1994 Miami Dolphins season

29th season in franchise history December 2013 March 2026 Miami Dolphins 1994 10–6 1st AFC East Don Shula Gary Stevens Tom Olivadotti Wayne Huizenga Joe Robbie Stadium Won Wild Card Playoffs(vs. Chiefs) 27–17Lost Divisional Playoffs(at Chargers) 21–22 5 QB Dan Marino WR Irving Fryar LT Richmond Webb G Keith Sims LB Bryan Cox Dolphins seasons The 1994 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 29th season of existence and 25th in the National Football League (NFL). On March 23, the NFL approved the transfer of majority interest in the team from the Robbie family to Wayne Huizenga.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, 0-7611-2480-2, p.399 The team's playoff win on New Year's Eve 1994 vs. Kansas City is now famous as the last NFL game that Joe Montana ever played, as the superstar QB retired in the off-season. Offseason Additions SubtractionsQB Bernie Kosar (Cowboys) QB Scott Mitchell (Lions)SS Tyrone Braxton (Broncos) WR Tony Martin (Chargers)T Tim Irwin (Vikings) SS Jarvis Williams (Giants)RB Cleveland Gary (Rams) C Jeff Uhlenhake (Saints)FS Gene Atkins (Saints) QB Hugh Millen (Broncos) T Mark Dennis (Bengals) QB Steve DeBerg (retired) LB John Offerdahl (retired) NFL draft 1994 NFL draft 1994 Miami Dolphins 1 20 Tim Bowens Defensive tackle Ole Miss yes yes 2 54 Aubrey Beavers Linebacker Oklahoma yes 2 60 Tim Ruddy Center Notre Dame yes yes 4 112 Ronnie Woolfork Linebacker Colorado 5 147 William Gaines Defensive tackle Florida yes 6 177 Brant Boyer Linebacker Arizona yes 7 214 Sean Hill Defensive back Montana State yes nohttps://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1994_draft.htm 1994 Miami Dolphins Draftees Pro Football Reference February 19, 2022 Undrafted free agents + 1994 undrafted free agent of notePlayerPositionCollegeCalvin JacksonDefensive backAuburn Staff 1994 Miami Dolphins President – Tim Robbie Executive vice president/general manager – Eddie Jones Assistant general manager – Bryan Wiedmeier Director of player personnel – Tom Heckert, Sr. Director of college scouting – Tom Braatz Staff assistant – Joel Collier Head coach – Don Shula Offense/quarterbacks – Gary Stevens Offensive backs – Tony Nathan Wide receivers – Larry Seiple Assistant offensive line/tight ends – Rich McGeorge Assistant head coach/offensive line – John Sandusky Defense – Tom Olivadotti Defensive line – Joe Greene Linebackers – George Hill Defensive backs – Mel Phillips Special teams – Mike Westhoff Strength – John Gamble Conditioning – Junior Wade Roster 1994 Miami Dolphins 53 7 5 19 Bernie Kosar 13 Dan Marino 14 Doug Pederson 44 Aaron Craver 32 Cleveland Gary 30 Bernie Parmalee 22 James Saxon American football FB 40 Irving Spikes KR 49 Robert Wilson running back FB 80 Irving Fryar 82 Mark Ingram Sr. 81 O. J. McDuffie KR/PR 83 Scott Miller wide receiver, born 1968 PR 87 Mike Williams wide receiver, born 1966 84 Greg Baty LS 88 Keith Jackson tight end 85 Ronnie Williams American football 77 Kevin Brothen C/G 65 Jeff Dellenbach C 62 Chris Gray American football G 73 Ron Heller offensive tackle T 76 Tim Irwin T 67 Jeff Novak G/T 61 Tim Ruddy y C 69 Keith Sims G 78 Richmond Webb T 60 Bert Weidner G 95 Tim Bowens y DT 68 Willie Broughton DT 90 Marco Coleman DE 91 Jeff Cross American football DE 93 William Gaines American football y DT 97 Tyoka Jackson y DE 99 Chuck Klingbeil DT 94 Craig Veasey DT 79 Larry Webster DE/DT 53 Aubrey Beavers y OLB 52 Brant Boyer y MLB 51 Bryan Cox MLB 57 Dion Foxx y OLB 50 Dwight Hollier OLB 58 Jesse Solomon MLB 28 Gene Atkins FS 34 Tyrone Braxton SS 37 J. B. Brown cornerback CB 42 Chris Green American football FS 31 Sean Hill American football y CB/S 20 Muhammad Oliver CB 29 Frankie Smith American football CB 35 Michael Stewart American football SS 23 Troy Vincent CB 17 John Kidd American