Name: Dan Henning
Title: Offensive Coordinator
College: William & Mary
NFL: 29th Season
Dolphins: Third Season

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Dan Henning, a veteran of 28 seasons as an NFL coach, re-joined the ranks on February 4, 2008 when he was named the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator. Most recently, Henning was the offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers from 2002-06. He embarks on his second stint with the Dolphins, having served as the team’s quarterbacks and receivers coach from 1979-80 under Don Shula.

In Henning’s five-year stay with the Panthers, the team advanced to the NFC Championship Game twice, including one year in which they went on to play in the Super Bowl (2003). Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who entered the league as an undrafted college free agent in 1997, became a full-time starter for the first time in 2003. Under Henning’s guidance he gradually became one of the NFL’s top signal callers, having been selected to the NFC Pro Bowl squad in 2005. In addition, from 2003-06 Delhomme tossed 89 touchdown passes, the fifth-highest total in the NFL over this four-year stretch. Overall in Henning’s five seasons leading the Panthers’ offense, five different offensive players made a total of six Pro Bowl appearances, including four skilled position players in RB Stephen Davis (2003), WR Muhsin Muhammad (2004), Delhomme (2005) and WR Steve Smith (2005, 2006). The 2005 squad scored 391 points, the third-highest total in the NFC that year and the second-highest figure in the 13-year history of the Panthers franchise.

Of Henning’s 28 seasons in the NFL, seven have been spent as a head coach, including stints with Atlanta (1983-86) and San Diego (1989-91). Prior to joining the Panthers, Henning had served three seasons with the New York Jets (1998-2000), the first two as quarterbacks coach and the final one as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. New York compiled winning marks in two of those three seasons, including a regular season record of 12-4 in 1998 when they advanced to the AFC Championship Game. In that ’98 campaign, quarterback Vinny Testaverde enjoyed the most efficient season of his pro career as he led all AFC quarterbacks and finished second in the NFL with a passer rating of 101.6, throwing for 29 touchdowns while being intercepted just seven times.

Henning got his start in the NFL as quarterbacks and receivers coach with the Houston Oilers in 1972. After a three-year stint in the collegiate ranks, including 1973 as offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech and 1974-75 as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/wide receivers coach at Florida State, he returned to the NFL in 1976, when he began a three-year stint as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach with the New York Jets. That preceded his first stay with the Dolphins. In 1981, he was appointed assistant head coach with the Washington Redskins while also tutoring the team’s quarterbacks, and held that post for two years. In his second year there, quarterback Joe Theismann compiled a passer rating of 91.3, the second-highest figure of his career as the Redskins put together a regular season record of 8-1 and went on to capture the Super Bowl XVII Championship. Running back John Riggins was the game’s MVP as he rushed for a then-Super Bowl record 166 yards. Following his initial head coaching stop, Henning returned to the Redskins as assistant to the head coach/offensive coordinator in 1987, and served in that role for the next two years. That first season back in the nation’s capital resulted in a regular season record of 11-4, capped by a victory over Denver in Super Bowl XXII, as quarterback Doug Williams was named the game’s MVP. Also in that championship game, running back Tim Smith ran for a Super Bowl-record 204 yards, and the team scored a record 35 points in the second quarter. After his next stint as a head coach, Henning was the offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions from 1992-93. The latter of those two seasons saw the Lions amass a regular season record of 10-6 as they captured the NFC Central crown, the club’s most recent division title. That catapulted him into the head coaching position at Boston College from 1994-96. He returned to the NFL as offensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills in 1997, and then moved on to the Jets the following year after the retirement of Marv Levy.

Henning played quarterback at William & Mary, where upon conclusion of his career, he went to training camp with the San Diego Chargers in 1964 before playing two years in the Continental Football League. He was re-signed by San Diego in 1966 and was with the team through training camp in 1967. He finished his playing career with Norfolk of the Continental League. His first coaching position came as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida State from 1968-70. That was followed by a one-year stint (1971) as offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech.

A New York City native, Henning attended St. Francis Prep in Brooklyn, N.Y. Henning has three daughters, Mary K., Patty and Terry, and two sons, Dan and Mike. He also has 10 grandchildren: Teddy, Hunter, Taylor, Dillon, Chandler, Erica, Riley, Emily, Cassie and Patrick.