The Miami Dolphins - all you need to know
A profile of one of the NFL’s glamour teams, The Miami Dolphins!
Welcome to The Sporting Blog franchise overview series. In this series, we will review each National Football League franchise and give you an in-depth history of who they are and how they came to be.
In today’s edition, we are talking about the Miami Dolphins!
For more info on the Dolphins and other National Football League franchises, check out our quick guide to every NFL team!
History of the Dolphins
The Dolphins have a long history in the state of Florida but quite a short history in their own football division. Miami is the oldest sports franchise in the state but they are the only team in the AFC East without being a charter member of the American Football League.
A lawyer and a comedian co-founded the Dolphins franchise in 1966. They were the first team in the area since the Miami Seahawks who played in the All-American Football Conference. In 1970, the Dolphins joined the NFL in the AFL merger.
Prior to this, their practice facilities were at a private boys’ school in Boca Raton, FL. In a contest to name the team, over 19,000 entries were submitted and over 600 of those entries had the name Dolphins. So in 1965, the team was named as such.
It didn’t take the Dolphins very long to be a successful NFL Franchise. They went to their first Super Bowl in 1972 but they lost to the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 24-3. That following year, the Dolphins pulled off something that has never been done again: they achieved a perfect season and a Super Bowl win. It is thought that no team has achieved more success as quickly as the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins Stadium
The Dolphins currently play at Hard Rock Stadium which has had many names in its history. The stadium was once shared with the Florida Marlins but they moved out when they built Marlins Park. Back in those days, you could see the clay infield that the Marlins played on.
From 1966 to 1986, they played at the old Miami Orange Bowl. The new stadium has had so many different names that it’s hard to keep track of. From Pro Player Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Landshark Stadium, Sun Life Stadium and New Miami Stadium before the current name came along; Hard Rock Stadium.
It was renovated in 2015-2016 with over $400 million put into it with the purpose of making it more attractive for a Super Bowl. The last time it hosted a Super Bowl was in 2020 when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers.
The Hard Rock Stadium - Home of The Miami Dolphins
Dolphins Playoffs and Championship record
The Dolphins first year in the AFL was a brutal start, beginning just 1-15. In their first four seasons, the Dolphins went just 15-39-2. But then a saviour was brought in to turn them around. Don Shula was hired in 1970 and immediately showed a massive improvement.
In his first season as the Dolphins head coach, the Fins went 10-4 and lost in the AFC Divisional Game. In 1971, the Dolphins went to the Super Bowl and they lost to the Dallas Cowboys. But in 1972, the Dolphins were arguably the best team in NFL history. They had a perfect regular-season record and went on to win the Super Bowl against the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 24-7.
The Dolphins have played in 41 postseason games with a 20-21 record. They won back to back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973 and have won five different AFC Conference Championship Games. They have won their division in 13 different seasons but the last time they won one was in 2008. They have not made a playoff appearance since 2016 and their last one before that was in 2008 and then 2001. The 21st century has not treated the Dolphins kindly.
The Best Coach in Dolphins History
As you may have been able to guess, Don Shula is without a doubt the greatest coach in Dolphins history. Only seven teams have won in back-to-back Super Bowls and Shula is one of the few coaches who could have said he did that for his team.
Shula coached the Fins from 1970 to 1995. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is the winningest coach in NFL history. He held a record of 328-156-6 during his coaching career with both the Dolphins and the Baltimore Colts. He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion, an NFL Champion, a four-time AP NFL Coach of the Year winner, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year honoree and is on the NFL 100th Anniversary Team. He was also named to the 1970 All-Decade Team.
The Dolphins went to the playoffs in 12 different seasons with Shula as their head coach. After their Super Bowl win in 1973, they went to two more Super Bowls with Shula that they weren’t able to win.
Three Best Players in Miami Dolphins History
Larry Csonka - Running Back
The big ole Larry Csonka played with the Dolphins from 1968 to 1974 and one final year in 1979. He's their all-time rushing yardage leader with 6,737 yards and rushing touchdowns leader with 53.
Csonka was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987 and is one of just three Dolphins players to have their jersey number retired by the franchise.
Jason Taylor - Linebacker
Jason Taylor was a scary linebacker in his day and the best defensive player that the Dolphins ever had. He is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the franchise leader in sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and tackles for loss. He went to six different Pro Bowl games, was a three-time All-Pro selection and was the 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient.
Taylor is in the Dolphins Ring of Honor and was named to the 2000’s Hall of Fame Team by the NFL.
Dan Marino - Quarterback
This one should go without saying.
Marino is one of the NFL greats but sadly never won a Super Bowl, although he did play in one with the Miami Dolphins. Marino played there from 1983 to 1999. Marino had the greatest passing season of any quarterback in the league's history, throwing for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns, both NFL season records at the time.
His 48 touchdowns destroyed the former record of 36; this record wouldn't be broken for another 20 years, when Peyton Manning threw for 49 touchdowns in 2004.
Dan Marino - Dolphins Legend
Greatest Draft Pick in Dolphins History
Dan Marino probably should have been the first overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. After drama and controversy, he fell all the way to the Dolphins who had the 27th overall pick. He is considered to be one of the greatest first-round steals ever.
Marino is a Hall of Fame quarterback who won an NFL MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, went to nine different Pro Bowl selections and is now in the Dolphins Hall of Fame.
Best Free Agent Signing or Trade in Dolphins History
Jim Langer was a big, bruising offensive lineman that blocked for Larry Csonka and the greatest Dolphins teams. Langer was cut by the Browns and signed by Shula and the Fins.
Langer earned six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1973 to 1978. He was also selected to four First Team All-Pro rosters, three of which came consecutively from 1973 to 1975. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1987, polishing off one of the most decorated careers in franchise history.
The Miami Dolphin’s Greatest Moment
The greatest moment is easy for the Dolphins as it was their dominance in 1972, doing something that no other team has ever done, complete a perfect season. The New England Patriots came close in 2008, but the Dolphins still hold the record that may never be broken.
