American Football Wiki
1984 Miami Dolphins season
Owner Joe Robbie
Head Coach Don Shula
General Manager Mike Robbie
Home Field Miami Orange Bowl
Results
Record 14–2
Place 1st AFC East
Playoff Finish Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Seahawks) 31–10
Won AFC Championship (vs. Steelers) 45–28
Lost Super Bowl XIX (vs. 49ers) 16–38
Pro Bowlers 8
QB Dan Marino
WR Mark Duper
WR Mark Clayton
G Ed Newman
C Dwight Stephenson
DT Bob Baumhower
ILB A.J. Duhe
P Reggie Roby
Timeline
Previous Season Next Season
1983 1985

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.[lower-alpha 1]

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,[lower-alpha 2] 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 (his jersey number) in his memory during this season.

Offseason[]

Draft[]

1984 Miami Dolphins draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 14 Jackie Shipp ILB Oklahoma
2 53 Jay Brophy LB Miami (FL)
4 109 Joe Carter RB Alabama
5 138 Dean May QB Louisville
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents[]

1984 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Al Del Greco Kicker Auburn

Week 1 roster[]

1984 Miami Dolphins opening season roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

  • 34 Woody Bennett FB
  • 20 Joe Carter
  • 37 Andra Franklin FB
  • 31 Eddie Hill
  • 22 Tony Nathan

Wide Receivers

  • 82 Fernanza Burgess
  • 81 Jimmy Cefalo
  • 83 Mark Clayton
  • 85 Mark Duper
  • 88 Vince Heflin
  • 11 Jim Jensen
  • 89 Nat Moore

Tight Ends

  • 84 Bruce Hardy
  • 87 Dan Johnson
  • 80 Joe Rose

Offensive Linemen

  • 61 Roy Foster G
  • 79 Jon Giesler T
  • 74 Cleveland Green T
  • 68 Eric Laakso T
  • 72 Ronnie Lee G
  • 64 Ed Newman G
  • 57 Dwight Stephenson C
  • 60 Jeff Toews C
Defensive Linemen
  • 70 Bill Barnett DE
  • 73 Bob Baumhower DT
  • 78 Charles Benson DE
  • 75 Doug Betters DE
  • 58 Kim Bokamper DE
  • 71 Mike Charles DE

Linebackers

  • 56 Charles Bowser OLB
  • 53 Jay Brophy MLB
  • 51 Mark Brown MLB
  • 59 Bob Brudzinski OLB
  • 55 Earnest Rhone OLB
  • 50 Jackie Shipp MLB
  • 52 Sanders Shiver OLB
  • 54 Rodell Thomas LB

Defensive Backs

  • 47 Glenn Blackwood SS
  • 42 Lyle Blackwood FS
  • 43 Bud Brown SS
  • 49 William Judson CB
  • 40 Mike Kozlowski FS
  • 44 Paul Lankford CB
  • 28 Don McNeal CB
  • 45 Robert Sowell CB
Special Teams
  • 4 Reggie Roby P
  • 5 Uwe von Schamann K

Reserve Lists

  • 77 A. J. Duhe MLB (IR)
  • 52 Ron Hester LB (IR)
  • 67 Bob Kuechenberg G (IR)
  • 32 Tommy Vigorito HB (IR)
  • 41 Fulton Walker CB (IR)

Practice Squad

  • None - N/A

Rookies in italics

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 2 at Washington W 35–17
52,683
2 September 9 New England W 28–7
66,083
3 September 17 at Buffalo W 21–17
65,455
4 September 23 Indianapolis W 44–7
55,415
5 September 30 at St. Louis W 36–28
46,991
6 October 7 at Pittsburgh W 31–7
59,103
7 October 14 Houston W 28–10
54,080
8 October 21 at New England W 44–24
60,711
9 October 28 Buffalo W 38–7
58,824
10 November 4 at NY Jets W 31–17
72,655
11 November 11 Philadelphia W 24–23
70,227
12 November 18 at San Diego L 28–34
53,041
13 November 26 NY Jets W 28–17
74,884
14 December 2 LA Raiders L 34–45
71,222
15 December 9 at Indianapolis W 35–17
60,411
16 December 17 Dallas W 28–21
74,139

Season summary[]

Week 1 (Sunday, September 2): at Washington[]

[1]

Week 1: Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins
1 2 3 4 Total
Dolphins (1–0) 7 7 21 0 35
Redskins (0–1) 0 10 0 7 17

at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.

