1996 Miami Dolphins season

31st season in franchise history December 2013 March 2026 August 2024 Miami Dolphins 1996 8–8 4th AFC East Jimmy Johnson Wayne Huizenga Eddie Jones Pro Player Park/Stadium Did not qualify None None Dolphins seasons The 1996 season was the Miami Dolphins' 31st season overall, their 27th in the National Football League (NFL), their seventh under general manager Eddie Jones and their first under head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 9–7, winning only eight games.1996 Miami Dolphins https://web.archive.org/web/20101006055024/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1996.htm October 6, 2010 The team failed to qualify for the postseason. This was the Dolphins' first season since 1969 without long-time head coach Don Shula, as he retired from coaching during the offseason despite having a year left in his contract. Shula retired as the winningest coach in NFL history, with 347 career wins in his 32-year head coaching career, and as the only coach (as of 2024) to have led his team to a perfect season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The Dolphins' home field, previously known as Joe Robbie Stadium, was renamed on August 26 to Pro Player Park after naming rights were sold to Pro Player, an apparel brand by Fruit of the Loom. However, in a rare move, the stadium was renamed again following the Dolphins’ opening contest at Pro Player Park. On September 10, before the Dolphins returned home in week 3, the stadium was renamed Pro Player Stadium, a name that would remain through the 2004 season. This was the final season for 23 years that not a single Dolphin made the Pro Bowl. This was also the final season Gene Atkins would play in the NFL. Offseason Following the 1995 season head coach Don Shula announced his retirement from coaching, having spent 26 straight seasons with the Dolphins. Jimmy Johnson, quit Dallas after winning Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII, was hired as only the third head coach in Dolphins history. NFL draft 1996 NFL draft 1996 Miami Dolphins 1 20 Daryl Gardener Defensive tackle Baylor yes no 3 79 Dorian Brew Defensive back Kansas yes no 3 80 Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar Running back UCLA yes no 4 113 Kirk Pointer Defensive back Austin Peay no no 4 118 Stanley Pritchett Fullback South Carolina yes no 4 125 LaCurtis Jones Linebacker Baylor no no 5 134 Jerris McPhail Running back East Carolina yes no 5 150 Shane Burton Defensive end Tennessee yes no 5 154 Zach Thomas Linebacker Texas Tech yes yes yes 6 189 Shawn Wooden Defensive back Notre Dame yes no 7 230 Jeff Buckey Guard Stanford yes no 7 251 Brice Hunter Wide receiver Georgia no no Notable undrafted free agent 1996 Miami Dolphins — — Larry Izzo Linebacker Rice yes yes Season summary Johnson and the Dolphins endured a rough season, winning their first three games before losing two straight. On October 27 the Dolphins hosted the Cowboys with both teams 4–3 in one of the most anticipated games of the regular season; the Cowboys rallied and won handily 29–10, and Cowboys coach Barry Switzer declared that no Dolphins player (even quarterback Dan Marino) could start on his Cowboys squad. The Dolphins won twice in the next two weeks but then lost three straight, ending any playoff hopes despite winning their final two games and finishing 8–8. NFL draft 1996 NFL draft 1996 Miami Dolphins 1 20 Daryl Gardener Defensive tackle Baylor yes no 3 79 Dorian Brew Defensive back Kansas yes no 3 80 Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar Running back UCLA yes no 4 113 Kirk Pointer Defensive back Austin Peay no no 4 118 Stanley Pritchett Fullback South Carolina yes no 4 125 LaCurtis Jones Linebacker Baylor no no 5 134 Jerris McPhail Running back East Carolina yes no 5 150 Shane Burton Defensive end Tennessee yes no 5 154 Zach Thomas Linebacker Texas Tech yes yes yes 6 189 Shawn Wooden Defensive back Notre Dame yes no 7 230 Jeff Buckey Guard Stanford yes no 7 251 Brice Hunter Wide receiver Georgia no no Staff 1996 Miami Dolphins Chairman/managing general partner – Wayne Huizenga Vice chairman – Don Shula Vice chairman, president and CEO – Jimmy Johnson General manager – Jimmy