A.J. Duhe's rookie season could be argued as the best of his eight-year career. The 13th overall pick in 1977 became an instant fan favorite in Miami, where he earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Playing linebacker or defensive end depending on the scheme, Duhe was a strong interior run stuffer who helped the Dolphins build one of the AFC’s better defenses in the early 1980s.

He was a key part of teams that reached two Super Bowls. His biggest moment came in the 1982 AFC Championship Game against the Jets, when he intercepted three passes and returned one for a touchdown in a 14-0 win. That performance still stands out as one of the best individual games in Dolphins playoff history. 

In 1983, he started 15 games as the Dolphins went 12-4 and won the AFC East. He finished with 87 tackles and 5.5 sacks that year while the defense allowed the fewest points in the NFL, and he finished eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Like so many players, Duhe began to compile injuries later in his career. He made his only Pro Bowl after the 1984 season, but the physical toll had already caught up with him. The Dolphins released him before the 1985 season because of his injuries, and he retired soon after.

In eight seasons with Miami, he played in 108 games and finished with roughly 38.5 sacks and 3 interceptions. The early production and that one unforgettable playoff game are what most fans remember.