Starting an NFL chise to go along with my Minnesota cfb one. Miami would be my "second team" in a way, I watch every game with my dad who has been a fan since the 70's. This one I'm going to focus more on just the Dolphins and not the league as a whole, updates coming from the POV of newspapers in the area.
Game: Madden 26
System: PS5
Difficulty: All Madden customer sliders
Draft Classes: 2026, 2027, realistic, after that, possibly generic..we will see.
Starting point - End of the 2025 season. Starting as of 1/22/2026 in real-life date and in-game date.
Dolphins history -
THE GOLDEN ERA (1970–1995)
The Record: 257-133-2 (.659)
When Don Shula arrived in 1970, the Dolphins were a four-year-old expansion team with no identity. In one summer, he turned them into a machine. Under the "Don," Miami dominated. In 1972, they had the NFL's only perfect season, going 17-0 and winning the Super Bowl. Shula took them to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning in 72 and 73.
Shula won with the "No-Name Defense" and a bruising run game in the 70s, then pivoted to the most prolific passing attack in history with Dan Marino in the 80s. Under Shula, the Dolphins only had 2 losing seasons in 26 seasons.
THE SEARCH FOR A SEQUEL (1996–2025)
The Record: 236-247-0 (.488)
Since Don Shula was forced into retirement in January 1996, the Dolphins have become the NFL’s poster child for mediocrity.
From 1996-2004, there was hope in Miami. Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt led the team to 3 playoff wins but struggled to find a replacement once Marino retired. Since that time period, it has been two decades of depression.
2005-2018, they went through four coaches in Nick Saban, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, and Adam Gase, winning 0 playoff games. The only excitement came during the "wildcat" era, which was a fun fluke until the league caught on.
From 2019-2025, two more modern coaches tried their luck. Brian Flores showed signs of improvment but off-the-field issues ruined his run. Then the "nerd" took over. Mike McDaniel did his best to turn Miami into a track team. Fun to watch at times, flashy, but never a threat against the top sides or when the weather went below 50.
Miami's playoff history -
2023 Playoffs
WildCard Sat January 13, 2024 boxscore L @ Kansas City Chiefs 7 26
2022 Playoffs
WildCard Sun January 15, 2023 boxscore L @ Buffalo Bills 31 34
2016 Playoffs
WildCard Sun January 8, 2017 boxscore L @ Pittsburgh Steelers 12 30
2008 Playoffs
WildCard Sun January 4, 2009 boxscore L Baltimore Ravens 9 27
2001 Playoffs
WildCard Sun January 13, 2002 boxscore L Baltimore Ravens 3 20
2000 Playoffs
WildCard Sat December 30, 2000 boxscore W OT Indianapolis Colts 23 17
Division Sat January 6, 2001 boxscore L @ Oakland Raiders 0 27
1999 Playoffs
WildCard Sun January 9, 2000 boxscore W @ Seattle Seahawks 20 17
Division Sat January 15, 2000 boxscore L @ Jacksonville Jaguars 7 62
1998 Playoffs
WildCard Sat January 2, 1999 boxscore W Buffalo Bills 24 17 25
Division Sat January 9, 1999 boxscore L @ Denver Broncos 3 38 14
1997 Playoffs
WildCard Sun December 28, 1997 boxscore L @ New England Patriots 3 17
1995 Playoffs
WildCard Sat December 30, 1995 boxscore L @ Buffalo Bills 22 37
1994 Playoffs
WildCard Sat December 31, 1994 boxscore W Kansas City Chiefs 27 17
Division Sun January 8, 1995 boxscore L @ San Diego Chargers 21 22
1992 Playoffs
Division Sun January 10, 1993 boxscore W San Diego Chargers 31 0
ConfChamp Sun January 17, 1993 boxscore L Buffalo Bills 10 29
1990 Playoffs
WildCard Sat January 5, 1991 boxscore W Kansas City Chiefs 17 16
Division Sat January 12, 1991 boxscore L @ Buffalo Bills 34 44
1985 Playoffs
Division Sat January 4, 1986 boxscore W Cleveland Browns 24 21
ConfChamp Sun January 12, 1986 boxscore L New England Patriots 14 31
1984 Playoffs
Division Sat December 29, 1984 boxscore W Seattle Seahawks 31 10
ConfChamp Sun January 6, 1985 boxscore W Pittsburgh Steelers 45 28
Super Bowl Sunday January 20, 1985 boxscore L N San Francisco 49ers 16 38
1983 Playoffs
Division Sat December 31, 1983 boxscore L Seattle Seahawks 20 27
1982 Playoffs
WildCard Sat January 8, 1983 boxscore W New England Patriots 28 13
Division Sun January 16, 1983 boxscore W San Diego Chargers 34 13
ConfChamp Sun January 23, 1983 boxscore W New York Jets 14 0
SuperBowl Sun January 30, 1983 boxscore L N Washington Redskins 17 27
1981 Playoffs
Division Sat January 2, 1982 boxscore L OT San Diego Chargers 38 41
1979 Playoffs
Division Sun December 30, 1979 boxscore L @ Pittsburgh Steelers 14 34
1978 Playoffs
WildCard Sun December 24, 1978 boxscore L Houston Oilers 9 17
1974 Playoffs
Division Sat December 21, 1974 boxscore L @ Oakland Raiders 26 28
1973 Playoffs
Division Sun December 23, 1973 boxscore W Cincinnati Bengals 34 16
ConfChamp Sun December 30, 1973 boxscore W Oakland Raiders 27 10
SuperBowl Sun January 13, 1974 boxscore W N Minnesota Vikings 24 7
1972 Playoffs
Division Sun December 24, 1972 boxscore W Cleveland Browns 20 14
ConfChamp Sun December 31, 1972 boxscore W @ Pittsburgh Steelers 21 17
SuperBowl Sun January 14, 1973 boxscore W N Washington Redskins 14 7
1971 Playoffs
Division Sat December 25, 1971 boxscore W OT @ Kansas City Chiefs 27 24
ConfChamp Sun January 2, 1972 boxscore W Baltimore Colts 21 0
SuperBowl Sun January 16, 1972 boxscore L N Dallas Cowboys 3 24
1970 Playoffs
Division Sun December 27, 1970 boxscore L @ Oakland Raiders 14 21
