Miami football career passing leader No. 9: Bernie Kosar
- 5,971 passing yards
- 40 passing touchdowns
- 29 interceptions
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Miami’s mid-2000s descent was the dawning of the dominance. That refers to the U becoming a household name in college football in 1983 and 1984 with Bernie Kosar under center. While Kosar’s second season was by far his best between his two underclassmen seasons in Miami, it was in his debut campaign that the quarterback led the Canes to the university’s first national champion in 1983.
While his on-field successes are undisputed, his off-field activities have been under fire in recent years, most prominently his firing from the Cleveland Browns organization in January 2023 for placing a bet in Ohio through Tipico Sportsbook (a $19,000 bet on the Browns to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers). Doing so as an NFL employee is strictly forbidden by the league.
Kosar’s gambling gaffe notwithstanding, the signal-caller’s place in Hurricanes history cannot be undone by a few clicks on one’s phone. Miami became a powerhouse starting with Kosar’s tenure in South Florida.