History of Miami Dolphins in Timeline

The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the NFL as part of the AFC East division and play their home games at Hard Rock Stadium. Owned by Stephen M. Ross, the Dolphins are the oldest professional sports team in Florida and were among the first professional football teams in the southeast, alongside the Atlanta Falcons. Unlike other AFC East teams, they were not a charter member of the American Football League (AFL).

1946: Miami Seahawks Played in All-America Football Conference

In 1946, the Miami Seahawks played in the All-America Football Conference before becoming the Baltimore Colts.

1965: Dolphins Franchise Awarded

In 1965, the Miami Dolphins franchise was awarded to Joseph Robbie and Danny Thomas for $7.5 million.

1966: Training Camp in St. Pete Beach

During the summer of 1966, the Miami Dolphins held their training camp in St. Pete Beach, with practices at Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport in August.

1966: Denny Sym's First Game

From the Miami Dolphins' first game in 1966 until 2000, Denny Sym cheered on the team for 33 years as a one-man sideline show.

1966: Joe Robbie founder and owner

In 1966, Joe Robbie was the original founder and owner of the Miami Dolphins.

1966: Live dolphin appearance

In 1966, a live dolphin was situated in a water tank at the Orange Bowl's open end. The dolphin would jump in the tank to celebrate touchdowns and field goals.

1966: Team Debut

In 1966, at their debut, the Miami Dolphins used a lighter and brighter orange color instead of the deep coral color in their logo and uniforms.

1966: Dolphins Begin Play in AFL

In 1966, the Miami Dolphins, founded by Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas, started playing in the American Football League (AFL).

1967: Dolphin Logo Centered

In the 1967 season, the dolphin in the Miami Dolphins' logo was centered on the sunburst.

1968: Dolphin Logo Reverted

Between 1968 and 1973, the Miami Dolphins' logo reverted to its original placement, with the dolphin's head near the center of the sunburst.

1968: Flipper removed from Orange Bowl

In 1968, Flipper was removed from the Orange Bowl to save costs.

1970: Joined National Football League

In 1970, the Miami Dolphins became part of the National Football League.

1970: Training Camp at Biscayne College

In 1970, the Miami Dolphins began holding their training camp at Biscayne College, later renamed St. Thomas University, in Miami Gardens.

1970: Miami Dolphins Joined the NFL

In 1970, the Miami Dolphins joined the National Football League (NFL) as part of the AFL-NFL merger.

1970: Dolphins Assigned to AFC East

In 1970, upon the AFL-NFL merger, the Miami Dolphins were assigned to the AFC East division in the NFL's American Football Conference.

1970: Dolphins Emerged as Dominant Team

Starting in 1970, the Shula-led Dolphins emerged as one of the most dominant teams in the NFL.

1972: Good Luck Charm

Before the 1972 season, Lee Ofman approached the Miami Dolphins with a song he wrote and composed because he wanted music to inspire his favorite team. The fight song would soon serve as a good luck charm for the Dolphins that season.

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1972: Miami Dolphins Won the Super Bowl

In 1972, the Miami Dolphins completed the first perfect season in NFL history and won the Super Bowl.

1972: Perfect Season and Super Bowl Win

In 1972, the Miami Dolphins completed the first perfect season in NFL history with a 14-0 regular-season record and won the Super Bowl.

1972: Victories Against Kansas City Chiefs

In 1972, the Miami Dolphins won a notable pair of games against the Kansas City Chiefs. One game was "The Longest Game", the final game in Municipal Stadium, and the other was the first regular-season game at Arrowhead Stadium.

1972: Use of White Uniforms for Home Games

Starting with the 1972 perfect season, the Miami Dolphins used white uniforms as the primary uniforms for road games and daytime home games due to the extreme heat of South Florida.

1972: "1972 Perfect Season Team 17–0" inductee

The "1972 Perfect Season Team 17–0" inductee was put into one corner of Hard Rock Stadium with special placards of Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII included next to it on each side.