Johnson Head coach – Jimmy Johnson Offensive coordinator – Gary Stevens Quarterbacks – Gary Stevens Running backs/run game coordinator – Kippy Brown Wide receivers – Larry Seiple Tight ends – Pat Jones Offensive line – Larry Beightol Assistant offensive line – Rich McGeorge Defensive coordinator – George Hill Defensive line – Gary Godette Assistant defensive line – Andre Carter Defensive backs – Mel Phillips Assistant special teams – Mike Westhoff Head strength and conditioning – John Gamble Assistant strength and conditioning – Junior Wade Roster 1996 Miami Dolphins 53 3 4  7 Craig Erickson 19 Bernie Kosar 13 Dan Marino 33 Karim Abdul-Jabbar 28 Brandon Bennett 30 Bernie Parmalee 36 Stanley Pritchett y FB 40 Irving Spikes KR 49 Robert Wilson running back FB 80 Fred Barnett 87 Kirby Dar Dar KR 89 Randal Hill 88 Charles Jordan American football 81 O. J. McDuffie 83 Scott Miller wide receiver, born 1968 85 Lamar Thomas 86 Brett Carolan 84 Troy Drayton 60 John Bock American football C 76 James Brown offensive tackle T 77 Jeff Buckey y G 63 Cal Dixon C 66 Everett McIver G 61 Tim Ruddy C 69 Keith Sims G 78 Richmond Webb T 93 Trace Armstrong DE 95 Tim Bowens DT 75 Shane Burton y DE 94 Steve Emtman DT 92 Daryl Gardener y DT 98 Norman Hand DT 96 Danny Stubbs DE 97 Oscar Sturgis DE 57 O. J. Brigance MLB 51 Anthony Harris linebacker y OLB 50 Dwight Hollier OLB 53 Larry Izzo y MLB 55 Chris Singleton American football OLB 54 Zach Thomas y MLB 23 Robert Bailey American football CB 37 J. B. Brown cornerback CB 27 Terrell Buckley CB 31 Sean Hill American football FS/CB 38 Calvin Jackson American football CB 34 Tim Jacobs American football CB 25 Louis Oliver SS 35 Michael Stewart American football SS 24 Jerry Wilson defensive back CB 22 Shawn Wooden American football y FS 17 John Kidd American football P  6 Joe Nedney y K 82 Frank Wainright LS 53 3 67 John Elmore offensive lineman y G 91 Larry Jackson defensive line DE 52 Marc Lillibridge LB IR 48 Lee McClinton FB 68 Mike Sheldon T 62 Chris Gray American football G IR 32 Jerris McPhail y RB/KR/PR IR Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 2, 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–10 1–0 Joe Robbie Stadium Recap 2 August 11, 1996 at Chicago Bears L 21–24 1–1 Soldier Field Recap 3 August 19, 1996 Minnesota Vikings W 24–17 2–1 Joe Robbie Stadium Recap 4 August 23, 1996 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 19–7 3–1 Tampa Stadium Recap Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 1 New England Patriots W 24–10 1–0 Pro Player Stadium 71,542 2 September 8 at Arizona Cardinals W 38–10 2–0 Sun Devil Stadium 55,444 3 September 15 New York Jets W 36–27 3–0 Pro Player Stadium 68,137 4 September 23, 1996 at Indianapolis Colts L 6–10 3–1 RCA Dome 60,891 5 Bye 6 October 6 Seattle Seahawks L 15–22 3–2 Pro Player Stadium 59,539 7 October 13 at Buffalo Bills W 21–7 4–2 Rich Stadium 79,642 8 October 20 at Philadelphia Eagles L 28–35 4–3 Veterans Stadium 66,240 9 October 27 Dallas Cowboys L 10–29 4–4 Pro Player Stadium 75,283 10 November 3 at New England Patriots L 23–42 4–5 Foxboro Stadium 58,942 11 November 10 Indianapolis Colts W 37–13 5–5 Pro Player Stadium 66,623 12 November 17 at Houston Oilers W 23–20 6–5 Astrodome 47,358 13 November 25, 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–24 6–6 Pro Player Stadium 73,489 14 December 1 at Oakland Raiders L 7–17 6–7 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 60,591 15 December 8 New York Giants L 7–17 6–8 Pro Player Stadium 63,889 16 December 16 Buffalo Bills W 16–14 7–8 Pro Player Stadium 67,016 17 December 22 at New York Jets W 31–28 8–8 Giants Stadium 49,9331995 Miami Dolphins Game summaries Week 1: vs. New England Patriots Miami Dolphins 1996 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 1: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins – Game summary September 1 4:00 pm. EDT Patriots 0 3 7 0 Dolphins 10 7 7 0 Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida 71,542 85 F C, relative humidity 69%, wind 7 mph Gerry Austin NBC Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire and Phil Simms Recap First quarter MIA – Drew Bledsoe pass incomplete is intercepted by Louis Oliver and returned