football P 10 Pete Stoyanovich K 54 Chuck Bullough LB IR 41 Keith Byars FB IR 64 Houston Hoover G IR 43 Terry Kirby RB IR 47 Darrell Malone CB IR 55 Chris Singleton American football LB IR 98 Mark Caesar DT 59 DeWayne Dotson y LB 38 Calvin Jackson American football y CB IR 15 Demeris Johnson y WR 24 Pat Johnson American football y S 33 Dexter Seigler y CB 53 7 Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 4 New England Patriots W 39–35 1–0 Joe Robbie Stadium 71,023 2 September 11 at Green Bay Packers W 24–14 2–0 Milwaukee County Stadium 55,011 3 September 18 New York Jets W 28–14 3–0 Joe Robbie Stadium 68,977 4 September 25 at Minnesota Vikings L 35–38 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,035 5 October 2 at Cincinnati Bengals W 23–7 4–1 Riverfront Stadium 55,056 6 October 9 at Buffalo Bills L 11–21 4–2 Rich Stadium 79,491 7 October 16 Los Angeles Raiders W 20–17 (OT) 5–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 70,112 8 Bye 9 October 30 at New England Patriots W 23–3 6–2 Foxboro Stadium 59,167 10 November 6 Indianapolis Colts W 22–21 7–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 71,158 11 November 13 Chicago Bears L 14–17 7–3 Joe Robbie Stadium 64,871 12 November 20 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–16 (OT) 7–4 Three Rivers Stadium 59,148 13 November 27 at New York Jets W 28–24 8–4 Giants Stadium 75,606 14 December 4 Buffalo Bills L 31–42 8–5 Joe Robbie Stadium 69,538 15 December 12, 1994 Kansas City Chiefs W 45–28 9–5 Joe Robbie Stadium 71,578 16 December 18 at Indianapolis Colts L 6–10 9–6 RCA Dome 58,867 17 December 25 Detroit Lions W 27–20 10–6 Joe Robbie Stadium 70,980 Game summaries Week 1 vs New England Patriots Patriots 7 7 14 7 Dolphins 0 10 15 14 September 4 Joe Robbie Stadium 4:00 p.m. EST 71,023 83 F; wind 12 mph on Gordon McCarter Jim Lampley and Todd Christensen NBC yes Q1 NE Turner 1 yard run (Bahr kick) NE 7–0 Q2 MIA Ingram 64 yard pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 NE Coates 16 yard pass from Bledsoe (Bahr kick) NE 14–7 Q2 MIA Stoyanovich 42 yard field goal NE 14–10 Q3 NE Coates 63 yard pass from Bledsoe (Bahr kick) NE 21–10 Q3 MIA Jackson 26 yard pass from Marino (Kirby run) NE 21–18 Q3 NE Timpson 5 yard pass from Bledsoe (Bahr kick) NE 28–18 Q3 MIA Fryar 54 yard pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick) NE 28–25 Q4 MIA Fryar 50 yard pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick) MIA 32–28 Q4 NE Crittenden 23 yard pass from Bledsoe (Bahr kick) NE 35–32 Q4 MIA Fryar 35 yard pass from Mairno (Stoyanovich kick) MIA 39–35 yes Both teams debuted new owners in Wayne Huizenga of the Dolphins and Robert Kraft of the Patriots. The game marked the return of Dan Marino after missing most of 1993 with a torn achilles tendon. The new-look Patriots took a 14–10 halftime lead, then in the third quarter Drew Bledsoe lobbed a 40-yard bomb caught by Ben Coates which he took in for a 63-yard touchdown. Marino and Bledsoe passed for eight touchdowns combined, and with the Patriots leading 35–32 Marino, on 4th and 5, launched a 35-yard touchdown strike to former Patriot Irving Fryar. The Dolphins held off New England's last-minute rally for the 39–35 win. Week 2 at Green Bay Packers Marino threw two touchdown passes during his second straight win of the season as the Dolphins, playing in Milwaukee, raced to a 24–0 lead after three quarters. Brett Favre managed two touchdowns but it wasn't enough to prevent a 24–14 Dolphins win. Week 3 Marino's third straight win came at home against the Jets as he threw two touchdowns while three Dolphins backs led by Terry Kirby rushed for 155 yards and touchdowns by Kirby and Bernie Parmalee. Boomer Esiason had two touchdowns but was intercepted four times as the Dolphins won 28–14. Week 4 The Dolphins' winning streak came