1973: Dolphin Logo Reverted

Between 1968 and 1973, the Miami Dolphins' logo reverted to its original placement, with the dolphin's head near the center of the sunburst.

1974: Dolphin's Body Centered on Sunburst

By 1974, the dolphin's body was centered on the sunburst in the Miami Dolphins' logo, in a slightly smaller version than the 1967 version.

1976: Founding of Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 1976, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were founded, creating a mellow in-state rivalry with the Miami Dolphins, as they became the only two teams in Florida at the time.

1978: Debut as Dolphins Starbrites

In 1978, the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders made their debut as the Dolphins Starbrites.

1982: AFC Championship Game

In 1982, the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets played in the AFC Championship, with Miami winning to face the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII.

1982: The Snowplow Game

In 1982, the Miami Dolphins had a notable moment against the New England Patriots in a game known as the Snowplow Game.

1983: Dan Marino Era Begins

In 1983, Dan Marino began his career as quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, becoming one of the most prolific passers in NFL history.

1986: Move to Joe Robbie Stadium

After the 1986 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins moved from the Orange Bowl to the new Joe Robbie Stadium.

1989: Joe Robbie owner until 1989

Joe Robbie was the owner of the Miami Dolphins until 1989.

1990: June Taylor's Retirement

In 1990, June Taylor, the founding choreographer of the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, retired after leading the squad since its debut.

1992: "1972 Undefeated Team" enshrined

In 1992, at the 20-year anniversary, Miami's "1972 Undefeated Team" was enshrined into the Honor Roll.

1993: Sharing stadium with Florida Marlins

In 1993, the Miami Dolphins began sharing their stadium with Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins, now known as the Miami Marlins.

1993: End of Training Camp at Biscayne College

In 1993, the Miami Dolphins concluded their training camp location at Biscayne College (later St. Thomas University).

1993: Opening of Miami Dolphins Training Facility

In 1993, the Miami Dolphins opened their training facility at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, marking a new era for the team's training operations.

1995: Jacksonville Jaguars Join NFL

In 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars joined the NFL, becoming the third team in Florida and affecting the existing rivalry dynamic between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

1996: Start of Naming Rights Deals

In 1996, the venue now known as Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, began having multiple naming rights deals.

1996: Jimmy Johnson Hired

Prior to the 1996 season, Jimmy Johnson was hired to replace Shula.

April 18, 1997: Introduction of "The Dolphin" Mascot

On Friday, April 18, 1997, the first "official" mascot of the Miami Dolphins, named "The Dolphin", was introduced.

June 4, 1997: Announcement of Mascot Name

At the annual Dolphins Awards Banquet on June 4, 1997, the winning name for the Miami Dolphins' mascot was announced after a "Name the Mascot" contest.

1997: Logo Update

In 1997, the Miami Dolphins logo was updated with a simplified sunburst and a darkened dolphin with a more serious expression. The uniforms remained the same, but a different block number font was used and navy drop shadows were added.

1997: Made the Postseason

In 1997, the team improved to a 9–7 mark and made the postseason.

1998: First Game vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

In 1998, the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, the only two AFC franchises in Florida, first met during the NFL season on a Monday Night Football matchup, marking the beginning of a minor rivalry between the two teams.

1998: Made the Postseason

In the 1998 season, the team went 10–6 and made the postseason. The Dolphins defeated the Bills 24–17 in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Denver Broncos 38–3 in the Divisional Round.

1999: Dan Marino's Retirement

At the end of the 1999 season, Dan Marino retired from the Miami Dolphins after a record-breaking career.

1999: Shula Era Ends

By 1999, the Shula-led Dolphins emerged as one of the most dominant teams in the NFL with only two losing seasons.

1999: AFC Divisional Round vs. Jaguars

In 1999, the Miami Dolphins played against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Divisional Round, which became the final career game for Dolphins' hall-of-fame quarterback Dan Marino. The Jaguars won with a score of 62-7.

