DAVIE (AP) — With his NFL debut still more than two weeks away, Ryan Tannehill can already boast of an achievement unprecedented among Miami Dolphins quarterbacks: He won a starting job in his first training camp.
New coach Joe Philbin gave Tannehill the job Monday, meaning the Dolphins will have a rookie QB start a season opener for the first time when they play at Houston on Sept. 9.
Not even Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino or Bob Griese started the first game of their rookie season.
Tannehill beat out Matt Moore, who started the final 12 games last year.
“It was a close competition,” Philbin said of his biggest decision so far as a head coach. “You're trusting your instincts in terms of what's in the best interests of the team. … We like a lot of things about Ryan. He has a chance to be a very good player.”
Training camp began with a three-way competition at quarterback but veteran David Garrard fell out of contention when he underwent minor knee surgery Aug. 11.
Tannehill, who played at Texas A&M, was drafted with the eighth overall pick, which made him the first quarterback taken in the opening round by the Dolphins since Marino in 1983.
Marino retired following the 1999 season and the Dolphins have since had more starting quarterbacks than any other team. Tannehill will be the 17th — easy to remember because he wears No. 17.
He started the Dolphins' second exhibition game Friday at Carolina and went 11 for 23 for 100 yards. Through two preseason games, he's 25 for 47 for 267 yards and one score, while Moore is 12 for 27 for 136 yards and one interception.
“We took into account the entire body of work of everybody since April,” Philbin said. Tannehill started just 19 games at A&M after switching from receiver to quarterback.
Photo: Ryan Tannehill
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