The Dolphins are Still Looking For The Next Don Shula
Six years ago, the Miami Dolphins family lost their patriarch in Don Shula. Shula is the winningest coach of all time with 347 career victories from 1963 to 1995. He started his head-coaching career with the Baltimore Colts and helped them reach the Super Bowl in 1969, where they lost to Joe Namath and the New York Jets.Â
Losing as a heavy favorite to the Jets and Joe Namath, who famously guaranteed a win, would have defined lesser men. However, Shula continued to grow as a coach and took over the Dolphins in 1970. Over 26 seasons, he went 257-133-2 with 2 Super Bowl titles and made the Miami Dolphins one of the premier franchises in the league. In fact, despite three decades of lackluster performances, Shula’s success has allowed Miami to rank 8th all-time in winning percentage.Â
The fact that Miami went from a top-tier franchise to a middling one is somewhat underreported by the wider NFL media. I would venture a guess that the average fan thinks very little of the Dolphins year to year. The fact that they have become so mediocre is an indictment of franchise management over the 31 years since Shula retired.Â
For years, fans dealt with the .500 seasons, sure that eventually whoever was coaching the team would figure it out and the franchise would once again return to glory.
However, that hasn’t been the case, and it isn’t for lack of trying. The Dolphins have approached the issue from every conceivable angle, from hiring established legends like Jimmy Johnson to the hot college coach Nick Saban to the young offensive guru Mike McDaniel. Lots of unique approaches to winning and little to show for it.Â
Since 1995, the Dolphins have lost 9 of their 12 playoff games. Their last win in the postseason came all the way back in January of 2000 when Miami defeated the Seattle Seahawks 20-17 before being blown out in the Divisional round by the Jacksonville Jaguars 62-7.Â
The Dolphins have flirted with success in recent times with the Greatest Show on Surf squad under McDaniel.
Ultimately, those teams would produce many exciting offensive moments during the beginning of the regular season but fall apart down the stretch. As such, McDaniel was fired, and Jeff Hafley took over the reins.Â
I won’t sit here and tell you that Hafley is destined to be the next Don Shula. What I do like is the fact that he comes from the Green Bay Packers, a legendary franchise that has remained relevant. That contrast to the Dolphins is stark, as Green Bay has the best winning percentage in the NFL. So maybe recruiting from a premier franchise is the solution to getting the team to a place that would make Don Shula proud.
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