1999: Made the Postseason

In the 1999 season, the Dolphins went 9–7 and made the postseason. The team defeated the Buffalo Bills 24–17 in the Wild Card Round before falling 62–7 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2000: Denny Sym's Last Game

Denny Sym cheered on the Miami Dolphins for 33 years as a one-man sideline show from the team's first game in 1966 until 2000.

2000: Dave Wannstedt Hired

Going into the 2000 season, the Dolphins named Dave Wannstedt as head coach and led the team to a 11–5 record and an AFC East title.

2000: Playoff Appearance and Division Title

In 2000, the Miami Dolphins made a playoff appearance and secured a division title.

2001: Playoff Appearance

In 2001, the Miami Dolphins made a playoff appearance.

2001: Made the Postseason

In the 2001 season, the team made the postseason with a 11–5 record and runner-up placement in the AFC East. The team lost to the Baltimore Ravens 20–3 in the Wild Card Round.

2002: Realignment into AFC South

In 2002, the Indianapolis Colts were reassigned into the AFC South as a result of the NFL's divisional realignment, which affected their rivalry with the Miami Dolphins.

2002: Failed to Make the Postseason

In the 2002 season, the team failed to make the postseason despite a 9–7 record.

2003: First Use of Orange Jersey

In 2003, the Miami Dolphins first used an orange jersey for a Sunday night game against Washington, which resulted in a Dolphin win.

2003: Missed the Postseason

In the 2003 season, the team went 10–6 but missed the postseason.

2003: Patriots Dominated AFC

Starting in 2003, during Tom Brady's tenure, the New England Patriots dominated the AFC, winning 16 of 17 division titles until 2019.

2004: Wannstedt Resigned

Following a 1–8 start in the 2004 season, Dave Wannstedt resigned.

2004: Dolphins Upset Defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots

In 2004, the 2-11 Miami Dolphins upset the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 28-29, marking one of their two losses that season, known as "The Night that Courage Wore Orange".

2004: "The Night That Courage Wore Orange"

In 2004, the Miami Dolphins brought back the orange jersey for a Monday Night Football match against the New England Patriots, resulting in an upset win after trailing by 11 points, which has become known as "The Night That Courage Wore Orange".

2005: Saban Hired and Brees Nearly Signed

In 2005, the rivalry between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots intensified when Nick Saban was hired as head coach, and the Dolphins nearly signed Drew Brees.

2005: Nick Saban Coached the Dolphins

In the 2005 season, Nick Saban coached the Dolphins and went 9-7, missing the playoffs.

December 10, 2006: Dolphins Beaten the New England Patriots

On December 10, 2006, the Miami Dolphins beaten the New England Patriots.

2006: Addition of Domed Field

In 2006, the Miami Dolphins added a domed field to their training facility, allowing the team to practice during thunderstorms.

2006: Nick Saban Coached the Dolphins

In the 2006 season, Nick Saban coached the Dolphins and went 6-10, missing the playoffs. He resigned following the season.

March 18, 2007: Death of Denny Sym

Denny Sym, the Miami Dolphins' long-time one-man sideline show and fan, passed away on March 18, 2007, at the age of 72.

2007: Franchise-Worst Season and Cam Cameron Fired

In 2007, the Miami Dolphins suffered a franchise-worst 1–15 season, and Cam Cameron was fired as head coach after the season.

2007: Patriots 16-0 Season

In 2007, the New England Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season.

2008: AFC East Title

In 2008, Tony Sparano led the Miami Dolphins to an 11–5 record and an AFC East title. They upset the Patriots on the road using the Wildcat offense.

2008: Playoff Appearance and Division Title

In 2008, the Miami Dolphins made a playoff appearance and secured a division title.

August 7, 2009: New Fight Song Revealed

On August 7, 2009, the Miami Dolphins revealed a new fight song by T-Pain and Jimmy Buffett featuring Pitbull, introduced for the 2009 NFL season.

