Miami Dolphins playoff history is among the most storied across NFL teams. It includes records that haven’t been broken in over 50 years, highly memorable moments, and gaffes that live in South Florida infamy. Today, we dive deep into the Dolphins’ postseason chronicles.
*We’ll only consider appearances from the 1970 merger onward.
Miami Dolphins Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2016
- Wild Card: Lost 12-30 @ Steelers
- 2008
- Wild Card: Lost 9-27 vs. Ravens
- 2001
- Wild Card: Lost 3-20 vs. Ravens
- 2000
- Wild Card: Won 23-17 (OT) vs. Colts
- Divisional Round: Lost 0-27 @ Raiders
- 1999
- Wild Card: Won 20-17 @ Seahawks
- Divisional Round: Lost 7-62 @ Jaguars
- 1998
- Wild Card: Won 24-17 vs. Bills
- Divisional Round: Lost 3-38 @ Broncos
- 1997
- Wild Card: Lost 3-17 @ Patriots
- 1995
- Wild Card: Lost 22-37 @ Bills
- 1994
- Wild Card: Won 27-17 vs. Chiefs
- Divisional Round: Lost 21-22 @ Chargers
- 1992
- Divisional Round: Won 31-0 vs. Chargers
- Conference Championship: Lost 10-29 vs. Bills
- 1990
- Wild Card: Won 17-16 vs. Chiefs
- Divisional Round: Lost 34-44 @ Bills
- 1985
- Divisional Round: Won 24-21 vs. Browns
- Conference Championship: Lost 14-31 vs. Patriots
- 1984
- Divisional Round: Won 31-10 vs. Seahawks
- Conference Championship: Won 45-28 vs. Steelers
- Super Bowl: Lost 16-38 vs. 49ers
- 1983
- Divisional Round: Lost 20-27 vs. Seahawks
- 1982
- Wild Card: Won 28-13 vs. Patriots
- Divisional Round: Won 34-13 vs. Chargers
- Conference Championship: Won 14-0 vs. Jets
- Super Bowl: Lost 17-27 vs. Redskins
- 1981
- Divisional Round: Lost 38-41 (OT) vs. Chargers
- 1979
- Divisional Round: Lost 14-34 @ Steelers
- 1978
- Wild Card: Lost 9-17 vs. Oilers
- 1974
- Divisional Round: Lost 26-28 @ Raiders
- 1973
- Divisional Round: Won 34-16 vs. Bengals
- Conference Championship: Won 27-10 vs. Raiders
- Super Bowl: Won 24-17 vs. Vikings
- 1972
- Divisional Round: Won 20-14 vs. Browns
- Conference Championship: Won 21-17 @ Steelers
- Super Bowl: Won 14-7 vs. Redskins
- 1971
- Divisional Round: Won 27-24 (OT) @ Chiefs
- Conference Championship: Won 21-0 vs. Colts
- Super Bowl: Lost 3-24 vs. Cowboys
- 1970
- Divisional Round: Lost 14-21 @ Raiders
Dolphins Playoff History FAQ
The Dolphins’ playoff history includes several runs of dominance followed by dry spells that rival those of the most downtrodden teams in league lore. Let’s break down some of the most notable moments.
What’s the Dolphins’ Playoff Win/Loss Record?
The Dolphins are just under .500 all-time in the playoffs. Not counting Miami’s 2022-2023 season playoff appearance, the team has a 20-21 record across 41 postseason contests.
How Many Times Have the Dolphins Been to the Playoffs?
The Dolphins have been to the playoffs 23 times. Miami’s most dominant runs of regular-season football came in the 1970s and 1990s when the team qualified for the playoffs a whopping seven times in each decade.
Conversely, the Dolphins have fared quite poorly in recent memory. In the 2000s and 2010s combined, Miami played meaningful January football just four times, as the Dolphins failed to qualify for the playoffs 16 of 20 times across those two decades. In those 20 years, the Dolphins had seven head coaches (not counting interim head coaches) and 21 starting quarterbacks.
How Many Super Bowl Appearances Do the Dolphins Have?
Miami has represented the AFC in the Super Bowl five times. The Dolphins reached three consecutive Super Bowls across the 1971 (Dallas Cowboys), 1972 (Washington Redskins), and 1973 (Minnesota Vikings) seasons and played in the big game twice more in 1982 (Washington) and 1984 (San Francisco 49ers).
How Many Super Bowls Have the Dolphins Won?
The Dolphins have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy two times in the team’s history, and the victories came in consecutive seasons.
In 1972, Miami achieved a perfect season and is the only team to have accomplished such a feat in the modern era. Including playoff games, Miami went an unblemished 17-0 and defeated Washington 14-7 in Super Bowl VII.
It was Miami’s running game and defense that won the day for the Dolphins. QB Bob Griese was efficient but mostly just managed the game, completing eight passes on 11 attempts for 88 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka amassed 112 yards on just 15 carries, bulldozing Washington defenders all over the field.
Fellow ball carriers Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris added an additional 72 yards and one touchdown on the ground, as Miami held off Washington’s comeback attempt in the fourth quarter and kept its NFC foe to just seven points on the day.
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Washington’s lone points came off of a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown on special teams when, after picking up the football following a blocked field-goal attempt, Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian attempted a pass that fumbled out of his hands and was picked up by Washington’s Mike Bass, culminating in one of the most embarrassing (but ultimately inconsequential) gaffes in Dolphins history.
Legendary head coach Don Shula and the Dolphins won a second Super Bowl ring following the 1973 season, as the team clobbered the Vikings by a score of 24-7. Even less was needed from Griese in that game. He completed six of a measly seven pass attempts for 73 yards.
Csonka piled up 145 yards and two touchdowns on 33 attempts and was supported by another 44 yards on 18 attempts and one touchdown combined between Kiick and Morris. Miami’s defense held Minnesota to just seven points and 55 yards on the ground. Vikings QB Fran Tarkenton managed 182 yards through the air on top of a rushing score, but it wasn’t enough to keep Minnesota competitive.
Miami’s other three Super Bowl appearances have all resulted in double-digit defeats. Miami was defeated 24-3 by the Cowboys in 1971, 27-17 by Washington in 1982, and 38-16 by the 49ers in 1984.
When Was the Last Time the Dolphins Made the Super Bowl?
The Dolphins last reached the Super Bowl in 1984, falling to the 49ers 38-16. That defeat constituted Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino’s lone Super Bowl appearance despite the run of dominance he led in the ’90s. Marino reached the AFC Championship twice more (1985, 1992), but each time was bested by an AFC East rival in the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, respectively.