Who led the Dolphins with 11.5 sacks in 2013?

Olivier Vernon led the Miami Dolphins with 11.5 sacks in 2013.

Vernon was a second-year defensive end who appeared in all 16 games and started 14. His 11.5 sacks were a career high at that point, and he also recorded 57 combined tackles, including 46 solo stops. The Dolphins’ official team statistics list him as their sack leader.

The achievement is notable because Cameron Wake was Miami’s best-known pass rusher and had produced 15 sacks in 2012. Wake remained a major threat in 2013, but he finished that season with 8.5 sacks, leaving Vernon at the top of the team leaderboard. Vernon’s breakout year earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a strong performance against the New York Jets.

A common mix-up is confusing Vernon’s team-leading total with Miami’s overall defensive performance. The Dolphins finished 2013 at 8–8 and allowed a league-high 58 sacks, meaning their own quarterbacks were sacked frequently even while Vernon was producing pressure on opposing offenses. Vernon later left Miami and continued his career with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.