to a halt at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as Warren Moon lit up the Dolphins defense with three first-half touchdowns and a 28–0 Vikings lead. But the Dolphins began clawing back and in the fourth three Marino touchdowns and Bernie Parmalee's rushing score tied the game. The Vikings then added another touchdown while ex-Dolphin Fuad Reveiz booted a kick that bounced off a Dolphin and thus could be recovered by the Vikings; it led to a 38-yard field goal, enough cushion to neutralize a late Keith Byars touchdown run, ensuing onside kick, and a 38–35 Vikings win. Week 5 Dubbed the “Shula Bowl”, it marked the first time in NFL history that a head coaching matchup featured father against son. Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins defeated David Shula’s Cincinnati Bengals by a 23-7 mark,100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.157 to get back on track at Riverfront Stadium. After David Klingler delivered a 51-yard touchdown to Darnay Scott the Dolphins picked him off three times while rushing for 141 yards to go with 204 Marino passing yards (89 of them to Irving Fryar) and two touchdowns. Week 6 Persistent wind limited Marino and Jim Kelly to just 342 combined yards, a Marino touchdown to O.J. McDuffie, and a Kelly interception. Five Bills players led by Thurman Thomas rushed for 214 yards and two scores as the Bills beat Miami (21–11) for the 14th time in the two clubs' last 17 meetings. Week 7 Jeff Hostetler was replaced for a series by backup Vince Evans as the Raiders, despite only 227 yards of offense, forced three Miami turnovers and led 17-10 in the fourth before Keith Byars caught the tying touchdown. The Dolphins won 20-17 on Pete Stoyanovich's 29-yard field goal in overtime. Week 9 The offensive fireworks of Week One were not repeated as Dan Marino was intercepted twice but managed 198 yards and a touchdown while Bernie Parmalee accounted for almost all of Miami's 140 rushing yards and Keith Byars ran in a pair of scores. Drew Bledsoe was intercepted three times as the Dolphins won 23-3. Week 10 The Colts entered Joe Robbie Stadium beginning to build some momentum for the future, having won three of their previous five games. The Colts clawed to a 14–6 lead after three quarters but then the Dolphins began storming back on Irving Spikes' touchdown run marred by a missed two-point conversion. The Dolphins got the ball back but Marino was picked off by Ray Buchanan and he ran in a 28-yard touchdown, but despite this setback Marino whipped the Dolphins downfield and fired a 28-yard score to O.J. McDuffie, then the Dolphins got the ball back and Pete Stoyanovich's field goal finished off the 22–21 win from 34 yards out. Week 11 The Bears at 5-4 came out with a trick play on a Curtis Conway touchdown throw on a fake field goal attempt. Dan Marino was intercepted in the third but O.J. McDuffie grabbed the ball back. The Bears led 14-6 in the fourth before Marino and Irving Fryar hooked up big, leading to a Keith Jackson touchdown catch and a two-point conversion by Aaron Craver (signed back to the Dolphins only the week earlier). The Bears booted a go-ahead field goal late (17-14 score), but the Dolphins drove down field, only to see the Bears block Pete Stoyanovich's kick at the end. Week 12 Pittsburgh-born Marino's bomb to Fryar set up a first-quarter Keith Jackson touchdown, but Mike Tomczak erupted to 343 passing yards in a battle of field goals (four in regulation with a fatal miss by Stoyanovich in the second). The Dolphins tied the game, but in overtime the Steelers on a 39-yarder from Gary Anderson. Week 13 Clock Play Miami Dolphins 1994 2; text-align:center collapsed Week Thirteen: Miami Dolphins (7–4) at New York Jets (6–5) November 27, 1994 1:00 p.m. EST Dolphins 0 0 14 14 Jets 3 7 14 0 