I am twenty-years old. My dad, a lifelong Dolphins fan and season-ticket holder, named me after Dan Marino. Born on January 13th, 2000, my parents took me home from the hospital the day Marino and the Dolphins were throttled by Jacksonville in a 62-7 rout in the 1999-00 Divisional Round. My earliest Dolphins memory is when Dolphins quarterback Trent Green was stretchered off the field after a blindside hit against the Houston Texans in 2007, the moment my love for the Dolphins began. As I watched the likes of Cleo Lemon and John Beck play some of the worst football I have seen to date, I began to wonder if the Dolphins would ever win a football game.

December 16th, 2007 was the first time I can remember being home alone. As my dad went to the Dolphins-Ravens game and after refusing to go to the grocery store with my mom, I sat in front of the television and watched the Dolphins compete with the Ravens in overtime. Shortly after, Greg Camarillo did the unthinkable, scoring a 64-yard touchdown.

“MIAMI HAS WON! MIAMI HAS WON!”

For the first time in my life, the Dolphins were winners. While the win had simply prevented a horrific winless season, it felt as if we had won the Super Bowl watching the players storm the field. We had WON.

“Winning” has long been a challenge for the Miami Dolphins, leading to constant criticism from the national media and the kids around me throughout both middle and high school. We’ve all heard the jokes about being a Dolphins fan, yet we have persevered. While I got my first tastes of playoff action in both 2008 and 2016, the dream was short-lived.

However, I can tell you today…

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS ARE COMING.

Brian Flores is the man for the job. We all know that last season’s roster had no business winning five games and should not have beaten the Patriots in New England, a feat that Adam Gase could not accomplish. Flores worked miracles in 2019, willing a group of misfits plagued by “tanking” rumors to fight hard every single week.

Now, heading into the 2020 season, we’ve signed Byron Jones, Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson, Jordan Howard, Ereck Flowers, Emmanuel Ogbah, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Clayton Fejedelum…

AND WE AREN’T. DONE. YET.

With 14 draft-picks, a franchise quarterback on the way, Tom Brady leaving the division and countless signings, the national media is beginning to pay attention the Miami Dolphins. With Brian Flores and Chris Grier steering the ship, I can confidently say that we are finally heading in the right direction. Because…

MIAMI HAS THE DOLPHINS, THE GREATEST FOOTBALL TEAM.

WE TAKE THE BALL FROM GOAL TO GOAL LIKE NO ONE’S EVER SEEN.

WE’RE IN THE AIR, WE’RE ON THE GROUND, WE’RE ALWAYS IN CONTROL,

AND WHEN YOU SAY MIAMI, YOU’RE TALKING SUPER BOWL.

Bask in this moment, Dolfans, as our time is coming.

Follow Dan Pirtle on Twitter, @dpirt13.