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1976 Miami Dolphins season
11th season in franchise history
11th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Miami Dolphins |
| year | 1976 |
| record | 6–8 |
| division_place | 3rd AFC East |
| coach | Don Shula |
| stadium | Orange Bowl |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro bowlers | 4 |
| QB Bob Griese | |
| G Bob Kuechenberg | |
| C Jim Langer | |
| PR/KR Nat Moore | |
| shortnavlink | Dolphins seasons |
QB Bob Griese G Bob Kuechenberg C Jim Langer PR/KR Nat Moore
The 1976 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 11th, and seventh as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Dolphins failed to improve on their previous season's output of 10–4, winning only six games. One of these wins came over their new in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who proceeded to lose all 14 games that year. The 6–8 finish marked the first losing record of head coach Don Shula's career.
The Dolphins would not have another losing season until the 1988 Season.
Offseason
1976 expansion draft
Main article: 1976 NFL expansion draft
| Miami Dolphins 66thru96 | border=2}}" | Round | Miami Dolphins 66thru96 | border=2}}" | Overall | Miami Dolphins 66thru96 | border=2}}" | Name | Miami Dolphins 66thru96 | border=2}}" | Position | Miami Dolphins 66thru96 | border=2}}" | Expansion team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | Bruce Elia | Linebacker | [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1976-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) | ||||||||||
| 0 | 0 | Norm Evans | Offensive tackle | [Seattle Seahawks](1976-seattle-seahawks-season) | ||||||||||
| 0 | 0 | Doug Swift | Linebacker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
NFL draft
Main article: 1976 NFL draft
Personnel
Coaches / Staff
-
President – Joe Robbie
-
Vice President – Don Shula
-
Director of Player Personnel – Bobby Beathard
-
Head Coach – Don Shula
-
Offense/Receivers/Passing Game – Howard Schnellenberger
-
Offensive Backs – Carl Taseff
-
Offensive Line/Running Game – John Sandusky
-
Assistant Head Coach/Defense – Bill Arnsparger
-
Defensive Line/Run Defense – Mike Scarry
-
Linebackers/Pass Defense – Don Doll
-
Defensive Backs – Tom Keane
-
Special Teams – Carl Taseff
-
Punting – Tom Keane
-
None - N/A
Roster
- John Andrews DE
Regular season
Schedule
| Miami Dolphins | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Week | Miami Dolphins | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Date | Miami Dolphins | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Miami Dolphins | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Result | Miami Dolphins | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Record | Miami Dolphins | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Venue | Miami Dolphins | year=1976 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at **[Buffalo Bills](1976-buffalo-bills-season)** | **W** 30–21 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium | 77,683 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 19 | at **[New England Patriots](1976-new-england-patriots)** | **L** 14–30 | 1–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 46,053 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 26 | **[New York Jets](1976-new-york-jets-season)** | **W** 16–0 | 2–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 49,754 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 3 | [Los Angeles Rams](1976-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 28–31 | 2–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | 60,753 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 10 | at **[Baltimore Colts](1976-baltimore-colts-season)** | **L** 14–28 | 2–3 | Memorial Stadium | 58,832 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 17 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1976-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 17–20 (OT) | 2–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 43,325 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 24 | at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1976-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) | **W** 23–20 | 3–4 | Tampa Stadium | 61,437 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 31 | **[New England Patriots](1976-new-england-patriots-season)** | **W** 10–3 | 4–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 52,863 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 7 | at **[New York Jets](1976-new-york-jets-season)** | **W** 27–7 | 5–4 | Shea Stadium | 53,344 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 14 | at [Pittsburgh Steelers](1976-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 3–14 | 5–5 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[Baltimore Colts](1976-baltimore-colts-season)** | **L** 16–17 | 5–6 | Miami Orange Bowl | 62,104 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 28 | at [Cleveland Browns](1976-cleveland-browns-season) | **L** 13–17 | 5–7 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 74,715 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 5 | **[Buffalo Bills](1976-buffalo-bills-season)** | **W** 45–27 | 6–7 | Miami Orange Bowl | 43,475 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Minnesota Vikings](1976-minnesota-vikings-season) | **L** 7–29 | 6–8 | Miami Orange Bowl | 46,543 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
References
References
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1976.htm 1976 Miami Dolphins]
- "1976 Miami Dolphins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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