PG Archives Dan Marino in 1978, left, and last year. Click photo for larger image.

1979: As a senior at Central Catholic High School, he signs Feb. 9 to play college football for Pitt. ... Named Post-Gazette athlete of the year. ... Becomes the starting QB at Pitt in the season's seventh game and engineers wins vs. rivals West Virginia and Penn State en route to a Fiesta Bowl win vs. Arizona.

1981: Passes for 2,876 yards and a school-record 37 touchdowns as the Panthers go 11-1 for a third consecutive season. Marino earns All-American status. His season includes a 6-TD game vs. South Carolina and a go-ahead TD strike to John Brown that locks up the Sugar Bowl and a national championship.

1982: Concludes his college career with 2,432 yards and 17 TDs as the Panthers go 9-3.

1983: The Miami Dolphins select him with the 27th pick in the first round of the NFL draft. ... Makes his NFL debut Sept. 19 in a 27-14 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders. ... He follows with his first NFL start Oct. 9 vs. the Bills. ... Named NFL rookie of the year and first rookie QB to start in the Pro Bowl.

1984: Leads the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX in only his second season after throwing for a record 5,084 yards and 48 TDs.

1985: Marries wife Claire Jan. 30.

1986: Becomes the quickest to reach 100 career TD passes, reaching the milestone in his 44th game to surpass Johnny Unitas' previous record of 53.

1988: Throws for a career high and team-record 521 yards (35 for 60) in a loss to the Jets.

1989: Tops Johnny Unitas' old mark of 121 games by becoming the fastest to throw for 200 career TDs in just 89 games.

1990: Hits 30,000 career passing yards faster than anyone with 13-yard completion to Jim Jensen in his 114th game (Dan Fouts held the previous mark of 131). ... His grade school football field is renamed Dan Marino Field, and Central Catholic honors him as well by retiring his jersey number.

1991: Starts the Dan Marino Foundation, which helps support many South Florida charities.

1992: Joins Dan Fouts and Fran Tarkenton as the only QBs to complete 3,000 passes.

1993: Surpasses 40,000 passing yards for his career with 11-yard completion to Irving Fryar against the Jets Sept. 12.

1994: Appears as himself in the Jim Carrey movie "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective."

1995: Breaks Fran Tarkenton's all-time NFL marks for completions, passing yardage, touchdowns and pass attempts. ... Named team MVP for the 12th time. ... Selected to his ninth Pro Bowl.

1996: Becomes the first quarterback in NFL history to reach the 50,000-yard plateau with 36-yard completion to O.J. McDuffie Nov. 10.

1998: Miami Children's Hospital/Dan Marino Center in Weston, Fla., opens. ... Throws his 400th TD pass with a 7-yarder to O.J. McDuffie against New Orleans Nov. 29.

1999: Named the NFL Man of the Year winner for community service as well as excellence on the field. ... Becomes the NFL's first 60,000-yard passer with an 8-yard completion to Tony Martin.

2000: Plays his final NFL game Jan. 15 -- a 62-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC playoffs. ... Announces his retirement March 13. ... The Dolphins retire his No. 13 Sept. 17. The Dolphins also install a life-size bronze statue of him at Pro Player Stadium and rename Stadium Street, Dan Marino Boulevard.

2001: Joins HBO's "Inside the NFL."

2003: Joins CBS as an in-studio analyst for NFL telecasts. ... Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

2005: Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Feb. 5 along with Steve Young, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman. The class will be enshrined Sunday in Canton, Ohio.