Miami Football: 15 greatest players of the Jimmy Johnson era

• 6,058 passing yards-Seventh in Miami history
• 3,238 passing yards 1986-Seventh in Miami single-season history
• 48 Career Passing TDs-sixth in Miami history
• 26 TD passes 1986-Fourth Single Season Miami history
• 5,738 total yards-Seventh Miami history
• 56 career TDs responsible for-Seventh Miami history
• 30 TDs responsible for 1986-Second single season in Miami history
• Heisman Trophy (1986)
• Maxwell Award (1986)
• Davey O’Brien Award (1986)
• Walter Camp Award (1986)
• Sammy Baugh Trophy (1986)
• Sporting News Player of the Year (1986)
• UPI Player of the Year (1986)
• Unanimous All-American (1986)
• Miami Hurricanes No. 14 retired

As the leader of the Miami football team for two seasons and the first Heisman Trophy winner in program history, Vinny Testaverde is the preeminent Hurricane during the Johnson era. Testaverde was the Miami career leader in passing yards and touchdowns when his eligibility ended following the 1986 season.

Miami was 21-3 in two seasons with Testaverde as the starting QB. A season-opening loss to Florida in 1985 was the only regular season loss Miami had with Testaverde during an awards-filled senior season in 1986 that included being named a consensus All-American.

Testaverde won the Davey O’Brien Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and the Maxwell Award while leading Miami to an undefeated regular season. During his Heisman Trophy-winning season, Testaverde completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 2,557 yards, 26 TDs, and nine interceptions.

Miami won 36 straight regular-season games following the loss to Florida in 1985 through the defeat at Notre Dame in 1988. Testaverde was the first Miami QB to win a national award during the era when the Hurricanes were known as QB U. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Testaverde first in the 1986 NFL Draft.

Testaverde is currently seventh in passing yards for his career and a season, is sixth in career TDs, and fourth for a single season. Testaverde played 21 seasons in the NFL with eight different teams. In the best season of his career, Testaverde returned home and led the New York Jets to an AFC East title and the AFC championship game.