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey 75,606 33 F C Gary Lane NBC Marv Albert and Paul Maguire Box Score, Box Score Following back-to-back losses the Dolphins appeared shellshocked as the Jets raced to a 17–0 lead. A Marino touchdown to Mark Ingram in the third was followed by Boomer Esiason's second touchdown of the game to Johnny Mitchell. But in the fourth everything changed; after a second Marino-to-Ingram score Esiason was intercepted and this led to a third Marino-to-Ingram touchdown; a series of fumbles led to another Esiason pick by J.B. Brown, and with two timeouts left the Dolphins had the ball with 2:34 left. Marino drove the Dolphins to the Jets eight-yard line; at this point Marino called out "Clock! Clock! Clock!" in anticipation of spiking the ball to stop the clock – Marino, however, had worked out a trick play and was paying attention to Ingram's matchup with rookie Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn; with Ingram understanding Marino's code signal and Marino seeing a favorable matchup, Marino motioned downward as though spiking the ball, but then zipped it toward Ingram running to the front corner of the endzone where he caught it, his fourth touchdown of the game. The stunned Jets faltered on their final drive and the Clock Play became one of the most famous finishes in NFL history. left Miami Dolphins Dolphins New York Jets Jets Dan Marino 31/44, 359 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT Bernie Parmalee 8 Rush, 23 Yds Mark Ingram 9 Rec, 117 Yds, 4 TD Boomer Esiason 26/41, 382 Yds, 2 TD, 3 INT Brad Baxter 12 Rush, 41 Yds, TD Rob Moore 7 Rec, 124 Yds MIA NYJ collapsed 1 3:46 Jets FG 24 Nick Lowery 0 3 2 6:48 Jets RecTD Johnny Mitchell Boomer Esiason 20 good Nick Lowery run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 10 3 12:58 Jets RushTD Brad Baxter 3 good Nick Lowery run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 17 3 8:41 Dolphins RecTD Mark Ingram Dan Marino 10 pass failed 6 17 3 3:39 Jets RecTD Johnny Mitchell Boomer Esiason 14 good Nick Lowery run/pass good/failed/incomplete 6 24 3 0:42 Dolphins RecTD Mark Ingram Dan Marino 17 pass good 14 24 4 10:13 Dolphins RecTD Mark Ingram Dan Marino 28 good Pete Stoyanovich run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 24 4 0:22 Dolphins RecTD Mark Ingram Dan Marino 8 good Pete Stoyanovich run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 24 28 24 Week 14 Despite the stunning win the 8–4 Dolphins were facing a division race where the Bills, entering at 6–6, were still in contention and the Patriots were on a late-season roll. The Dolphins raced to a 17–7 lead on the Bills but Marino was intercepted three times and the Bills scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, then answered a fourth-quarter Marino score to Keith Jackson with Carwell Gardner's rushing score and an 83-yard bomb from Jim Kelly to Andre Reed. With the outcome beyond saving Marino was benched and Bernie Kosar tossed a one-yard score to Scott Miller, but there was no saving a 42–31 Bills win. Week 15 Dan Marino faced a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, but it wasn't regular Chiefs starter Joe Montana, sidelined after a 10–9 loss to Seattle a few weeks before; instead it was Joe Cool's former backup Steve Bono, but regardless of starter the Dolphins, now 8–5 and the division race not secure yet, played like they needed the win. The Chiefs took a 14–7 lead but Marino tied it at the half on a four-yard strike to Irving Fryar, then in the third ran in a four-yard score himself. On the next Dolphins drive Troy Vincent caught a lateral and ran in a 56-yard touchdown; Jon Vaughn of the Chiefs then ran in the ensuing kickoff for a Chiefs touchdown. 