The Comeback vs. Houston Oilers (1973)
The oldest professional sports team in Florida, with a legacy of perfection and a historic perfect season.
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team plays its home games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Dolphins are the oldest professional sports team in Florida.
Lore & Background
The Dolphins were founded by Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas, beginning play in the AFL in 1966. They joined the NFL as a result of the 1970 AFL–NFL merger. Under coach Don Shula, the team completed a perfect season in 1972, culminating in a win in Super Bowl VII, and repeated as champions in Super Bowl VIII. The Dolphins later appeared in Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XIX, losing both games. Quarterback Dan Marino led the team from 1983 to 1999, breaking numerous passing records.
Reader's Guide
The Dolphins' most recent playoff win came in the 2000 season. They have six playoff appearances since Marino's retirement (2000, 2001, 2008, 2016, 2022, and 2023) and two division titles (2000 and 2008). The team currently has the longest postseason win drought in the NFL.
Did You Know?
- The Dolphins were one of the first professional football teams in the southeast, along with the Atlanta Falcons.
- In December 2024, the Dolphins became one of the first NFL teams to sell part of the team to outside private equity investors, selling 13% at a valuation of $8.1 billion.
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