The Miami Dolphins are one of the more storied franchises in the NFL. During former head coach Don Shula’s era, the Dolphins regularly appeared in the Super Bowl. NFL analysts consider Shula one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NFL, so the fact that the Dolphins’ peak took place under Shula’s regime comes as no surprise.

In the early 1970s, the Dolphins were the first team ever to play in three Super Bowls in a row. Miami first appeared in Super Bowl VI, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys 24-3. The Dolphins rebounded the following season, going 14-0 during the regular season and winning three games in the playoffs to cap the only undefeated season in NFL history.

Miami did not go undefeated the following season but did defend the team’s title by winning Super Bowl VIII. In addition to being the first team to appear in three straight Super Bowls, the Dolphins were the second team (the first being the Vince Lombardi-led Packers) to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

When Did the Dolphins Last Win the Super Bowl?

Since the Dolphins won back-to-back Super Bowls during Super Bowl VII and VIII, they have appeared in two Super Bowls. Miami advanced to Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XIX. Unfortunately for the Miami faithful, the Dolphins lost both games. So, to answer the original question, the last time the Dolphins won the Super Bowl was Super Bowl VIII in 1974, with Don Shula as the team’s head coach.

Several NFL historians believe the former Miami coaching legend is the best coach in league history. There’s no arguing Shula’s greatness and longevity — he coached the Dolphins for 28 years, and for all but two of them, Miami finished with a .500 record or better.

A Look Back at the Dolphins’ Undefeated Season

Often imitated, never duplicated, the 1972 Miami Dolphins stand the test of time as the only undefeated team in NFL history. The Dolphins have faced various challengers and scares over the years, but no other team has been able to do what Miami achieved in 1972 — perfection.

In 1972, the Dolphins ran the table during the regular season, going 14-0, and then won three games in the playoffs, including the Super Bowl, to finish the magical season with an unblemished mark. Is it possible that we will never see another undefeated season? It’s becoming increasingly likely that Miami will remain the only undefeated team in NFL history.

It’s more difficult to build a team fitting such a task with the restrictions of the modern-day salary cap. Also, the NFL has extended the NFL schedule to 18 weeks, including one bye week. To match Miami’s regular season undefeated mark, a team would have to go 17-0. With league parity at an all-time high, it’s tough to imagine a team running the table.

Annually, when the last undefeated team in the league falls, many believe the ’72 Dolphins toast their place in history with champagne. While the urban legend is more myth than reality, the widely held nature of the belief emphasizes the storied nature of Miami’s accomplishment.

The Impact of Dan Marino

Pittsburgh QB Dan Marino fell into the laps of the Miami Dolphins franchise during the infamous 1983 NFL Draft. Marino immediately became one of the top QBs in the NFL, which led to the gunslinger breaking several NFL records.

Marino continued the successful ways of the Dolphins franchise. He led Miami to five division titles, ten playoff appearances, and one Super Bowl appearance.

The Dolphins have trotted out over two dozen quarterbacks since Marino retired from the NFL in 1999. For years, Miami mired in mediocrity, trying to replace a legend. Finding a successor became an impossible proposition. No one could escape the looming shadow of one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Then the Dolphins drafted Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 NFL Draft, and the left-handed signal-caller may finally have the Dolphins in a spot to reclaim sustained success for the first time since Dan ‘The Man’ was under center.

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