  • Date: September 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 76°F / 24°C; relative humidity 62%; wind 10 mph, 16km/h, 9 knots
  • Game attendance: 52,683
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play-by-play) and Bob Griese (color commentator)
  • [2]
Team Category Player Statistics
MIA Passing Dan Marino 21/28, 311 YDS, 5 TDs
Rushing Andra Franklin 13 CAR, 48 YDS
Receiving Mark Duper 6 REC, 178 YDS, 2 TDs
WSH Passing Joe Theismann 21/36, 204 YDS, 2 INTs
Rushing John Riggins 15 CAR, 98 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving Charlie Brown 6 REC, 60 YDS
  • Point spread: Redskins by 4½
  • Over/Under: 46.0 (over)
  • Time of Game: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Dolphins Game Statistics Redskins
18 First downs 23
30–86 Rushes–yards 29–156
311 Passing yards 204
21–28–0 Passes 21–36–2
0–0 Sacked–yards 2–11
311 Net passing yards 193
397 Total yards 349
152 Return yards 148
5–45.8 Punts 4–43.8
0–0 Fumbles–lost 1–1
4–45 Penalties–yards 3–20
28:48 Time of Possession 31:12

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): vs. New England[]

[3]

Week 2: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots (1–1) 0 7 0 0 7
Dolphins (2–0) 0 7 14 7 28

at Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida

  • Date: September 9
  • Game time: 1:02 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 79°F / 26°C; relative humidity 65%; wind 10 mph, 16km/h, 9 knots
  • Game attendance: 66,083
  • Referee: Chuck Heberling
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph (play-by-play) and Bob Griese (color commentator)
  • [4]
Team Category Player Statistics
NE Passing Steve Grogan 20/42, 217 YDS, 1 TD, 4 INTs
Rushing Tony Collins 20 CAR, 87 YDS
Receiving Derrick Ramsey 5 REC, 70 YDS
MIA Passing Dan Marino 17/28, 269 YDS, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Tony Nathan 10 CAR, 36 YDS
Receiving Mark Clayton 5 REC, 75 YDS, 2 TDs
  • Point spread: Dolphins by 6
  • Over/Under: 43.0 (under)
  • Time of Game: 3 hours, 3 minutes
Patriots Game Statistics Dolphins
18 First downs 17
28–127 Rushes–yards 30–74
217 Passing yards 269
20–42–4 Passes 17–28–2
2–12 Sacked–yards 0–0
205 Net passing yards 269
332 Total yards 343
74 Return yards 183
8–39.6 Punts 5–41.6
2–1 Fumbles–lost 0–0
6–53 Penalties–yards 6–46
30:46 Time of Possession 29:14

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): at Buffalo[]

[5]

Week 3: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
1 2 3 4 Total
Dolphins (3–0) 7 7 7 0 21
Bills (0–3) 0 3 7 7 17

at Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: September 17
  • Game time: 9:01 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 54°F / 12°C; wind 8 mph, 13 km/h, 7 knots
  • Game attendance: 65,455
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play-by-play) and O.J. Simpson (color commentator)
  • [6]
Team Category Player Statistics
MIA Passing
Rushing
Receiving
BUF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
  • Point spread:
  • Over/Under:
  • Time of Game: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Dolphins Game Statistics Bills
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of Possession

Week 4[]

1 234Total
Colts 0 700 7
• Dolphins 7 16147 44
  • Date: September 23
  • Location: Orange Bowl
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese

[7]


Week 5[]

1 234Total
• Dolphins 6 20010 36
Cardinals 0 1477 28

[8]


Week 6[]

1 234Total
• Dolphins 0 2137 31
Steelers 0 070 7

[9]

Week 7[]

1 234Total
Oilers 0 037 10
• Dolphins 0 7714 28
  • Date: October 14
  • Location: Orange Bowl
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould, Dave Rowe

[10]