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August 17, 2009: New Fight Song Debut

On August 17, 2009, the new Miami Dolphins fight song by T-Pain and Jimmy Buffett featuring Pitbull was played during the preseason home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

August 22, 2009: Fight Song Booed Heavily

On August 22, 2009, after being heavily booed in the first preseason game, the new Miami Dolphins fight song by T-Pain and Jimmy Buffett featuring Pitbull was not played during the second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.

2009: Switch to Black Shoes

In 2009, the Miami Dolphins switched to wearing black shoes for the first time since the early 1970s.

2009: Orange Jersey Victory against Jets

In 2009, the Miami Dolphins used the orange jerseys for a Monday night win against the New York Jets.

2009: Regression Season

The 2009 season saw regression with a 7-9 record.

April 2010: Start of Special Teams Volunteer Program

In April 2010, the Miami Dolphins initiated the first Volunteer Program in the NFL, known as Special Teams.

August 2010: Dolphins launch regional TV network

In August 2010, the Miami Dolphins launched its own regional TV network to carry preseason games and in-season content, with coverage broadcast on television through CBS-owned WFOR-TV and other stations, featuring commentary from Dick Stockton, Bob Griese, and Nat Moore.

2010: Last Time Wearing Orange Uniform

In 2010, before the Color Rush debut, was the last time the Miami Dolphins wore an orange uniform before the September 29, 2016 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

2010: First Loss in Orange Jerseys

In 2010, the Miami Dolphins experienced their first loss in orange jerseys during a Sunday night matchup with the New York Jets, marking the last time the orange jerseys in the original style were worn.

2010: Regression Season

The 2010 season saw regression with a 7-9 record.

2011: Sparano Fired

After a 4–9 start to the 2011 season, Tony Sparano was fired.

2011: Griese replaces Mandich in radio broadcast team

In 2011, Bob Griese replaced Jim Mandich as color commentator on the radio broadcast team after Mandich's death.

2011: Joe Robbie Alumni Plaza Walk of Fame established

In 2011, the Joe Robbie Alumni Plaza Walk of Fame was first established at the north end of Hard Rock Stadium, to recognize the best of the Miami Dolphins alumni, including those in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Honor Roll.

2011: Return to White Shoes

In 2011, the Miami Dolphins returned to wearing white shoes after having switched to black shoes in 2009.

2011: End of sharing stadium with Florida Marlins

In 2011, the Miami Dolphins' stadium-sharing arrangement with the Florida Marlins (now known as the Miami Marlins) came to an end.

2012: Uniform Consistency Until 2012

From the Miami Dolphins' founding through 2012, the team's logo and uniforms remained fairly consistent.

2012: Joe Philbin Hired

Prior to the 2012 season, the Miami Dolphins hired Joe Philbin as head coach, and he led the team to a 7-9 record.

2012: Final Game in Original Style Uniforms

The final game in the Miami Dolphins' original style uniforms, featuring block numbers and the iconic leaping dolphin logo, occurred in 2012, during a 28-0 shutout loss to the New England Patriots.

2013: Missed the Postseason

In 2013, the Miami Dolphins improved to an 8-8 record but still missed the postseason.

2013: Unveiling of New Logo and Uniforms

In 2013, the Miami Dolphins unveiled a new logo and new uniforms, featuring a stylized aqua dolphin swimming in front of a modified version of the orange sunburst.

2014: Bill Lazor Added as Offensive Coordinator

In the 2014 season, the Miami Dolphins added Bill Lazor as offensive coordinator and finished 8-8.

2015: Philbin Fired

After a 1-3 start to the 2015 season, Joe Philbin was fired.

2015: Return of 1970s Aqua Uniforms

In 2015, the Miami Dolphins brought back their 1970s aqua uniforms for a few select games, reviving the classic look for fans and players alike.

