izzo went undrafted in the 1996 nfl draft and was later signed by the miami dolphins as a free agent in april 1996. he first came to local notoriety based on a sound byte that circulated during the pre-season of izzo's rookie year, where miami coach jimmy johnson told the team that only two players were guaranteed to make the team: one was dan marino and the other the then-unknown izzo. he spent most of his time on special teams, and was rewarded with his first trip to the pro bowl in 2000.