Vern Den Herder showed up in Miami as a ninth-round pick out of Central College in Iowa in 1971 and never left. He spent his whole career with the Dolphins, starting as a backup before locking down the left defensive end spot in 1972 and holding it for the next ten years. He started 144 of his 166 games with the team.

He was a reliable piece on the left side of that defensive line during the perfect 1972 season and the back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Sacks weren’t officially tracked yet, but Den Herder is credited with 64.5, including a five-sack game in 1973 and a couple of four-sack outings. He led the Dolphins in sacks multiple times in the 1970s and earned All-AFC honors in 1972. He wasn’t flashy, but he was a steady, physical presence who held up against the run and kept working the edge. Don Shula later called him one of the most dependable players he ever coached, the kind of guy who showed up every week and got the job done without much fuss.

He stayed a starter through 1981 before shifting to a backup role in the strike-shortened 1982 season, which turned out to be his last.

As a Dolphin, he finished with 64.5 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries, and two Super Bowl rings.