NFL Team History - the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins franchise was founded by lawyer Joe Robbie and actor Danny Thomas in 1965. They became an expansion member of the American Football League in 1966. The AFL had originally began in 1960.

Thomas would eventually sell his interest in the company to Robbie.

Robbie selected the team name 'Dolphins' for his Miami-based franchise after nearly 20,000 entries were submitted. He clarified the raison d'être of the team name in his quote during the 1965 inauguration of the team name. He said, "the dolphin is one of the fastest and smartest creatures of the sea".

This was the first franchise based in Miami, Florida since 1946 when the National Football League's Miami Seahawks became the Baltimore Colts.

George Wilson was named as first the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins played their first regular season game on September 2, 1966 at the Orange Bowl against the Oakland Raiders. In front of an estimated crowd of 26,776, the Dolphins were defeated by the Oakland Raiders by a score of 23-14.

The Dolphins finally won their first game on October 16, 1966 when they defeated the Denver Broncos 24-7.

The Dolphins introductory season ended with a flawed record of 3-11.

With the fourth overall pick in the 1967 NFL draft, the Dolphins selected quarterback Bob Griese out of Purdue.

Following a 3-10-1 record in 1969, Wilson was replaced with Don Shula as the head coach. Shula was the former head coach of the Baltimore Colts. The ensuing season provided the Dolphins with a noteworthy 10-4 record. This was the first winning season for the Miami Dolphins franchise. The Dolphins would face the Oakland Raiders in their first ever post-season game and would put up a good fight. Adversely, they were edged out by a score of 21-14.

Nevertheless, the Dolphins established that their accomplishment in 1970 was no happenstance as they finished the 1971 regular season with a remarkable record of 10-3-1. The Dolphins' success was mostly accredited to their solid offense; however, their 'No Name Defense' solidified them as the team to beat in the AFC Eastern Division.

With victories over the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Colts, the Dolphins were Super Bowl bound for the first time in the team's brief history. The Dolphins faced the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. The thrust that the Dolphins had built with victories in the AFC playoffs did not carry over to the Super Bowl as they were trounced by the Cowboys 24-3.

As the 1972 NFL season commenced, fans in Miami had no clue that their adored Dolphins were about to re-write the professional football history books. The season began with a 20-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. The opening day victory set the tone for the season as the Dolphins would cruise through their season schedule with an undefeated record of 14-0. Nonetheless, the Dolphins and their fans understood that the record would be considered insignificant if they could not hoist the Super Bowl trophy.

The Dolphins defeated the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC playoffs en route to their showdown with the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. With their 16-game winning streak on the line, the Dolphins defense became a hindrance for the Redskins, and the Dolphins posted a 14-7 Super Bowl triumph. It was the first Super Bowl title for the Dolphins franchise, and they became the first modern-day team to finish a season undefeated. Their convincing record of 17-0 is undoubtedly deemed as one of the greatest single seasons in NFL history.

The memorable winning streak ended after 18 games with a loss to the Oakland Raiders. Nonetheless, the Dolphins became the first team to appear in the Super Bowl three successive seasons after they defeated the Raiders in the AFC Championship Game.

The Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-7 in Super Bowl VIII. They were led by full back Larry Csonka, as he rushed for 145 yards and scored two touchdowns.

The Dolphins would put a cap on a 31-game winning streak on their home field in 1974. However, a fourth straight Super Bowl appearance was not to be as they were toppled by the Oakland Raiders 28-26 in the AFC Divisional Playoff game.

The Dolphins began a downward spiral as they failed to reach the post-season in each of the following three seasons. They would not return to the post-season until 1978.

The Dolphins returned to the sought-after Super Bowl in 1982, as they shared the gridiron with the Washington Redskins. Just a decade earlier, the Dolphins defeated the Redskins, capping off an undefeated season. However, they could not repeat that performance in Super Bowl XVII, as they were defeated by a score of 27-17.

In the 1983 NFL Draft, the Dolphins selected quarterback Dan Marino out of Pittsburgh as the 27th overall pick.

In his first full season as the Dolphins starting quarterback, Dan Marino led the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX as they were matched-up against Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. In the regular season, Marino became the first quarterback to pass for more than 5,000 yards in a single season. Additionally, Marino threw a record-breaking 48 touchdown passes. That standard-setting record stood until 2004 when Peyton Manning threw 49 touchdown passes. Marino's unbelievable stats could not carry the Dolphins passed the 49ers. They would suffer a 38-16 defeat in their fifth Super Bowl appearance.

In 1985, Marino would lead the Dolphins back to the AFC Championship game, only to be eliminated by their AFC Eastern Divisional foes, the New England Patriots. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 31-14.

As the NFL players went on strike in 1987, the first game that was to be played at their new stadium, Joe Robbie Stadium, was cancelled. Once the settlement was reached, the Dolphins hosted the Buffalo Bills at their modernized facility, only to lose 34-31 in overtime.

On January 7th, 1989, Dolphins owner and co-founder Joe Robbie passed away due to respiratory complications. Robbie was 73 years of age.

After a four-year post-season sabbatical, the Dolphins returned to contention in 1990. In 1992, the Dolphins hosted the AFC Championship Game against their AFC Eastern rivals, the Buffalo Bills. Clearly outmatched by the Bills on both sides of the ball, they were handed a 29-10 defeat.

In 1993, head coach Don Shula would surpass former Chicago Bears coach George Halas' NFL record of 324 victories with a 19-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Shula was awarded the Sports Illustrated Sportsmen of the Year.

The Dolphins would clinch post-season berths in 1994 and 1995, but playoff disappointment would follow. Nevertheless, the 1995 season was noted for several record breaking achievements for quarterback Dan Marino. He broke the career pass completions record (3,913), pass yardage record (48,841), and touchdown passing record (352).

Following the 1995 season, Don Shula would resign as the Dolphins head coach. His career included 347 wins and two Super Bowl victories with the Miami Dolphins. Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson was hired as his replacement. Johnson led the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl triumphs in 1992 and 1993.

From 1997 to 2001, the Dolphins appeared in the NFL post-season. The 1999 season marked the end of an era for the Dolphins, as quarterback Dan Marino announced his retirement from the NFL. His career-concluding game in the NFL was tainted by a 62-7 thrashing to the inner-state rivals Jacksonville Jaguars.

In 2000, former Chicago Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt replaced Johnson as the Dolphins head coach.

In 2002, the Dolphins acquired running back Ricky Williams in a trade with the New Orleans Saints.

Prior to the 2004 season, running back Ricky Williams was faced with a one-year suspension after testing positive for marijuana. Williams returned in 2005, but his role on the team was reduced. He was suspended for a second time prior to the 2006 season.

Following the 2004 season, head coach Dave Wannstedt was replaced with former LSU head coach Nick Saban. After two seasons in which the Dolphins failed to reach the post-season, Saban left the Dolphins. Cam Cameron was hired as his replacement.