1972 Miami Dolphins history: the perfect season

The phrase 1972 Miami Dolphins history points to a season that still stands alone in the NFL record book. Miami went 17–0, won every regular-season game and every postseason game, and finished with the only perfect season in league history.

How did the 1972 Dolphins go 17–0?

The 1972 Dolphins went 17–0 by running the table in the regular season and then winning all three postseason games. They opened with 12 straight wins, joining the 1934 Chicago Bears and 1969 Minnesota Vikings as the only teams to do that at the time. By week 10, they had already clinched the AFC East title.

That record run came with balance on both sides of the ball. Miami became the only team ever to lead the league in total offense, total defense, scoring offense, and scoring defense in the same season. The team’s 52–0 win over New England remains the most lopsided game in the Dolphins–Patriots rivalry.

What happened when Bob Griese was injured?

Bob Griese broke his ankle in week 5, and Earl Morrall started the rest of the regular season. Miami did not lose its edge. The Dolphins kept winning while adjusting at quarterback, which kept the perfect season alive.

That same roster produced another historic pairing in the backfield. Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season. On defense, Tom Landry gave the unit its memorable nickname: the "No-Name Defense."

Why is Don Shula tied so closely to this team?

Don Shula became the ninth head coach in NFL history to win at least 100 regular-season games, and he did it in only 10 seasons. The 1972 Dolphins were a major part of that rise, and the team’s perfection became the defining marker of his early coaching years in Miami.

Nine Dolphins from the 1972 team were selected to the Pro Bowl, a number that reflects how much talent was packed into the roster. The season ended with Miami as champions and with a place in NFL history that no other team has matched.

Where do the 1972 Dolphins stand in NFL history?

The 1972 Dolphins were ranked number 1 on the NFL’s 100 greatest teams of all time list. That ranking sits alongside the team’s unique place as the only perfect season in NFL history.

The Miami Dolphins were also one of only two franchises to post undefeated regular-season records since the NFL-AFL merger, and only the 1972 team won the Super Bowl. That combination makes the season unusually rare even before you get to the 17–0 finish.

For readers looking at 1972 Miami Dolphins history, the details are clear: a 17–0 season, a Super Bowl title, a defense with a famous nickname, and a team that still stands alone.

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