Miami Dolphins
The only perfect season in NFL history.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins achieved the only perfect season in NFL history, finishing 17-0. Led by third-year head coach Don Shula, the team led the league in both points scored and fewest points allowed. Starting quarterback Bob Griese broke his ankle in week 5, and 38-year-old backup Earl Morrall started the remainder of the regular season. Griese returned to relieve Morrall in the AFC Championship Game and started Super Bowl VII. Running backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season. The defense, termed the "No-Name Defense" by Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry, was led by linebacker Nick Buoniconti, end Bill Stanfill, tackle Manny Fernandez, and safeties Dick Anderson and Jake Scott.
- Key Miami Figures
- Don Shula, Larry Csonka, Bob Griese
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The 1972 Dolphins' perfect season began with a week 1 win at Kansas City, the first regular season game at Arrowhead Stadium. Miami safety Dick Anderson recovered an Ed Podolak fumble on the Chiefs' first drive, leading to a 14-yard touchdown from Bob Griese to Marlin Briscoe. The Dolphins won 20-10. In week 2 against Houston, Bill Stanfill returned a Hoyle Granger fumble to the one-yard line to set up a Jim Kiick touchdown. Miami won 34-13. Week 3 saw the first-ever meeting between the Dolphins and Vikings. Trailing 14-6 in the fourth quarter, a 22-yard pass from wide receiver Marlin Briscoe to Jim Mandich set up a 51-yard Garo Yepremian field goal. A short Vikings punt led to a three-yard touchdown pass from Griese to Mandich, giving Miami a 16-14 win. The Dolphins sacked Fran Tarkenton five times and intercepted him three times.
In Their Own Story
In week 4 against the New York Jets, the Jets took a 7-0 lead when a Cliff McClain fumble was recovered by guard Randy Rasmussen in the end zone. A 16-yard touchdown pass from Bob Griese to Howard Twilley tied the game, and a six-yard Jim Kiick touchdown run gave Miami a 14-7 halftime lead. The Dolphins won 27-17. In week 5 against San Diego, the teams traded first-quarter field goals before Dick Anderson returned a fumble. The Dolphins clinched the AFC East title in week 10 with Earl Morrall at quarterback. None of their regular season opponents advanced to the eight-team postseason; three had made the previous postseason (Kansas City, Minnesota, Baltimore). The Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season and won all three postseason games to finish 17-0. Miami led the league in total offense, total defense, scoring offense, and scoring defense, the only team ever to do so.
Reader's Guide
The 1972 Dolphins ranked number 1 on the 100 greatest teams of all time by the NFL on its 100th anniversary. Three other teams reached the NFL's title game undefeated and untied—the Chicago Bears in 1934 and 1942 and the New England Patriots in 2007—but all three lost the championship. Four other teams won the NFL championship with an undefeated record but all recorded at least one tie: the Akron Pros in 1920, the Canton Bulldogs in 1922 and 1923, and the Green Bay Packers in 1929. The 1985 Chicago Bears' bid for an undefeated season was snapped by the Dolphins in their game 13 Monday Night Football meeting. On August 20, 2013, President Barack Obama hosted the surviving members of the 1972 Dolphins, noting they "never got their White House visit." Fifty years later, on October 23, 2022, the 1972 Dolphins were honored at halftime during a Sunday Night Football game featuring the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, the same matchup that occurred for the 1972 AFC Championship Game.
Did You Know?
- The 1972 Dolphins are the only team to lead the league in total offense, total defense, scoring offense, and scoring defense in the same season.
- Running backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
- The Dolphins' defense was termed the 'No-Name Defense' by Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry.
- President Barack Obama hosted the surviving members of the 1972 Dolphins on August 20, 2013, noting they 'never got their White House visit.'
- The 1972 Dolphins ranked number 1 on the 100 greatest teams of all time by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.
College Foundation and Draft Journey
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Tenure and Triumphs with Miami
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Later Career Stints and Team Dynamics
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Post-Retirement Legacy and Community
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Miami Dolphins rivalry considered historic?
This matchup represents a clash of two dominant 1970s dynasties competing for AFC supremacy without ever meeting in a Super Bowl. Their battles defined an era where Pittsburgh's physical defense challenged Miami's innovative speed and motion offense.
Who were the key players during this rivalry?
Pittsburgh relied on stars like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Mean Joe Greene to anchor their Steel Curtain defense. Opposing them were Miami legends such as coach Don Shula, quarterback Bob Griese, and running back Larry Csonka.
Did the Steelers and Dolphins ever play in a Super Bowl against each other?
No, despite both franchises winning multiple championships during the 1970s, they never faced one another on football's biggest stage. Their most significant encounters occurred in regular-season games and divisional playoff clashes instead.
What was the main difference between their playing styles?
The Steelers utilized a bruising ground game and suffocating defensive line known as the Steel Curtain to overpower opponents. In contrast, Miami employed a revolutionary motion offense focused on speed and precision passing under Don Shula's direction.
How did this rivalry impact both teams' legacies?
Frequent high-stakes battles cemented both franchises as national powerhouses throughout the decade. The competition highlighted distinct football philosophies that remain iconic examples of 1970s NFL excellence today.
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