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1979 Miami Dolphins season
14th season in franchise history
14th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Miami Dolphins |
| year | 1979 |
| record | 10–6 |
| division_place | 1st AFC East |
| coach | Don Shula |
| owner | Joe Robbie |
| general manager | Mike Robbie |
| stadium | Miami Orange Bowl |
| playoffs | Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1979-80-nfl-playoffs) |
| (at [Steelers](1979-pittsburgh-steelers-season)) 14–34 | |
| pro bowlers | ** None ** |
| shortnavlink | Dolphins seasons |
(at Steelers) 14–34
The 1979 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 10th season in the National Football League, the 14th overall, and the 10th under head coach Don Shula. Prior to the start of the season, the Dolphins re-signed Larry Csonka who left to join the WFL after the 1974 season. Despite struggles from Bob Griese all year, the Dolphins finished 10–6 and won their first division title in five years. Among the season highlights were the Dolphins' 19th and 20th consecutive wins over the Buffalo Bills. For the entire decade of the 1970s (1970–79), the Dolphins hold a perfect 20–0 record over the Bills, which contributed to O. J. Simpson never seeing any postseason success in his career. In the Divisional Playoffs, the Dolphins were no match for the Pittsburgh Steelers who jumped out to a 20–0 lead in the 1st Quarter to win 34–14 on their way to their second straight Super Bowl title.
The Dolphins failed to have a Pro Bowler this season.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1979 NFL draft
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Williams | Linebacker | Wisconsin–La Crosse |
Personnel
Coaches / Staff
-
President – Joe Robbie
-
Executive vice president/general manager – Mike Robbie
-
Vice president – Don Shula
-
Director of player personnel – Chuck Connor
-
Head coach – Don Shula
-
Quarterbacks/receivers – Dan Henning
-
Offensive backs – Carl Taseff
-
Offensive line/running game – John Sandusky
-
Assistant head coach/defense – Bill Arnsparger
-
Defensive line/run defense – Mike Scarry
-
Defensive backs – Tom Keane
-
Special teams – Steve Crosby, Carl Taseff
-
Punting – Tom Keane
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
| Miami Dolphins | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Week | Miami Dolphins | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Date | Miami Dolphins | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Miami Dolphins | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Result | Miami Dolphins | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Record | Miami Dolphins | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Venue | Miami Dolphins | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | at **[Buffalo Bills](1979-buffalo-bills-season)** | **W** 9–7 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909020buf.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 9 | [Seattle Seahawks](1979-seattle-seahawks-season) | **W** 19–10 | 2–0 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909090mia.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 16 | at [Minnesota Vikings](1979-minnesota-vikings-season) | **W** 27–12 | 3–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909160min.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 23 | [Chicago Bears](1979-chicago-bears-season) | **W** 31–16 | 4–0 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909230mia.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30 | at **[New York Jets](1979-new-york-jets-season)** | **L** 27–33 | 4–1 | Shea Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909300nyj.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Oakland Raiders](1979-oakland-raiders-season) | **L** 3–13 | 4–2 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910080rai.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 14 | **[Buffalo Bills](1979-buffalo-bills-season)** | **W** 17–7 | 5–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910140mia.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 21 | at **[New England Patriots](1979-new-england-patriots-season)** | **L** 13–28 | 5–3 | Schaefer Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910210nwe.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 28 | [Green Bay Packers](1979-green-bay-packers-season) | **W** 27–7 | 6–3 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910280mia.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Houston Oilers](1979-houston-oilers-season) | **L** 6–9 | 6–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911050mia.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 11 | **[Baltimore Colts](1979-baltimore-colts-season)** | W 19–0 | 7–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911110mia.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 18 | at [Cleveland Browns](1979-cleveland-browns-season) | **L** 24–30 (OT) | 7–5 | Cleveland Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911180cle.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 25 | at **[Baltimore Colts](1979-baltimore-colts-season)** | **W** 28–24 | 8–5 | Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911250clt.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[New England Patriots](1979-new-england-patriots-season)** | **W** 39–24 | 9–5 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911290mia.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 9 | at [Detroit Lions](1979-detroit-lions-season) | **W** 28–10 | 10–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197912090det.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[New York Jets](1979-new-york-jets-season)** | **L** 24–27 | 10–6 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197912150mia.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Standings
Playoffs
AFC Divisional Playoff: at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run (Bahr kick)
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 17 pass from Bradshaw (kick blocked)
- Pittsburgh – Swann 20 pass from Bradshaw (Bahr kick)
- Miami – Harris 7 pass from Griese (von Schamann kick)
- Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run (Bahr kick)
- Pittsburgh – Harris 5 run (Bahr kick)
- Miami – Csonka 1 run (von Schamann kick)
Awards and honors
Larry Csonka returned to the Dolphins in 1979 for one last season before retiring, after leaving in 1975 for the World Football League and spending the next three seasons after with the New York Giants. He led the team with 837 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, in addition to one receiving touchdown. His return led to him being named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
References
References
- "1979 Miami Dolphins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- "1979 Miami Dolphins".
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