2021 Miami Dolphins season

2021 Miami Dolphins season
OwnerStephen M. Ross
General managerChris Grier
Head coachBrian Flores
Home fieldHard Rock Stadium
Results
Record9–8
Division place3rd AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersCB Xavien Howard
Uniform

The 2021 season was the Miami Dolphins' 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 56th overall, and their third and final year under head coach Brian Flores, and sixth under general manager Chris Grier. Despite a 1–7 start to the season, Miami then won the next seven games, becoming the first team in NFL history to lose seven straight games and then win seven straight games in the same season. The 7-game win streak was their first since the 1985 season. They also became the sixth team in NFL history to win four or more consecutive games after losing seven in a row, after the 2009 Cleveland Browns, 1994 New York Giants, 1993 New England Patriots, 1984 Green Bay Packers, and the 1978 St. Louis Cardinals.[1] However the Dolphins were eliminated from the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year after their win streak ended in Week 17 to the Tennessee Titans, combined with a win by the Los Angeles Chargers.[2]

Some highlights from the season included head coach Brian Flores becoming the first Dolphins coach since Don Shula to beat the Patriots multiple times in New England, Miami's first wins over the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints since 2009 and 2005 respectively, their first win over the New York Giants since 2003 (which was also Miami's first ever home win over the Giants), and finally their first win in Caesars Superdome since 1986. The Dolphins also swept the New York Jets in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1996 and 1997 seasons, swept the New England Patriots for the first time since 2000, and had consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 20022003. However in a surprise move and due to alleged conflicts with both the roster and front office, owner Stephen M. Ross dismissed head coach Brian Flores on January 10, 2022.[3]

  1. ^ @AdamSchefter (December 28, 2021). "Dolphins are now the first team in NFL history to have both a seven-game winning streak and a seven-game losing streak in the same season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Masala, Mike (January 3, 2022). "The Dolphins have officially been eliminated from the postseason". Dolphins Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  3. ^ Smith, Michael David (January 10, 2022). "Dolphins fire Brian Flores". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved January 10, 2022.