seasons, though he started only twice, before he became a three-year starter for the Seattle Seahawks. Terrence Fede played 51 games in four years with the Dolphins and his biggest highlight came in 2014 when his punt block produced a last-minute safety that gave Miami a 37-35 victory against the Minnesota Vikings. Laremy Tunsil wore 78 only for the third of his three seasons with the Dolphins after wearing 67 as a rookie first-round pick in 2016 and in 2017. His play was Pro Bowl-caliber in 2018, but just one season isn't enough to earn him a top three ranking for the number 78.

The top three Dolphins players with number 78

1. T Richmond Webb

2. G Jeno James

3. G/T Maxxie Williams

Dolphins 78's among the NFL's all-time best

There are nine Hall of Famers who wore 78, led by Bruce Smith, Anthony Muñoz and Buddy Bell, but Webb was good enough that he should merit Hall consideration himself and he wouldn't be out of place among the top 10 at this number.