National Football League teams passed on Utah’s Manny Fernandez, but he landed a job with the Miami Dolphins, who signed him in 1968, and he would go on to make the team. He started as a defensive end as a rookie before moving to the more natural position of left defensive tackle, where he became a steady presence on the interior of the line for the rest of his career. As an undrafted free agent, he earned his way onto the roster and into the starting lineup without much fanfare.

Fernandez was a crucial part of a rising Dolphins defense, and he played in Miami’s three straight Super Bowl appearances in the early 1970s, winning two. He was especially good in Super Bowl VII, where many thought he should have been considered for the game’s MVP after a strong performance against the Redskins. The No-Name Defense relied on players like him to hold up against the run and create pressure without many big names. He started every game during the perfect 1972 season and remained a regular starter through the championship years, helping the unit stay solid up front even when the offense got most of the attention.

While sacks weren’t kept official during Fernandez’s time, Pro Football Reference credits him with 35 over his career. He never made a Pro Bowl, though he was certainly in the conversation for them in multiple seasons and earned All-AFC recognition along the way. He played his entire career with Miami and retired after the 1975 season as injuries began to limit him. In 2014, Fernandez was inducted into the Dolphins’ Honor Roll. He finished with 103 games played and remains one of the more overlooked contributors to those championship teams. His durability and consistent play up front helped make those defenses hard to run against year after year.