ONE
In 1965, Miami was granted an AFL franchise after an ownership group, led by lawyer Joe Robbie, paid a $7.5 million expansion fee. The newcomers held a ‘name the team’ competition, with hundreds of entrants suggesting the name ‘Dolphins’. With their new name in place, the Miami Dolphins hired George Wilson as head coach. Miami’s first season came in 1966, and although Wilson never made the playoffs as the Dolphins’ head coach, he did acquire multiple key players during his four seasons in charge. Wilson drafted quarterback Bob Griese in 1967 and full back Larry Csonka in 1968, before trading for linebacker Nick Buoniconti and offensive lineman Larry Little in 1969. Wilson was fired after the 1969 season.
Old Miami Dolphins Logo
TWO
Don Shula became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins as the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970. Shula soon became famous for his exhausting and brutal training camps - commonly making players practice four times a day in the sweltering Miami heat. The hard work paid off, however, as the Dolphins finished Shula’s debut season by securing the franchise’s first-ever playoff appearance, and another postseason berth the following year. In the 1971 Playoffs, Miami defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in the longest game in NFL history, before beating the Baltimore Colts 21-0 to advance to Super Bowl VI. There, Miami were embarrassed 24-3 by the Dallas Cowboys. This would be the last game the Miami Dolphins would lose for nearly two years.
Don Shula, Head Coach 1970-1995
THREE
In the 1972 season, the NFL witnessed something that had never been seen before and hasn’t been seen since. The Miami Dolphins went undefeated. Led by Csonka, Buoniconti and running back Mercury Morris, the Dolphins finished the regular season with an astonishing 14-0 record. Miami then defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-14 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, before taking down the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-17 in the AFC Championship Game. In Super Bowl VII, defensive back Jake Scott, who hauled in two of Miami’s three interceptions that game, was crowned Super Bowl MVP as the Dolphins defeated Washington 14-7. As the final seconds ran off the clock on Miami’s 17th win that season, Dolphins players hoisted their head coach into the air before lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
‘The Perfect Season’ - Don Shula, 1972
FOUR
The Dolphins lost their first game since Super Bowl VI to the Oakland Raiders in Week 2 of the 1973 season - however they still ended the season with 12 wins and a spot in Super Bowl VIII against the Minnesota Vikings. In a complete domination from start to finish, Miami won their second-straight Lombardi Trophy. In the following years, the Dolphins remained incredibly competitive and were responsible for some of the NFL’s greatest moments - including a game dubbed the ‘Epic in Miami’. In a 41-38 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers, various scoring records were broken in temperatures so high that dehydration resulted in players cramping and even requiring oxygen. Their next Super Bowl appearance came in the 1982 season, but Miami lost to Washington, 27-17. Then, in the 1983 NFL Draft, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history fell straight into the Dolphins’ hands.
Old Miami Dolphins Jersey and Helmet
FIVE
Six quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft - three of them would eventually be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With the 27th pick, the Dolphins selected Dan Marino - who within just two years had become one of the NFL’s best. His 1984 season is still considered one of the greatest by a quarterback in NFL history, as he threw for a record-shattering 5,084 yards and 48 touchdown passes, en route to league MVP. Despite retiring with nine Pro Bowl appearances, almost every passing record, and a spot in the Hall of Fame, Marino’s Super Bowl loss in the 1984 season was as close as he got to a Lombardi Trophy. To this day, Marino is considered the greatest player in history to never win a Super Bowl.
Dan Marino, Quarterback 1983-1999
SIX
Don Shula and Dan Marino made the playoffs seven times in their 13 seasons together in Miami. In 1991, Miami made Marino the then-highest-paid player in NFL history, signing him to a five-year deal worth almost $25 million. The 1992 season saw the team make their way to yet another AFC Championship Game, but they fell short of Super Bowl XXVII. With Marino out injured in 1993, the Dolphins were unable to reach the playoffs. However, their replacement quarterback Steve DeBerg, did lead Miami to a famous Thanksgiving Day win against the Dallas Cowboys. Shula remained on Miami’s sidelines until the end of the 1995 season - eventually retiring after the Dolphins’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round. Shula’s 328 wins are still the most by a head coach in NFL history. Of his 26 seasons in charge, the Dolphins only finished two with a losing record. Shula died in May 2020, aged 90.
Dan Marino calls an audible against the San Diego Chargers
SEVEN
Two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Jimmy Johnson was hired as Shula’s replacement in 1996. In 1997, Johnson drafted defensive end Jason Taylor, who developed into one of the franchise’s greatest-ever defenders. In fact, Johnson made several smart draft picks that bolstered Miami’s defense in his early years - including linebacker Zach Thomas in the 1996 NFL Draft. Despite their talent, Miami continued to underwhelm in the postseason. Following a 62-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1999 playoffs, Dan Marino retired and Johnson resigned - clearing the way for new coach Dave Wannstedt. The following year, Wannstedt led the Dolphins to a 23-17 playoff win over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
Jason Taylor, Defensive End 1997-2007, 2009, 2011
EIGHT
Despite making the playoffs in both 2000 and 2001, Dolphins fans were soon forced to endure the two longest postseason droughts in franchise history. The first drought lasted six seasons and three permanent head coaches. After Tony Sparano’s ‘Wildcat’ formation then resulted in a Wild Card loss following the 2008 season, the second drought lasted seven seasons and saw the team go through two more head coaches. Adam Gase became head coach in 2016, and - thanks to Pro Bowl seasons from defensive stars Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, and running back Jay Ajayi - Miami returned to the postseason, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.
Hard Rock Stadium
NINE
Adam Gase was fired following the 2018 season, but not before overseeing the ‘Miracle in Miami’ - a play involving multiple lateral passes against the New England Patriots that resulted in Kenyan Drake scoring the game-winning touchdown. In 2019, Brian Flores took over and the team began to rebuild - trading away numerous key players. In 2020 the Dolphins drafted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, before selecting receiver Jaylen Waddle in 2021. In the 2022 offseason, Flores was replaced by Mike McDaniel who instantly pulled off a blockbuster trade - acquiring first-team All-Pro wide receiver, Tyreek Hill. Despite Tagovailoa sustaining multiple injuries, the Dolphins quickly became one of the league’s most explosive offenses. In fact, in their 2023 victory over the Denver Broncos, Miami set a new franchise record with 70 points, whilst setting an NFL record for total yards in a game with 726. Heading into 2024, can the NFL’s fastest-team make the playoffs for the third-straight season and claim their first postseason victory since 2000.
Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver 2022-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
Miami played in the Orange Bowl for the team’s first 20 years - complete with a real Dolphin named ‘Flipperat’ at the east end - they then moved into Hard Rock Stadium in 1987, which was originally known as the Joe Robbie Stadium.
Currently, Hard Rock Stadium is the centrepiece of Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix, as the race takes place on a temporary circuit that surrounds the stadium - with the inaugural Grand Prix taking place in 2022.
It was long believed that every year members of the 1972 side would come together to drink champagne as soon as the league’s last unbeaten team finally lost - celebrating their continued status as the only ‘perfect’ team in NFL history. Eventually Don Shula did however admit this was untrue.
