1984 Miami Dolphins season


The 1984 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 19th season, and 15th in the National Football League. It was also the 15th season with the team for head coach Don Shula. The Dolphins sought to build on a spectacular 1983 season where they went 12–4 with rookie quarterback Dan Marino.
The Dolphins won the 1984 AFC Championship, and appeared in Super Bowl XIX, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 38–16. To date this is the last season the Dolphins appeared in the Super Bowl.
Second year quarterback Dan Marino's passing ability became the focal point of Miami's offense and in 1984 he exploded to set league records with 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. Marino's touchdown record was broken by Peyton Manning twenty years later and the yardage record was broken by Drew Brees twenty-seven years later. The Dolphins attempted early on to make a run at a perfect season twelve years after pulling off the feat, as they won their first eleven games but were upended in overtime by the San Diego Chargers. The Dolphins scored more than 500 points for the first and to date only time in their history, as they scored 513 points and finished 14–2, their best record since the undefeated season.
The year began on a somber note, as running back David Overstreet was killed in a traffic collision in June. The Dolphins wore helmet decals with the number 20 in his memory during this season. Overstreet was the third Dolphin in four seasons to die just before the start of training camp, following Rusty Chambers in July 1981 and Larry Gordon in June 1983.
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled Movers, Shakers and Record Breakers; it was narrated by Brad Crandall, the first time since 1969 the Dolphins' season highlights were not narrated by John Facenda, who died in September 1984 at age 72.
After the season, the last remaining Dolphin from their Super Bowl VIII team, longtime offensive lineman Ed Newman, retired, ending a 12-year era for the team. He holds the unique distinction as being the only man to make it to Super Bowl VIII and Super Bowl XIX as a member of the Dolphins, as well as Super Bowl XVII in between.

Offseason

Undrafted free agents

PlayerPositionCollege
Al Del GrecoKickerAuburn

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1 (Sunday, September 2, 1984): at Washington Redskins">1984 Washington Redskins season">Washington Redskins

  • Point spread: Redskins by 4½
  • Over/under: 46.0
  • Time of game: 2 hours, 45 minutes
DolphinsGame statisticsRedskins
18First downs23
30–86Rushes–yards29–156
311Passing yards204
21–28–021–36–2
0–0Sacked–yards2–11
311Net passing yards193
397Total yards349
152Return yards148
5–45.84–43.8
0–0Fumbles–lost1–1
4–45Penalties–yards3–20
28:48Time of Possession31:12

Dan Marino had one of the best passing days of his career, completing 21 of 28 passes for 311 yards with 5 TDs and no interceptions for a Passer Rating of 150.4. This game also marked the emergence of Jim "Crash" Jensen, who lined up as a receiver for the first time and caught 2 of Marino's TD passes. Until 2015, this was the Dolphins' last road win over the Redskins.

Week 2 (Sunday, September 9, 1984): vs. [1984 [New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]

  • Point spread: Dolphins by 6
  • Over/under: 43.0
  • Time of game: 3 hours, 3 minutes
PatriotsGame statisticsDolphins
18First downs17
28–127Rushes–yards30–74
217Passing yards269
20–42–417–28–2
2–12Sacked–yards0–0
205Net passing yards269
332Total yards343
74Return yards183
8–39.65–41.6
2–1Fumbles–lost0–0
6–53Penalties–yards6–46
30:46Time of Possession29:14

Dan Marino increased his two-game total of seven touchdown passes as he tossed a pair of scoring strikes to Mark Clayton within a 1:36 span in the third quarter to lead Miami to its 17th straight victory against the Patriots at The Orange Bowl. Miami intercepted four Steve Grogan passes. Mike Kozlowski returned one 26 yards, then laterred to William Judson who rambled the remaining 60 yards for a touchdown.

Week 3 (Monday, September 17, 1984): at Buffalo Bills">1984 Buffalo Bills season">Buffalo Bills

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game: 3 hours, 15 minutes
DolphinsGame statisticsBills
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of Possession

Week 8 (Sunday, October 21, 1984): at New England Patriots">1984 New England Patriots season">New England Patriots

  • Point spread: Dolphins by 4
  • Over/under: 42.0
  • Time of game: 3 hours, 13 minutes
DolphinsGame statisticsPatriots
33First downs18
37–236Rushes–yards27–102
316Passing yards313
24–39–119–29–0
0–0Sacked–yards1–7
316Net passing yards306
552Total yards408
75Return yards113
1–38.03–57.0
0–0Fumbles–lost1–1
6–36Penalties–yards6–36
31:59Time of Possession28:01

Week 9 (Sunday, October 28, 1984): vs. Buffalo Bills">1984 Buffalo Bills season">Buffalo Bills

  • Point spread:
  • Over/under:
  • Time of game: 2 hours, 54 minutes
BillsGame statisticsDolphins
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of Possession

Postseason

Divisional

A year after being upended in the playoffs by the Seattle Seahawks the Dolphins routed Seattle 31–10. Dan Marino threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns despite being intercepted twice by Seahawks defensive back John Harris. The Dolphins rushed for 143 yards and a Tony Nathan rushing score as well.

Conference Championship

In a shootout, quarterback Dan Marino led the Dolphins to a victory by throwing for 421 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Steelers quarterback Mark Malone recorded 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, but was intercepted three times. With their 3rd ever victory in the Conference Championship, the Dolphins were able to advance to Super Bowl XIX. As of 2025, this remains the Dolphins last win in the AFC Championship.

Super Bowl XIX (Sunday, January 20, 1985): vs. San Francisco 49ers">1984 San Francisco 49ers season">San Francisco 49ers

With their first Super Bowl loss in franchise history, the Dolphins season ended with an overall record of 16-3. As of 2025, this remains the Dolphins last appearance in the Super Bowl.
  • Point spread: 49ers by 3
  • Over/under: 53.5
  • Time of game: 3 hours, 13 minutes
DolphinsGame statistics49ers
19First downs31
9–25Rushes–yards40–211
318Passing yards331
29–50–224–35–0
4–29Sacked–yards1–5
289Net passing yards326
314Total yards537
155Return yards91
6–39.33–32.7
1–0Fumbles–lost2–2
1–10Penalties–yards2–10
22:49Time of Possession37:11

Super Bowl XIX was played on January 20, 1985, and featured the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. The 49ers won their second Super Bowl, defeating the Dolphins 38–16. Dan Marino, the Dolphins quarterback passed for one touchdown and two interceptions, while Joe Montana, the 49ers quarterback passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another.

Awards and honors