2015: 50 greatest players announced

In 2015, the Miami Dolphins organization announced the 50 greatest players in franchise history, chosen by the South Florida Media and Miami Dolphin fans, during halftime on Monday Night Football.

2015: Completion of Hard Rock Stadium Renovation

The 2015 NFL season marked the first season in the newly renovated Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play, after a major overhaul costing over $400 million.

August 2016: Hard Rock Stadium Name

As of August 2016, the stadium where the Miami Dolphins play was named Hard Rock Stadium.

September 29, 2016: Color Rush Uniform Debut

On September 29, 2016, the Miami Dolphins debuted their new Color Rush uniform, an all-orange uniform, in a Thursday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

2016: Playoff Appearance

In 2016, the Miami Dolphins made a playoff appearance.

2016: Postseason Berth

In the 2016 season, Adam Gase led the Miami Dolphins to a 10-6 record and a postseason berth, ending with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round.

2017: Regressed to a 6-10 Record

In the 2017 season, the Miami Dolphins regressed to a 6-10 record.

2018: Inductees as of 2018

As of 2018, this entry refers to a list of inductees (by yearly class).

2018: Modifications to Logo and Uniform Set

In 2018, the Miami Dolphins made slight modifications to their logo and uniform set, tweaking the shades of orange and aqua and removing navy blue from the color scheme, leaving it only on the logo.

2018: Aqua Throwbacks During Miracle in Miami

In 2018, the Miami Dolphins wore aqua throwback uniforms during the now-famous Miracle in Miami play against the Patriots.

2018: Finished with a 7-9 Record

In the 2018 season, the Miami Dolphins finished with a 7-9 record.

2019: Brian Flores Hired

Prior to the 2019 season, the Miami Dolphins hired Brian Flores as head coach, and he led the team to a 5-11 record.

2019: End of Patriots Domination

The Patriots dominated the AFC winning 16 of 17 division titles between 2003 and 2019.

2020: Tua Tagovailoa Drafted

In the 2020 season, the Miami Dolphins drafted Tua Tagovailoa and improved to a 10-6 record, but still missed the postseason.

2021: Jaguars Upset Victory

During the 2021 NFL Season, the Jacksonville Jaguars, despite declining under head coach Urban Meyer, achieved an improbable upset victory against the Miami Dolphins in London during week 6.

2021: Opening of Baptist Health Training Complex

In 2021, the Miami Dolphins inaugurated their new $135 million training facility, named the Baptist Health Training Complex, located next to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

2021: Missed the Postseason

In the 2021 season, the Miami Dolphins went 9-8 but missed the postseason. Following the season, Brian Flores was fired as head coach.

2022: Dolphins Win Over Bills

In 2022, Tua Tagovailoa led the Miami Dolphins to their first win over the Buffalo Bills in 8 games.

2022: Playoff Appearance

In 2022, the Miami Dolphins made a playoff appearance.

2022: Mike McDaniel Hired

Prior to the 2022 season, Mike McDaniel was hired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, leading the team to a 9-8 record and a loss to the Bills in the Wild Card Round.

2023: Chiefs lead all-time series

As of the 2023 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs lead the all-time series against the Miami Dolphins with a record of 17-16.

2023: All-time series lead by Buccaneers

As of the 2023 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the all-time series against the Miami Dolphins with a record of 7-5.

2023: Radio coverage on WINZ and WBGG-FM

As of the 2023 season, the Miami Dolphins' radio coverage is carried on WINZ (940 AM) and WBGG-FM (105.9 FM).

2023: Playoff Appearance

In 2023, the Miami Dolphins made a playoff appearance.

2023: Wild Card Round

In the 2023 season, the Miami Dolphins improved to a 11-6 mark but lost in the Wild Card Round to the Kansas City Chiefs.

December 2024: Sale of Part of the Team to Private Equity Investors

In December 2024, the Miami Dolphins, under owner Stephen M. Ross, sold 13% of the team at a valuation of $8.1 billion, including 10% to Ares Management.