This wonderful Marino college gamer is offered from the personal collection of one of Marino’s AFC rivals - the ball-hawking DB, Fred Marion of the Patriots. Marino and Marion became fast friends during the 1981 Kodak All-American team gathering when Dan was a junior at Pitt and Marion was a safety for the ‘Canes. The players traded jerseys during that weekend, and rather repeated the ceremony almost a decade later after a Pats-Dolphins game at Joe Robbie Stadium. Both Marino jerseys were prominently displayed for years in Fred Marion’s tavern.

From the first of these friendly exchanges, we present that Marino jersey. The Pitt offering is the hybrid mesh, shoulder yokes/fishnet main body most often worn by Dan. It also features a ribbed cotton crossover neck and ribbed sleeve cuffs. The correct sleeve stripe pattern is present and the correct numeral fonts in white are on the front, back, and sleeves. The NOB “M-A-R-I-N-O” is screened onto a mesh plate in gold, plain-block, rounded font. While unusual in styling, it was most certainly used by Pitt on their early ‘80s fishnet jerseys and their cotton tearaways. Marino autographed the jersey in silver on the left side of the nameplate. The wear is light but QB appropriate. Accompanying the jersey is a letter from Patriots’ 10-year safety, Fred Marion, describing the jersey’s legacy, and, furnished as well, is a picture of the jersey framed in his bar. Overall, a gem.

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