| 2019 Miami Dolphins season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Stephen M. Ross |
| General manager | Chris Grier |
| Head coach | Brian Flores |
| Home field | Hard Rock Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 5–11 |
| Division place | 4th AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | None |
| AP All-Pros | None |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The 2019 season was the Miami Dolphins' 50th in the National Football League (NFL), their 54th overall and their first under new head coach Brian Flores.
Early in the season, the Dolphins were believed by many people to be intentionally losing games in hopes of getting a better draft position, most notably for Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who at the time, was considered the likely first pick in the 2020 NFL draft before suffering a season-ending hip injury on November 16, 2019.[1][2] A common refrain at the time was, "Tank for Tua".[3] Through Week 8, the Dolphins traded key contributors including recent first round picks Laremy Tunsil[4] and Minkah Fitzpatrick,[5] along with Kenyan Drake, and Ryan Tannehill.[6]
It was the Dolphins' first season since 2011 without Ryan Tannehill, as he was traded along with the draft rights of David Long Jr. to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the draft rights of Solomon Kindley in 2019 and Chandler Cox in 2020 during the offseason. After Tannehill was traded, the Dolphins would go on to sign journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen. As he outplayed Rosen during training camp, Fitzpatrick started the majority of the season, with Rosen starting from Weeks 3 to 6.[7] On December 22, Fitzpatrick became the first Dolphins' quarterback since Dan Marino to pass for 400 yards and four touchdowns. Despite defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive year after the Pittsburgh Steelers won that same day.
Ultimately failing to improve on their 7–9 record from the previous season, the team started the season 0–7, but rallied to win five of their last nine games. Although the victories prevented the Dolphins from obtaining the first overall pick of the 2020 draft, they were able to select Tagovailoa, whose draft stock had fallen due to his injury.
This was the Dolphins' first season with exactly five wins since 1968 and their first since the league expanded to 16 games in 1978. It was also their first season winning fewer than six games since their franchise-worst 2007 season. Additionally, it was the Dolphins' first season since 2004 without long-time snapper John Denney, as he was released on September 2, 2019. Denney was the longest tenured player on the Dolphins' roster prior to his release, having been with the team since 2005. It made 5th-year wide receiver DeVante Parker the new longest-tenured player on the roster.
This season marked the first time since the 1997 Season that the Dolphins failed to have a pro bowler.
As of 2023, this is the last time the Dolphins had a losing season.
- ^ "Dolphins' ineptitude a challenge for oddsmakers". September 18, 2019.
- ^ "Media continue to call for NFL to do something about Miami Dolphins". September 18, 2019.
- ^ Rosvoglou, Chris (June 16, 2021). "Colin Cowherd Names His Biggest Issue With Tua Tagovailoa". thespun.com. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Dolphins pull off blockbuster trade with Texans, land multiple first-round picks in wild Laremy Tunsil deal".
- ^ "Dolphins S Minkah Fitzpatrick traded to Steelers".
- ^ Ulrich, Logan (October 28, 2019). "Dolphins Trade RB Kenyan Drake to Cardinals". NFLTR.
- ^ "Ryan Fitzpatrick outplays Josh Rosen at Miami Dolphins minicamp". UPI.com.