1987
January 8
Four former Dolphins -- Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Jim Langer and Larry Little -- are among a group of 14 finalists under consideration for the 1987 class of enshrinees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it is announced by the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
January 10
John Offerdahl is named Old Spice NFL Rookie of the Year
January 20
Tom Olivadotti, an assistant for the Cleveland Browns, is named Defensive Coach for Miami. He is put in charge of the overall defense with the prime responsibility of pass defense. Chuck Studley is re-assigned as Linebacker Coach, with prime responsibility of run defense. Linebacker Coach Bob Matheson resigns.
January 27
Former Dolphin greats Larry Csonka and Jim Langer are among a group of seven named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They join Paul Warfield as the only members of the proud franchise to earn the honor, with induction scheduled for August 8.
August 16
The Dolphins play host to the Chicago Bears in the first game ever played in Joe Robbie Stadium. The date marks the 22nd anniversary of the Dolphin franchise. The Bears put a damper on the festive evening with a 10-3 preseason victory before 63,451. QB Dan Marino (dislocated ring finger on right hand) and LB John Offerdahl (torn right bicep) suffer injuries. Marino is out for three weeks; Offerdahl will miss the first six regular-season games.
September 22
NFL Players Association goes on strike; the Dolphins' home contest with New York Giants (first regular-season game in Joe Robbie Stadium) on September 27 is cancelled because of strike.
October 4
The Dolphins' "replacement team" takes the field for the first time, traveling
to Seattle to meet the Seahawks. The Dolphins lose, 24-20.
October 11
Miami's replacement team records a 42-0 shutout victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first regular-season game played in Joe Robbie Stadium. Safety Liffort Hobley (two interceptions, 55-yard fumble recovery for a TD, four tackles, two passes defensed) is named AFC defensive player of the week for his efforts. Don Shula and Joe Robbie are given game balls by the replacement team following the contest in honor of Miami's first win in the new stadium. The next week (October 18), the replacement team loses its last game, 37-31 in overtime, to the N.Y Jets at the Meadowlands.
October 25
After four missed weeks of action (one game cancellation, three replacement games), the regular Dolphin players return to action. Miami loses 34-31 in overtime at home to the Buffalo Bills. The 21-point comeback by Buffalo is the best ever by an opponent against a Dolphins team.
November 1
Don Shula wins his 250th regular-season game as the Dolphins defeat Pittsburgh 35-24 at Joe Robbie Stadium.
November 29
The Dolphins suffer their first shutout loss (27-0 at Buffalo) since December
12, 1982 -- the famous snowplow game at New England (3-0). The game also sees
the end of Dan Marino's streak of 30 straight games with at least one touchdown
pass. His string is second all-time to Johnny Unitas' 47.
December 20
Miami picks up its final win of 1987 with a 23-21 victory over Washington at Joe Robbie Stadium. The Dolphins lose the following week (December 28) in the '87 finale to New England, 24-10, at home. The Redskins, meanwhile, go on to win Super Bowl XXII, 42-10 over Denver.
December 30
RB Troy Stradford is named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press.
1988
January 14
It is announced that former Dolphins QB Bob Griese is among a group of 15 finalists under consideration for the 1988 class of enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
February 29
Former Dolphin Larry Seiple is named receivers coach. Seiple, who had been out of pro coaching for a year, had been receivers coach at Detroit (1980-84) and Tampa Bay (1985-86).
July 11
Training camp opens for the Dolphins at St. Thomas University as Head Coach Don Shula welcomes 109 players -- the largest group of players in Shula's tenure as Dolphin head coach.
July 31
The Dolphins make their first ever trip abroad and take on the San Francisco 49ers at Wembley Stadium in London for the third-annual American Bowl. Miami comes from behind to defeat the 49ers, 27-21, before 70,535 British fans to open the pre-season.
September 18
Miami registers its first win of the season in a 24-17 triumph over the Green Bay Packers. It marks Miami's 18th win in 23 home openers, including 13 straight years, and a 17-2 record under Don Shula. Dan Marino goes over the 20,000-yard mark in career passing yardage and becomes only the 45th quarterback in NFL history to do so.
October 9
The Dolphins reverse history by defeating the Raiders, 24-17, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It marks Miami's first win ever against the Raiders in their home stadium and the Dolphins' first victory over the Raiders in 10 years. The game is played in 96 degree heat -- the warmest game in Dolphins' history.
October 16
Miami wins its third consecutive game of the season as the Dolphins defeat the San Diego Chargers, 31-28. Quarterback Dan Marino throws for 329 yards and moves into sole possession of second-place on the NFL's career 300-yard passing games list with his 27th such game (behind only Dan Fouts with 51).
October 23
Dan Marino records the second-best single-game passing yardage total in NFL history -- 521 yards (Norm Van Brocklin holds the single-game record of 554 yards) and completes 35 of a team record 60 attempts, all to no avail as the N.Y Jets defeat the Dolphins 44-30 at Joe Robbie Stadium.
October 30
Shula Bowl III -- Head Coach Don Shula and his assistant head coach and son, David Shula, are on the opposite side of the field of Mike Shula, a coaches' assistant for Tampa Bay, as the Dolphins defeat the Bucs, 17-14, in Tampa Stadium.
December 12
Dan Marino becomes the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 4,000 yards four times in a career in the Dolphins' 37-31 win over Cleveland. He also throws for his 193rd career touchdown, setting a new Dolphin record and surpassing the total of former quarterback Bob Griese, who had previously held the mark. Marino tops the record that took Griese 14 seasons to accomplish in only six-plus seasons. Also, receiver Mark Clayton surpasses Nat Moore in the record books as he catches a pass in his 37th consecutive game.
