Fans of the Miami Dolphins have had a very enjoyable offseason, with a slew of transactions that have sent shock waves across the NFL. Not only has Miami given fans hope for a bright 2022 season and beyond, but there are also aspects of Dolphins football that nobody can take away – the history and the hope.
Luckily, and almost as if it’s a spoiling of riches, there’s a show on the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network called The Fish Tank. The dynamic duo of two-time Dolphins team MVP O.J. McDuffie and former media department and public relations guru Seth Levit have reeled in former Dolphins Hall of Famers and provide fans with access to it all. From stories referencing the inaugural season of 1966, through Don Shula’s arrival and eventual Perfect Season, the Dan Marino years and everything up until the present time, the podcast is a must-listen.
“The Tank” hit the podcast waves in July 2018, and immediately, there were inside stories from players like Channing Crowder, Oronde Gadsden, Nat Moore, Terry Kirby and Zach Thomas to kick things off.
Levit and McDuffie’s rapport and timing, mixed with their friendships and familiarity with the guests, lead to hidden treasures of golden anecdotes from the Dolphins fandom coupled with straight hilarity. Just tune in to any episode that Crowder appears on.
Whether it’s former players or even behind the scenes guys like a decades-long head of security or a sports public relations legend immortalized in the board game Trivial Pursuit, each and every episode of “The Fish Tank” comes with equal parts laughter, information and, most importantly, life lessons.
Episodes that go a bit deeper than the field, such as Davone Bess, Dwight Hollier and Irving Fryar, to name a few, help in tremendous ways. More often than not, there seems to be a humanistic side that comes out of the players when in “the Tank,” and inspiration is the common denominator.
While it’s always great to hear “tales from the deep” of this franchise steeped in tradition, moments and memories, current Miami players are now joining the guys.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa dove in recently, and, on Tuesday morning, second-year pass-rusher, Jaelan Phillips’ episode was released for Dolphins fans’ viewing pleasure.
Phillips, Miami’s first-round pick from 2021 had an outstanding rookie campaign for the Dolphins. As he jokingly chats with the hosts about his first year, he’s happy to no longer have that “rookie” tag to his name, but, for some reason, there may be three 2022 games until it’s officially lifted.
There are numerous inspirational aspects to Phillips’ appearance on the show, which he details. The path to the NFL wasn’t a smooth and easy road, and a left turn in life other than a right turn may have just taken Phillips out of football altogether.
What “The Fish Tank” does so well is connecting the fan base to the team in ways like never before, especially prior to social media. McDuffie, who was the NFL’s 1998 receptions leader, proudly wears the hat of lead Dolphins fan. The life-long Dolphin has become a friend to so many fans across the great base, and Levit continues to do amazing work, integrating football and community.
The latter runs the Jason Taylor Foundation, which specializes in philanthropy and educational resources for young people in South Florida, in addition to his work with the organization.
McDuffie and Levit have more current Dolphins on the docket for interviews, and with legends such as Taylor, Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Dwight Stephenson already taking the dip, all of “The Fish Tank” faithful are waiting for the big fish – Dan Marino.
At the moment, there’s no confirmation on No. 13 joining his former favorite target and one of his favorite PR men, yet there’s a strong assumption that, like all else in McDuffie’s and Levit’s careers, it’s a good bet they’ll deliver.
“The Fish Tank” is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google. The Phillips episode is a great place to start.