1981 Miami Dolphins season

Last updated
1981 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach Don Shula
Home field Orange Bowl
Results
Record11–4–1
Division place1st AFC East
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Chargers) 38–41 (OT)
Pro Bowlers 2
DT Bob Baumhower
G Ed Newman
The Dolphins facing the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Playoff known as the "Epic in Miami". 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 53 - Dan Fouts and Don Macek (cropped).jpg
The Dolphins facing the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Playoff known as the "Epic in Miami".

The 1981 Miami Dolphins season was the 16th year of existence for the Miami Dolphins franchise and 12th in the National Football League (NFL). After a mediocre season in 1980, where the team finished at 8-8 and missed the playoffs, the Dolphins made a return to the playoffs, winning the AFC East with an 11-4-1 record.

Contents

Season summary

With the retirement of Bob Griese, not much was expected out of the Dolphins. The Dolphins Defense became known as the Killer Bees because of the number of players whose last name began with the letter B; Bill Barnett, Bob Baumhauer, Lyle Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, and Bob Brudzinski anchored a strong team. They finished 11-4-1, as Don Shula reached a milestone by winning his 200th game of his coaching career. In the Divisional Playoffs against the San Diego Chargers the Dolphins fell behind 24-0 early in front of a sold out crowd at the Orange Bowl. With time running out in the first half, the Dolphins desperately needed a score to get back in the game. Out of nowhere the Dolphins ran the old schoolyard hook and lateral play to success. On the play, Quarterback Don Strock threw a pass over the middle to WR Duriel Harris, who lateraled to HB Tony Nathan, who ran the ball in for a touchdown. The play sparked the Dolphins, who came back and took a lead in the 4th Quarter. However, the Killer Bees could not contain Chargers QB Dan Fouts, who tied the game and forced overtime, where the Chargers won the game on a Rolf Benirschke field goal in the 14th minute of overtime. If it had not been for the player's strike of the following season (where they went 7-2, which would have put them at the top of the AFC East), this would have been the first of five consecutive AFC East titles for the Dolphins.

As of the 2022 season, this marks the last time the Dolphins played in a tie game.

Offseason

NFL draft

1981 Miami Dolphins draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
113 David Overstreet   Running back Oklahoma
256 Andra Franklin  * Running back Nebraska
484Sam Greene  Wide receiver UNLV
496Brad Wright  Quarterback New Mexico
5126Ken Poole  Defensive end Louisiana–Monroe
5138 Tommy Vigorito  Running back Virginia
6152 Mack Moore  Defensive end Texas A&M
6154 Fulton Walker   Defensive back West Virginia
7179Mike Daum  Offensive tackle Cal Poly
8208 William Judson  Defensive back South Carolina State
9235John Noonan Wide receiverNebraska
10261 Steve Folsom   Tight end Utah
11291 Jim Jensen  Wide receiver Boston University
12318John Alford  Defensive tackle South Carolina State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Personnel

Coaches / Staff

1981 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Don Shula

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Steve Crosby, Carl Taseff
  • Punting – Tom Keane


Roster

1981 Miami Dolphins final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Rookies in italics
45 active

Regular season

The Dolphins won the AFC East title behind second-year quarterback David Woodley and a running attack that managed 2,173 yards and 18 touchdowns. In their eight divisional games they swept the Colts and Patriots but split with Buffalo and went winless against a resurgent Jets squad; they tied the Jets 28–28 at Miami then lost at Shea Stadium 16–15. They won their last four games of the season to finish 11–4–1.

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 6at St. Louis Cardinals W 20–71–0 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,351
2September 10 Pittsburgh Steelers W 30–102–0 Miami Orange Bowl 75,059
3September 20at Houston Oilers W 16–103–0 Houston Astrodome 47,379
4September 27at Baltimore Colts W 31–284–0 Memorial Stadium 41,630
5October 4 New York Jets T 28–28 (OT)4–0–1 Miami Orange Bowl 68,723
6October 12at Buffalo Bills L 21–314–1–1 Rich Stadium 78,576
7October 18 Washington Redskins W 13–105–1–1 Miami Orange Bowl 47,367
8October 25at Dallas Cowboys L 27–285–2–1 Texas Stadium 64,221
9November 1 Baltimore Colts W 27–106–2–1 Miami Orange Bowl 46,061
10November 8at New England Patriots W 30–27 (OT)7–2–1 Schaefer Stadium 60,436
11November 15 Oakland Raiders L 17–337–3–1 Miami Orange Bowl 61,777
12November 22at New York Jets L 15–167–4–1 Shea Stadium 59,962
13November 30 Philadelphia Eagles W 13–108–4–1 Miami Orange Bowl 67,797
14December 6 New England Patriots W 24–149–4–1 Miami Orange Bowl 50,421
15December 13at Kansas City Chiefs W 17–710–4–1 Arrowhead Stadium 57,407
16December 19 Buffalo Bills W 16–611–4–1 Miami Orange Bowl 72,956

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Miami Dolphins (2)1141.7195–2–18–3–1345275W4
New York Jets (4)1051.6566–1–18–5–1355287W2
Buffalo Bills (5)1060.6256–29–3311276L1
Baltimore Colts 2140.1252–62–10259533W1
New England Patriots 2140.1250–82–10322370L9

Playoffs

The Dolphins returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence, hosting the "Air Coryell" Chargers in one of the greatest playoff games in NFL history.

RoundDateOpponent (seed)ResultRecordVenueAttendance
DivisionalJanuary 2, 1982 San Diego Chargers (3)L 38–41 (OT)0–1 Miami Orange Bowl 73,735

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References

  1. ↑ 100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.185
  2. ↑ "1981 Miami Dolphins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
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