28–21 was the closest the Chiefs came as the Dolphins scored 17 more points to win 45–28. Week 17 The Dolphins celebrated Christmas by clinching the AFC East title. Bernie Parmalee ran wild as he scored three touchdowns and the Dolphins led 27–10 at the half. Two second-half Lions scores could not stop a 27–20 Dolphins win, finishing a 10–6 Dolphins record. Standings Playoffs 1994–95 NFL playoffs Week Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Wildcard December 31 Kansas City Chiefs (6) W 27–17 1–0 Joe Robbie Stadium Divisional January 8, 1995 at San Diego Chargers (2) L 21–22 1–1 Jack Murphy Stadium AFC wild card game Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 17 text-align:center; Miami Dolphins Chiefs 14 3 0 0 Dolphins 7 10 10 0 Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida 4:00 p.m. EST 72 °F °C, clear ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf Jerry Markbreit 67,487 After a 17–17 tie at halftime, the Dolphins forced two turnovers in the second half to stop any Chiefs scoring threat. Both teams scored on each of their first 3 possessions of the game. Kansas City quarterback Joe Montana, playing in his last NFL game before retiring, threw two touchdowns in the first half: a 1-yard completion to tight end Derrick Walker and a 57-yarder to running back Kimble Anders. Meanwhile, Kansas City kicker Lin Elliot made a 21-yard field goal. For Miami in the first half, running back Bernie Parmalee scored a 1-yard touchdown, quarterback Dan Marino threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ronnie Williams, and kicker Pete Stoyanovich made a 40-yard field goal. The Dolphins then took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 64 yards to score on wide receiver Irving Fryar's 7-yard touchdown reception. Stoyanovich then kicked a 40-yard field goal to give Miami a 27–17 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, Dolphins defensive back J.B. Brown intercepted a pass from Montana at the goal line. Then with 7:31 left in the game, Dolphins defensive back Michael Stewart wrestled the ball away from Chiefs running back Marcus Allen at the Miami 34-yard line to stop a second Kansas City scoring threat. Montana finished his final postseason game with 314 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Marino evened his post-season record vs. Montana at 1–1 (Montana having won Super Bowl XIX). AFC Divisional Playoff Miami Dolphins 21, San Diego Chargers 22 text-align:center; Miami Dolphins Dolphins 7 14 0 0 Chargers 0 6 9 7 Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California 4:00 p.m. EST The Dolphins raced to a 21–6 lead at the end of the first half as Marino threw three touchdowns sandwiched around two John Carney field goals for the Chargers, but the game began turning in the third when Bernie Parmalee was brought down in the Miami endzone by Chargers defensive tackle Reuben Davis for a safety. Natrone Means rushed for 139 yards and a 24-yard touchdown as the Dolphins offense was shut out in the second half. Stan Humphries threw for 276 yards and despite two interceptions managed a touchdown throw to Mark Seay in the fourth quarter. Marino led Miami to San Diego's 30-yard line as time ran down, but Pete Stoyanovich badly missed on a 47-yard attempt and ended Miami's chance for victory. The 22–21 San Diego win came thirteen years and six days after The Epic In Miami and ended Dan Marino's strong comeback season after he'd missed most of 1993 with a torn Achilles' tendon. Awards and honors Dan Marino, 1994 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Dan Marino, 1994 UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year Dan Marino, AFC Pro Bowl Selection Dan Marino, All-Pro Selection Notes and references Miami Dolphins on Pro Football Reference Miami Dolphins on jt-sw.com Miami Category:AFC East championship seasons Category:Miami Dolphins seasons Miami Dolphins