1981 Miami Dolphins season

Season summary

With the retirement of Bob Griese, not much was expected out of the Dolphins. The Dolphins Defense became known as the Killer Bees because of the number of players whose last name began with the letter B; Bill Barnett, Bob Baumhauer, Lyle Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, and Bob Brudzinski anchored a strong team. Don Shula reached a milestone by winning his 200th game of his coaching career. In the Divisional Playoffs against the San Diego Chargers the Dolphins fell behind 24–0 early in front of a sold-out crowd at the Orange Bowl. With time running out in the first half, the Dolphins desperately needed a score to get back in the game. Out of nowhere the Dolphins ran the old schoolyard hook and lateral play to success. On the play, Quarterback Don Strock threw a pass over the middle to WR Duriel Harris, who lateraled to HB Tony Nathan, who ran the ball in for a touchdown. The play sparked the Dolphins, who came back and took a lead in the 4th Quarter. However, the Killer Bees could not contain Chargers QB Dan Fouts, who tied the game and forced overtime, where the Chargers won the game 41–38 on a Rolf Benirschke field goal in the 14th minute of overtime. If it had not been for the player's strike of the following season (where they went 7–2, which would have put them at the top of the AFC East), this would have been the first of five consecutive AFC East titles for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins and Jets played to a 28–28 tie in week five, Miami's most recent draw as of 2025. The Jets tied the Chiefs 17–17 seven years later.

Offseason

• July 1, 1981: Linebacker Rusty Chambers, the Miami Dolphins leading tackler in 1978 and 1979, died in an automobile accident in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Miami players wore a memorial helmet decal with Chambers' No. 51 throughout the season.

NFL draft

Main article: 1981 NFL draft

Personnel

Coaches / Staff

• Team Owner / 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 coach – Don Shula

• Assistant head coach - Bill Arnsparger

• Quarterbacks/receivers – Wally English

• Assistant Quarterbacks - Bob Griese

• Offensive backs – Carl Taseff

• Offensive line/running game – John Sandusky

• Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Bill Arnsparger

• Defensive line/run defense – Mike Scarry

• Defensive backs – Tom Keane

• Special teams – Steve Crosby, Carl Taseff

• Punting – Tom Keane

Roster

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Regular season

The Dolphins won the AFC East title behind second-year quarterback David Woodley and a running attack that managed 2,173 yards and 18 touchdowns. In their eight divisional games they swept the Colts and Patriots but split with Buffalo and went winless against a resurgent Jets squad; they tied the Jets 28–28 at Miami then lost at Shea Stadium 16–15. They won their last four games of the season to finish 11–4–1.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Playoffs

The Dolphins returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence, hosting the "Air Coryell" Chargers in one of the greatest playoff games in NFL history.

References

References

1. 100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.185
2. "1981 Miami Dolphins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
3. https://www.espn.in/nfl/story/_/id/34691504/why-brian-griese-left-television-booth-become-49ers-quarterbacks-coach