for 60 yards. Louis Oliver fumbles, recovered by Sean Hill, touchdown (Joe Nedney kick), 11:06. Dolphins 0–7. Drive: 8 plays. Top passers NE – Drew Bledsoe – 18/24, 221 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT MIA – Dan Marino – 16/22, 176 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT Top rushers NE– Curtis Martin – 11 rushes, 23 yards MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar – 26 rushes, 115 yards, TD Top receivers NE– Ben Coates – 6 receptions, 69 yards, TD MIA– Stanley Pritchett – 6 receptions, 77 yards The Dolphins raced to a 24–3 lead in the third quarter, scoring twice on Patriots fumbles, then withstood a Ben Coates touchdown catch to win 24–10, the first win for Jimmy Johnson as a coach since Super Bowl XXVIII. Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals Miami Dolphins 1996 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 2: Miami Dolphins at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary September 8 8:00 p.m. MDT Dolphins 7 17 7 7 Cardinals 0 0 10 0 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona 55,444 Clear, 90 F C TNT Verne Lundquist and Pat Haden Recap, First quarter MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar 3 yard rush (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 7–0. Second quarter MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar 3 yard rush (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 14–0. MIA – Lamar Thomas 20 yard pass from Dan Marino (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 21–0. MIA – Joe Nedney 36 yard field goal Dolphins 24–0. Third quarter ARI – Cedric Smith 1 yard pass from Kent Graham (Greg Davis kick) Dolphins 24–7. ARI – Greg Davis 26 yard field goal. Dolphins 24–10. MIA – Irving Spikes 1 yard rush (Joe Nedney kick) Dolphins 31–10. Fourth quarter MIA – O.J. McDuffie 5 yard pass from Dan Marino (Joe Nedney kick) Dolphins 38–10. Top passers MIA – Dan Marino – 14/23, 178 yards, 2 TD ARI – Kent Graham – 13/19, 133 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Top rushers MIA – Irving Spikes – 11 rushes, 79 yards, TD ARI – Larry Centers – 6 rushes, 23 yards Top receivers MIA – Lamar Thomas – 3 receptions, 40 yards, TD ARI – Frank Sanders – 8 receptions, 81 yards The Dolphins picked off Cardinals quarterbacks Kent Graham and Boomer Esiason a total of three times as they exploded to 38 points, winning 38–10. Week Three vs. NY Jets The slumping NY Jets erupted and the ensuing game became a slugfest. Aaron Glenn picked off Dan Marino at the Jets goalline and ran back a 100-yard touchdown. Webster Slaughter then caught a 30-yard touchdown, but after that the Dolphins exploded to five straight touchdowns, marred by poor kicking by Joe Nedney, who missed a point after and a field goal. The Jets rallied from down 33–14, highlighted by a 29-yard touchdown catch by Keyshawn Johnson on 4th and goal at the 29; Keyshawn outjumped the entire Dolphins defense for the catch. Nedney then put the game out of reach on a 29-yard field goal in the final minutes and the Dolphins won 36–27. Week Four Monday Night Football at Indianapolis Colts In a 10–6 loss Dan Marino suffered his fourth straight loss to the Colts (dating coincidentally to another 10–6 loss, this one in December 1994). He threw only eight passes for 67 yards before giving way to backup Bernie Kosar, who managed 122 yards but no touchdowns. The game saw only 467 total yards and eight quarterback sacks as Jim Harbaugh's one-yard score to Ken Dilger put the game's only touchdown on the board. Week Five – BYE WEEK Week Six vs. Seattle Seahawks Marino had to sit out as Craig Erickson was sacked four times and intercepted once. The Dolphins fumbled seven times, losing two, mostly on botched snaps between Erickson and center Tim Ruddy. Seattle's John Friesz threw for 299 yards, 196 of them on three touchdowns, in a 22-15 Seahawks win. Week Seven at Buffalo Bills With Marino still out Miami traveled to Rich Stadium having lost seventeen of their last 21 meetings with the Bills, but things turned around as the Bills reached the Miami 1-yard line down 14-7 but Terrell Buckley picked off Jim Kelly and ran back a 99-yard touchdown for the 21-7 Miami win. It was