Miami joined the (AFL) when an expansion team franchise was awarded to lawyer Joseph Robbie and actor Danny Thomas in 1965 for $7.5 million. A contest was held in 1965 to find the name of the new Miami franchise for the (AFL) . 19,843 entries were submitted with over a thousand different names. A dozen finalists were screened through by a seven-member committee made up of the local media, names considered were the Marauders, Mustangs, Sharks, and Suns. The winning name, "Dolphins," was submitted by 622 entrants.

Dan Marino's start

1972

During the third game of the 1983 season at the Los Angeles Raiders on Monday Night Football, Shula replaced quarterback David Woodley with rookie Dan Marino, who went on to win the AFC passing title helped by a ratio of 20 touchdowns versus 6 interceptions and the NFL Rookie of the Year award.

In 1972 the Dolphins completed the NFL's only perfect season, winning every regular season game, two playoff games and Super Bowl VII, defeating the Washington Redskins 14-7.