Highlighted Year: Bryan Cox, 1992

Linebacker, Miami Dolphins

Age: 24

2^nd season in pro football & with Dolphins

College: Western Illinois

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 235

Prelude:

Cox had an outstanding college career, accounting for 323 tackles, 8 interceptions, 9 forced fumbles, and three sacks, and his 10 blocked kicks set a school record. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft and moved into the starting lineup at right outside linebacker for 13 games. Cox was credited with 61 tackles and two sacks while displaying an ability to make big plays.

1992 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 14 [9]

Most sacks, game – 2 on five occasions

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 0

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 5

Tackles – 127

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 7

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Dolphins went 11-5 to finish first in the AFC East. Won AFC Divisional playoff over San Diego Chargers (31-0). Lost AFC Championship to Buffalo Bills (29-10).  

Aftermath:

Cox again led the Dolphins in tackles with 122 in 1993. A highly instinctive playmaker, he also was emotionally volatile and subject to controversy. Shifted to middle linebacker, he received Pro Bowl honors after the 1994 and ’95 seasons and moved on to the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 1996. Cox struggled in a new defensive scheme and was limited to nine games by back and thumb injuries. Following another disappointing year in ’97, he was let go by the Bears and signed on with the New York Jets for 1998, where he played well at outside linebacker and was a team leader. He spent two more seasons with the Jets before moving on to the Patriots in 2001, missing time with a broken leg, and New Orleans in 2002, his last season. Overall, Cox played for 12 seasons, recorded 51.5 sacks, four interceptions, and 14 fumble recoveries. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection once, received first- or second-team All-AFC honors after two other seasons, and was chosen to three Pro Bowls.   

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970