The Rise of the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins
joined the AFL as an expansion team in 1966 and have since established
themselves as one of the winningest franchises in the NFL. Under legendary
coach Don Shula, the Dolphins rose from expansion doormat to back-to-back Super
Bowl champions in just a few short years.1 Nearly 50 years later, the Dolphins remain
one of the most successful franchises in the league despite some recent
struggles. Let's take a look at the rise of the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins' early
years were predictably difficult, posting a record of 3-24-1 in their inaugural
1966 and 1967 seasons.2 Things started to turn around in 1968 when Miami
drafted quarterback Bob Griese and running back Larry Csonka out of Purdue.3
Led by Griese's precision passing and Csonka's powerful running, the Dolphins
improved to 4-10 that year. The real turnaround came in 1970 when Don Shula was
hired as head coach after a successful run with the Baltimore Colts.4
Shula immediately
instituted his demanding, disciplined approach and the Dolphins responded. Led
by Griese, Csonka, wide receiver Paul Warfield, and a ferocious "No-Name
Defense," Miami won 10 games in 1970 and reached the Super Bowl, where
they lost to the Colts 16-7.5 This established the Dolphins as a legitimate
contender and marked the beginning of their rise. The next season, Miami went
undefeated at 14-0, becoming the only team to achieve a perfect regular season.
They capped off their historic campaign by defeating the Washington Redskins
14-7 in Super Bowl VII, giving the Dolphins their first championship.6
The 1972 season saw the
Dolphins repeat as Super Bowl champions, defeating the Redskins again by a
score of 14-7 to finish with a record of 17-0, the only undefeated, untied
season in NFL history.7 This cemented the Dolphins' status as a true dynasty
under Shula's leadership. They remained competitive throughout the 1970s,
making five total Super Bowl appearances between 1970-1984.8 However, they
failed to capture another title after their unprecedented 1972 season.
The Dolphins experienced
some down years in the 1980s and early 1990s before drafting future Hall of
Fame quarterback Dan Marino out of Pitt with the 27th overall pick in 1983.9
Marino immediately took the league by storm, throwing for over 5,000 yards and
48 touchdowns in 1984, both NFL records at the time.10 Under Marino's leadership,
the Dolphins made numerous playoff appearances but failed to reach the Super
Bowl again until 1984 and 1984.11 Marino played his entire 17-year career in
Miami before retiring after the 1999 season, leaving as the NFL's all-time
leading passer with over 61,000 career yards.12
While Marino's
retirement marked the end of an era, the Dolphins remained competitive under
coach Jimmy Johnson and his successor Dave Wannstedt in the late 1990s and
early 2000s.13 However, organizational instability and salary cap issues led to
losing seasons in the 2000s.14 The Dolphins have failed to reach a Super Bowl
since 1984 and have endured numerous coaching changes and front office
shakeups.15 However, under new coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins are showing
signs of resurgence in 2022 behind young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.16 If they
can build sustained success, the Dolphins have the infrastructure and resources
to once again rise among the AFC's elite.
In conclusion, the Miami Dolphins rose from AFL doormat to back-to-back Super Bowl champions in just a few short years under the leadership of Don Shula in the early 1970s. Quarterback legends like Bob Griese, Dan Marino, and coach Shula established a winning culture that has the Dolphins among the NFL's all-time winningest franchises despite some struggles in recent decades. With a new coach and promising young talent, the Dolphins look to recapture their glory days once again.