Week 8 (Sunday, October 21): at New England[]

[11]

Week 8: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
1 2 3 4 Total
Dolphins (8–0) 3 13 14 14 44
Patriots (5–3) 3 7 7 7 24

at Sullivan Stadium • Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: October 21
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 58°F / 14°C
  • Game attendance: 60,711

; relative humidity 53%; wind 10 mph, 16 km/h, 9 knots

|referee=Jim Tunney |TV=NBC |TVAnnouncers=Charlie Jones (play-by-play) and Bob Griese (color commentator) |reference=[12] }}

Team Category Player Statistics
MIA Passing Dan Marino 24/39, 316 YDS, 4 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Joe Carter 14 CAR, 92 YDS
Receiving Mark Clayton 7 REC, 99 YDS, 1 TD
NE Passing Tony Eason 19/29, 313 YDS, 3 TDs
Rushing Mosi Tatupu 20 CAR, 90 YDS
Receiving Derrick Ramsey 5 REC, 32 YDS, 1 TD
  • Point spread: Dolphins by 4
  • Over/Under: 42.0 (over)
  • Time of Game: 3 hours, 13 minutes
Dolphins Game Statistics Patriots
33 First downs 18
37–236 Rushes–yards 27–102
316 Passing yards 313
24–39–1 Passes 19–29–0
0–0 Sacked–yards 1–7
316 Net passing yards 306
552 Total yards 408
75 Return yards 113
1–38.0 Punts 3–57.0
0–0 Fumbles–lost 1–1
6–36 Penalties–yards 6–36
31:59 Time of Possession 28:01

Week 9 (Sunday, October 28): vs. Buffalo[]

[13]

Week 9: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
1 2 3 4 Total
Bills (0–9) 0 0 0 7 7
Dolphins (9–0) 7 17 0 14 38

at Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 28, 1984
  • Game time: 4:01 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 58,824
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play-by-play) and Bob Griese (color commentator)
  • [14]
Team Category Player Statistics
BUF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
MIA Passing
Rushing
Receiving
  • Point spread:
  • Over/Under:
  • Time of Game: 2 hours, 54 minutes
Bills Game Statistics Dolphins
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of Possession

Week 10[]

1 234Total
• Dolphins 7 0717 31
Jets 7 307 17
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Giants Stadium
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 49°F / 9°C; wind 13 mph, 21 km/h, 11 knots
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese

[15][16]


Week 11[]

1 234Total
Eagles 14 036 23
• Dolphins 0 7710 24
  • Date: November 11
  • Location: Orange Bowl
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Jean Fugett

[17]

Week 12[]

1 234OTTotal
Dolphins 0 21700 28
• Chargers 7 70146 34

[18]

Week 13[]

1 234Total
Jets 7 370 17
• Dolphins 0 14140 28

[19]

Week 14[]

1 234Total
• Raiders 7 10721 45
Dolphins 7 6147 34

[20]

Week 15[]

1 234Total
• Dolphins 7 01414 35
Colts 7 1000 17
  • Date: December 9
  • Location: Hoosier Dome
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph, Reggie Rucker

[21]

Week 16[]

1 234Total
Cowboys 0 0714 21
• Dolphins 0 7714 28
  • Date: December 17
  • Location: Orange Bowl
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, O.J. Simpson, Don Meredith

[22]

Playoffs[]

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
Divisional December 29 Seattle W 31–10
73,469
Conference Championship January 6 Pittsburgh W 45–28
76,029
Super Bowl January 20 N San Francisco L 16–38
84,059

Standings[]

Template:1984 AFC East standings

Player stats[]

Passing[]

Player Att Comp Yds TD INT Rating
Dan Marino 564 362 5,084 48 17 108.9

Postseason[]

Divisional[]

1 234Total
Seahawks 0 1000 10
• Dolphins 7 7143 31

[23]

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[]

1 234Total
Steelers 7 777 28
• Dolphins 7 17147 45

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.


Super Bowl[]

1 234Total
Dolphins 10 600 16
• 49ers 7 21100 38

[24]

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.

