Editing Miami Dolphins (section)

===Don Shula===
The Dolphins were the worst team with a 15–39–2 record in their first four seasons under head coach [[George Wilson (football coach)|George Wilson]], before [[Don Shula]] was hired as head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1966 AFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966_AFL/index.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 Miami Dolphins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1967.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 Miami Dolphins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1968.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 Miami Dolphins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1969.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=George Wilson Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/WilsGe0.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Poupart | first=Alain | title=30 Years Ago: When Shula Became NFL's Winningest Coach | website=Sports Illustrated Miami Dolphins News, Analysis and More | date=2023-11-14 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/miami-dolphins-30-year-anniversary-don-shula-becomes-the-winningest-coach | access-date=2024-07-31}}</ref> Shula was a [[Paul Brown]] disciple who had been lured from the [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]], after losing [[Super Bowl III]] two seasons earlier to the AFL's [[New York Jets]], and finishing 8–5–1 the following season.<ref>{{cite web | last=O'Connor | first=Ian | title=Don Shula's greatest victory was overcoming his most devastating defeat | website=ESPN.com | date=2020-05-04 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29133010/don-shula-greatest-victory-was-overcoming-most-devastating-defeat |access-date=2024-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 Baltimore Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1969.htm |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Shula got his first NFL coaching job from then-Detroit head coach George Wilson, who hired him as the defensive coordinator. The AFL [[AFL–NFL merger|merged with the NFL]] in 1970, and the Dolphins were assigned to the [[AFC East]] division in the NFL's new [[American Football Conference]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Schwartz | first=Larry | title=June 8, 1966 | website=ESPN Classic | date=1966-06-08 | url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/moment010608nfl-afl.html |access-date=2024-07-31}}</ref>

For the rest of the 20th century, the Shula-led Dolphins emerged as one of the most dominant teams in the NFL, with only two losing seasons between 1970 and 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami Dolphins Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/index.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> They were extremely successful in the 1970s, completing the first complete [[perfect season]] in NFL history by finishing with a 14–0 regular-season record in [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972]] and winning the [[Super Bowl VII|Super Bowl that year]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 Miami Dolphins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1972.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> It was the first of two consecutive Super Bowl wins and one of three appearances in a row.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Are the Best Florida Sports Teams of All-Time?|url=https://spacecoastdaily.com/2023/04/who-are-the-best-florida-sports-teams-of-all-time/ |access-date=December 21, 2023 |work=Space Coast Daily |date=April 20, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl VI - Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins - January 16th, 1972 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197201160dal.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl VII - Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins - January 14th, 1973 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197301140mia.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl VIII - Minnesota Vikings vs. Miami Dolphins - January 13th, 1974 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197401130mia.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The 1980s and 1990s were also moderately successful. The early 80s teams made two Super Bowls despite losing both times and saw the emergence of future Hall of Fame quarterback [[Dan Marino]], who went on to break numerous NFL passing records, holding many of them until the late 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XVII - Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins - January 30th, 1983 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198301300mia.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XIX - Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers - January 20th, 1985 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198501200mia.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Marino Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MariDa00.htm |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> After winning every game against the division rival [[Buffalo Bills]] in the 1970s, the two teams gradually developed a [[Bills–Dolphins rivalry|competitive rivalry]] in the 80s and 90s, often competing for AFC supremacy when [[Jim Kelly]] emerged as the quarterback for the Bills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=mia&tm2=buf&yr=all |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Dolphins have also maintained a [[Dolphins–Jets rivalry|strong rivalry]] with the [[New York Jets]] throughout much of their history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=mia&tm2=nyj&yr=all |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:JoeRobbie1 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|[[Joe Robbie]], founder and former principal owner of the Dolphins (1966–1990)]]
[[File: Don Shula Statue.jpg|thumb|upright|A statue of coach [[Don Shula]] outside of Hard Rock Stadium]]
Following the retirements of Marino and Shula and the rise of [[Tom Brady]] and the [[New England Patriots]], the Dolphins suffered a decline in the 2000s and 2010s.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Mark David | title=Miami Dolphins: Why They Have Struggled Since Dan Marino's Retirement | website=Bleacher Report | date=2011-06-25 | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/748354-why-the-miami-dolphins-have-struggled-since-dan-marinos-retirement |access-date=2024-08-17}}</ref> During this period, the team's level of play was largely described as mediocre.<ref>{{cite web|last=Salguero|first=Armando|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article220801655.html#storylink=cpy|title=One way for Miami Dolphins to escape mediocrity: Trade these players if possible|work=[[Miami Herald]]|date=October 30, 2018|access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Beguiristain|first=Joseph|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/904144-the-five-moves-that-put-the-miami-dolphins-into-mediocrity|title=The 5 Moves That Put the Miami Dolphins into Mediocrity|work=[[Bleacher Report]]|date=October 20, 2011|access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barnwell|first=Bill|url=https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-dolphins-mission-of-mediocrity/|title=The Dolphins' Mission of Mediocrity|work=[[Grantland]]|date=August 19, 2015|access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref> They have only made the playoffs four times since Marino's retirement and have largely been unable to find a consistent quarterback to replace him.