At halftime of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Tim Bowens was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.
Key Takeaways
- After 20 years in retirement, he was inducted into the Dolphins Ring of Honor on Sunday, becoming the 28th member.
- Not missing a game until his sixth season, he played his 11-year career with the Dolphins. He accumulated 414 tackles, 22 sacks, and seven forced fumbles.
With the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL), Tim Bowens played defensive lineman for 11 seasons as a professional football player.
The Dolphins selected him with the 20th pick of the 1994 NFL draft after he played collegiate football for the Ole Miss Rebels.
At first, the Dolphins were criticized for selecting Bowens because he was overweight and had only appeared in nine games during his time at Mississippi. However, Bowens outperformed the other players, proving them wrong.
The Associated Press selected Bowens “The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year” after his outstanding 1994 rookie campaign.
Before retiring following the 2004 NFL season, he spent 11 years as a player for the Miami Dolphins.
After 20 years in retirement, Tim Bowens was inducted into the Miami Dolphins Ring of Honor on Sunday, becoming the 28th member.
Tim Bowens Is the First Member of the Miami Dolphins Ring of Honor in a Decade
The team honored the two-time Pro Bowler during halftime while playing the Arizona Cardinals.
The Dolphins selected Bowens with the 20th overall pick. He won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award and immediately established himself as a key member of Miami’s defense.
He did not miss a game until his sixth season and played his 11-year career with the Dolphins. Likewise, he accumulated 414 tackles, 22 sacks, and seven forced fumbles.
Manny Fernandez, a former defensive tackle, was honored on December 21, 2014, making Bowens the first inductee in a decade.
Bowens made 155 starts in 11 seasons and is now the 28th player to receive the honor.
For over 10 years, his reliability and unwavering presence in the trenches supported the Miami Dolphins’ defense.
After the 1998 and 2002 seasons, the selection committee chose him for two Pro Bowl selections.
In 2012, the Miami Dolphins inducted Bowens into their Walk of Fame, and in 2015, the team selected him for the 50th Season All-Time Team.
According to Dolphins president, CEO, and vice chairman Tom Garfinkel, NFL Hall of Famers Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas credited Bowens with getting them to Canton, Ohio. Moreover, Thomas created the term “Tim Badass Bowens” when they played.
Also, Bowens received a halftime honor from Garfinkel, who said,
He did his job with consistency and set his teammates up for success, Tough, consistent, dependable and the ultimate competitor, he was all of these things throughout his Dolphins career. Tim, you’re more than deserving of this recognition.
Via The Palm Beach Post
Bowens praised the Dolphins for letting him play his whole NFL career in Miami during a speech at the ceremony.
He expressed his gratitude to Coach (Don) Shula for selecting him and providing him with the chance. He also expressed his affection for his teammates and the rest of his coaches.
Originally called the Honor Roll, the Miami Dolphins established the Ring of Honor in 1990 to recognize the team’s best players and contributors.
The team honors the players who made a significant contribution to its success over an extended period of time. When choosing members, they consider character, longevity, and accomplishment.
In Case You Did Not Know
- Tim Bowens was born in Okolona, Mississippi, on February 7, 1973.
- He played football at Okolona High School. He guided his team to an 11–2 record and the Class AA semifinals as a senior.
