Ed Newman had every reason to be happy when the Super Bowl VII champions drafted him in the sixth round out of Duke in 1973. He did not play much as a rookie, but he was on the roster when the Dolphins won Super Bowl VIII the next season. For the next few years, he stayed mostly on special teams and as a backup while the line was stocked with veterans like Larry Little and Bob Kuechenberg. He also dealt with thyroid cancer surgery in 1975, which set him back further before he could establish himself as a regular.

He did not become a regular starter until 1978. Once he locked in at right guard, the opportunity arrived to show what he could do. From 1981 through 1984, he made the Pro Bowl every year. The first three of those seasons brought second-team All-Pro honors, and in 1984 he earned first-team All-Pro while helping the Dolphins reach the Super Bowl. That year he posted an Approximate Value of 19, which ranked him third in the league. He was more technician than mauler, using leverage and positioning to handle bigger defensive linemen and keep the pocket clean for Dan Marino. Even after overcoming earlier health issues, he became one of the more reliable guards on one of the better lines of the early 1980s, starting 56 consecutive games at one point before injuries intervened.

The run ended quickly after that peak. A knee injury in the 1985 preseason kept him out the entire year, and he retired shortly afterward. Over 12 seasons with the Dolphins, he played in 167 games and started 113, with four Pro Bowls and the 1984 All-Pro season marking the high point. The Dolphins later added him to their Walk of Fame.