They used to line up in the back field together, locking up opposing receivers. Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison have a very successful history of working in conjunction with each other on opposite ends of the same football field, one on the left, one on the right, holding opponents to “three and outs.” They were part of the highly competitive version of the Miami Dolphins helmed by legendary coach Jimmy Johnson, and their highly productive defense could be counted on to create opportunities for legendary passing icon Dan Marino to take the field.
In 1999, Dan Marino’s last season, Madison was the co-leader of the entire league in total interceptions. He was in the Pro Bowl four times before he made the move to the New York Giants to mentor their young core of defensive backs and help mold them into a squad that Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan could trust to hold the back line of his defense. They exceeded expectations keeping Tom Brady to only 14 points on their way to winning Super Bowl XLII. Surtain ended his playing career by playing four seasons in a Chiefs jersey.
Sam Madison was also a Super Bowl winner as an assistant coach to the Andy Reid staff of the Kansas City Chiefs. He coached the defensive backs from 2019-2021. Surtain started coaching at American Heritage High School in 2016. This was his son Pat Surtain’s high school in Plantation, Florida. He was instrumental in developing his son and leading him to be a standout college player, lottery pick and an eventual starting NFL quarterback.
Mike McDaniel is already making his presence felt as the new coach of the Miami Dolphins by bringing in proven winners who also carry a nostalgic vibe. He continues to recruit talent from Dolphins teams of yore when the “Fins” made it to the playoffs with regularity. The 2022 version of the Miami Dolphins includes key pieces from some classic Dolphins teams. Fans remember the playoff appearances when perennial Pro Bowlers like Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain enforced their will, defending passes and locking down receivers both in zone and man-to-man.
Surtain and Madison anchored the Dolphins defense together for six years. Overall, Madison donned the teal and orange from 1997-2005 and Surtain from 1998-2004. Throughout this amount of time, they were able to create a rich culture stamped in ferocious ball-hawking. Surtain, like Madison, was a second-round draft pick. He appeared in the Pro Bowl three times. Madison’s legacy includes four Pro Bowl appearances.
Nostalgia for the Jimmy Johnson era of the late 90s
Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison were integral parts of the dominant defense Jimmy Johnson built in hopes of creating a Super Bowl winning team as he had in Dallas just a few years earlier (winning it all in 1993 and 1995). The plan was to help Dan Marino, their record-breaking dynamic quarterback, by adding a good running game and an imposing defense. These two facets were very inconsistent and often downright lacking under coach Don Shula. Johnson was, at least, successful in amassing a solid defense. After both Marino and Johnson retired in 1999, the Dolphins went into a rebuilding stage. Both Madison and Surtain moved on to help different franchises; Madison headed to the Giants whereas Surtain contributed to the back line of the Kansas City Chiefs.
McDaniel is making moves that signal a commitment to building a proven winning culture. Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain will help standout cornerback Xavien Howard continue to reach his potential individually, as a dynamic game changer, and as a teammate. Defensive backs Howard, Jevon Holland and Byron Jones will get the opportunity to learn how to read and interpret defenses from two pass specialists with historical connections to the Miami Dolphins.
May the re-teaming of Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain in Miami be even more successful from the sidelines.