  • MIA – FG: Uwe von Schamann 37 yards 3–0 MIA
  • SF – TD: Carl Monroe 33-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 7–3 SF
  • MIA – TD: Dan Johnson 2-yard pass from Dan Marino (Uwe von Schamann kick) 10–7 MIA
  • SF – TD: Roger Craig 8-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 14–10 SF
  • SF – TD: Joe Montana 6-yard run (Ray Wersching kick) 21–10 SF
  • SF – TD: Roger Craig 2-yard run (Ray Wersching kick) 28–10 SF
  • MIA – FG: Uwe von Schamann 31 yards 28–13 SF
  • MIA – FG: Uwe von Schamann 30 yards 28–16 SF
  • SF – FG: Ray Wersching 27 yards 31–16 SF
  • SF – TD: Roger Craig 16-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 38–16 SF


Awards and honors[]

  • Dan Marino, 1984 NFL MVP
  • Dan Marino, 1984 PFWA MVP
  • Dan Marino, 1984 NEA MVP
  • Dan Marino, 1984 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
  • Dan Marino, 1984 UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year
  • Dan Marino, Bert Bell Award[25]

Personnel[]

Coaches / Staff[]

1984 Miami Dolphins final staff
Front Office
  • Owner / Team President – Joe Robbie
  • Executive vice president/general manager – Mike Robbie
  • Vice president – Don Shula
  • Director of player personnel – Chuck Connor
  • Director of pro scouting – Charley Winner

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive backs – Carl Taseff
  • Receivers – David Shula
  • Offensive line – John Sandusky
  Defensive Coaches
  • Defense – Bill Arnsparger
  • Defensive line/run defense – Mike Scarry
  • Defensive backs – Tom Keane

Special Teams Coaches

  • Special teams – Bob Matheson
  • Punting – Tom Keane

Strength and Conditioning

  • Strength and flexibility – Junior Wade

Final roster[]

1984 Miami Dolphins final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 34 Woody Bennett FB
  • 20 Joe Carter RB
  • 31 Eddie Hill RB
  • 46 Pete Johnson FB
  • 22 Tony Nathan RB

Wide receivers

  • 81 Jimmy Cefalo
  • 83 Mark Clayton
  • 85 Mark Duper
  • 88 Vince Heflin KR
  • 11 Jim Jensen WR/RB/QB
  • 89 Nat Moore

Tight ends

  • 84 Bruce Hardy
  • 87 Dan Johnson
  • 80 Joe Rose
Offensive linemen
  • 61 Roy Foster G
  • 79 Jon Giesler T
  • 74 Cleveland Green T
  • 72 Ronnie Lee G/T/TE
  • 64 Ed Newman G
  • 57 Dwight Stephenson C
  • 60 Jeff Toews C

Defensive linemen

  • 70 Bill Barnett DE
  • 73 Bob Baumhower DT
  • 78 Charles Benson DE
  • 75 Doug Betters DE
  • 58 Kim Bokamper DE
  • 71 Mike Charles DE
  • 76 Steve Clark DT/G
Linebackers
  • 56 Charles Bowser OLB
  • 53 Jay Brophy MLB
  • 51 Mark Brown MLB
  • 59 Bob Brudzinski OLB
  • 77 A. J. Duhe MLB
  • 55 Earnest Rhone OLB
  • 50 Jackie Shipp MLB
  • 52 Sanders Shiver OLB

Defensive backs

  • 47 Glenn Blackwood SS
  • 42 Lyle Blackwood FS
  • 43 Bud Brown SS
  • 49 William Judson CB
  • 40 Mike Kozlowski FS
  • 44 Paul Lankford CB
  • 28 Don McNeal CB
  • 45 Robert Sowell CB
  • 41 Fulton Walker CB/KR/PR

Special teams

  • 4 Reggie Roby P
  • 5 Uwe von Schamann K
Reserve lists
  • 37 Andra Franklin FB (IR)
  • 52 Ron Hester LB (IR)
  • 67 Bob Kuechenberg G (IR)
  • 68 Eric Laakso T (IR)
  • 54 Rodell Thomas LB (IR)
  • 32 Tommy Vigorito HB (IR)


Practice squad

  • None - N/A


Rookies in italics
49 Active, 6 Inactive, 0 Practice squad

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]


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