25/25/25 No. 21: Ronnie Brown
- J.C. Reeves
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Who’s the first Miami Dolphins player that comes to mind when you think of the word "Wildcat"? If it's not Ronnie Brown, it might be time to revisit the unforgettable 2008 season.
After opening the year with back-to-back losses, the Dolphins turned to the Wildcat offense, with Brown at the helm. In the Week 3 game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, Brown scored a team-record four rushing touchdowns and even threw for another, leading Miami to a dominant 38-13 victory.
The Dolphins went on to finish the season with an 11-5 record and made their first playoff appearance since 2001.
Brown, selected No. 2 overall by Miami in the 2005 NFL Draft—coincidentally the first draft I ever watched—spent six seasons in aqua and orange. As a rookie, he fell just 93 yards short of 1,000 yards rushing. The following year, he hit the 1,000-yard mark with a career-high 1,008 yards over 13 games—the only time in his NFL career he surpassed that milestone.
After missing the back half of the 2007 season with a knee injury, Brown made a major comeback in 2008, leading the Wildcat offense. While splitting carries with Ricky Williams, he rushed for 916 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns, while also catching 33 passes for 254 yards and throwing a touchdown pass against the Patriots in Week 3. Brown's stellar play earned him a spot in the 2008 Pro Bowl—his only appearance.
Over his six-year tenure with the Dolphins, Brown finished third all-time among Miami running backs in yards, carries, and touchdowns. He carried the ball 1,128 times for 4,815 yards and 36 touchdowns, while adding 1,491 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns to his total.
Brown's impact on the field, particularly in 2008, cemented his place in Dolphins history and earned him a spot on this list.
Check back tomorrow at Show-Me Fins to see who lands at the No. 20 spot in our 25/25/25 rankings.
Ronnie Brown
RB, 6-0, 223, Auburn, drafted in 2005 (1st round, 2nd overall)
History w/ Miami: 6 seasons (2005-2010); 76 games played; 71 starts
Other history: 10 total seasons (2005-2014); Philadelphia (2011), San Diego (2012-2014), Houston (2014)
Overall career stats: 5,391 RUSH YDS, 1,281 ATT, 4.2 YPC, 40.8 YPG, 38 TD; 1,966 REC YDS, 246 REC, 8 YPC, 14.9 YPG, 2 TD
Stats w/ Miami: 4,815 RUSH YDS (No. 3), 1,128 ATT (No. 3), 4.3 YPC, 63.4 YPG, 36 TD (No. 3); 1,491 REC YDS, 184 REC, 8.1 YPC, 19.6 YPG, 2 TD
Single-season career highs: 1,008 RUSH YDS (2006), 241 ATT (2008), 5.1 YPC (2007), 86 YPG (2007), 10 TD (2008); 389 REC YDS (2007), 49 REC (2012 — w/ San Diego), 10 YPC (2007), 55.6 YPG (2007), 1 TD (2005, 2007)
Single-season highs w/ Miami: 1,008 RUSH YDS (2006), 241 ATT (2006), 5.1 YPC (2007), 86 YPG (2007), 10 TD (2008); 389 REC YDS (2007), 39 REC (2007), 1 TD (2005, 2007)
Awards: 1x Pro Bowl (2008)
Previous 25/25/25 entries
No. 24: Chris Chambers