Miami Football: 15 greatest players of the Jimmy Johnson era

• 3,642 passing yards 1984, Miami single-season record
• 3,412 total yards 1984, Miami third most single season
• 5,971 career passing yards, ninth most all-time
• 5,585 career total yards 10th in Miami history
• 48 TDs responsible for 10th in Miami history
• 29 TD passes 1984, third single season Miami history
• 1984 second-team All-American

Bernie Kosar would be much higher on the list, but he only played one season at Miami under Johnson. The one season Kosar played under Johnson was prolific. Kosar set the Miami single-season passing yardage record with 3,642 which still stands today. Kosar set a then-Miami record with 447 passing yards versus Boston College.

The record against Boston College occurred in the infamous from a Miami perspective 47-45 loss on the day after Thanksgiving. The Kosar performance versus Boston College currently ranks sixth all-time in Miami history. Before Johnson’s arrival, Kosar led Miami to the 1983 National Championship as a freshman.

Kosar finished his Miami career as the all-time leading passer in Miami history with 5,971 yards. As of the 2023 season, Kosar is currently 10th in Miami history in passing yards. The 29 TDs Kosar was responsible for in 1984 set the then-Miami record and is currently third in Hurricanes history.

In his lone season playing for Johnson, Kosar was named a second-team All-American and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that was won by Boston College QB Doug Flutie. Following his Miami playing career, Kosar was the first pick in the 1985 Supplemental NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.