Kelly's third pick of the game to go with seven sacks; the disconsolate Kelly said after the game, "We deserved to be booed. I deserved to be booed." Week Eight at Philadelphia Eagles In a penalty-laden game (a combined seventeen fouls for 149 yards) the Eagles and Dolphins traded touchdowns before the Eagles won 35–28. Craig Erickson had two touchdowns but one interception, and following a 49-yard Ricky Watters score Bernie Kosar was put into the game, throwing a touchdown to O.J. McDuffie. Week Nine vs. Dallas Cowboys It was the most anticipated regular-season meeting in the NFL of the year; Miami sports personality Dan Le Batard called it "the most anticipated meeting ever between two 4-3 teams." The game was the first meeting between former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys since the tumultuous March 1994 showdown with Jerry Jones that ended Johnson's job as Cowboys head coach. With Michael Irvin back with the team after a league suspension for the first five games, the Cowboys broke out of a 10-9 Miami lead with three Troy Aikman touchdowns. After the 29-10 Cowboys win coach Barry Switzer stated no Miami starter, Dan Marino included, could start for his Cowboys squad. Week Ten at New England Patriots The Dolphins fell 42-23 and their record sank to 4-5 as Dan Marino and Craig Erickson managed 331 passing yards to Drew Bledsoe's 419 yards. Miami got two touchdowns from Karim Abdul-Jabbar while Curtis Martin punched in three scores and Ben Coates caught two touchdowns, one a short pass caught at the New England 17 that he ran in for the 83-yard score. Week Eleven vs. Indianapolis Colts Dan Marino passed 50,000 passing yards, the first player to do so, on a 37-yard strike to O.J. McDuffie as the Dolphins emphatically returned to .500 by whipping the Colts 37–13; the previous year Marino had broken Fran Tarkenton records for touchdowns, yardage, and completions in a home loss to the Patriots and a season sweep by the Colts. Jim Harbaugh managed only 126 yards and was sacked in the endzone for a safety. Week Twelve at Houston Oilers In their final season in Houston the future Tennessee Titans clawed to a 17–13 lead in the fourth quarter. Zach Thomas intercepted Chris Chandler for a 26-yard touchdown but Chandler led the game-tying drive in the fourth on Al Del Greco's 33-yard field goal. Marino got the Dolphins down field in the final minute and Joe Nedney won the game 23–20 on a 29-yard kick. Both teams now stood at 6–5. Week Thirteen Monday Night Football vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Despite two fumbles and a Mike Tomczak pick-six (run back by Calvin Jackson for a 61-yard touchdown) the Steelers erased a 14-3 Dolphins lead and won 24–17 on Ernie Mills' 20-yard score. The Dolphins were flagged for nine penalties to one for the Steelers. Week Fourteen at Oakland Raiders The Dolphins traveled to Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum for the first time since November 1980; the Dolphins were winless there and fell again, this time 17-7 as Dan Marino was intercepted three times and managed only one touchdown. Week Fifteen vs. NY Giants For the second straight week the Dolphins fell 17–7, this time to the Giants, who picked off Marino twice as the two teams managed only 474 combined yards. Week Sixteen Monday Night Football vs Buffalo Bills All but eliminated from the playoff race, the Dolphins salvaged a glimmer of hope as they clawed to a 16–7 lead in the fourth and absorbed a late Eric Moulds touchdown to win 16–14. The Dolphins rushed for 140 yards and the win put the Bills to the edge of falling out of the playoffs. Week Seventeen at NY Jets The disastrous Rich Kotite era in New York ended in the sixth game of 1996 where the Jets blew a halftime lead; up 14-7 after a Hugh Douglas fumble return score, the Jets saw the Dolphins outscore them 24–14 in the second half. Dan Marino threw for three touchdowns as Karim Abdul-Jabbar exploded to 152 yards on the ground, outclassing the 69 yards of Adrian Murrell. The Dolphins finished 8-8 while the Jets limped into the offseason at 1–15. Standings Division MIA References Category:Miami Dolphins seasons Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins