Record 3–11 Playoff finish did not qualify Start date 1966 | Division place 5th AFL Eastern Head coach George Wilson | |
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Similar 1983 Los Angeles Raiders s, 2002 Oakland Raiders s, 1973 Miami Dolphins, 1972 Miami Dolphins, 1982 Miami Dolphins | ||
The 1966 Miami Dolphins season was the team's inaugural year as an expansion franchise in the American Football League (AFL). The Dolphins team was founded by attorney/politician Joe Robbie and actor/comedian Danny Thomas. Future Harlem Globetrotters and Montreal Canadiens owner George N. Gillett, Jr. was a minority partner in the Dolphins. The team was led by George Wilson. The team finished the season with a 3-11 record. The team would start the season 0-5 before upsetting the Denver Broncos in Miami. They also swept the Houston Oilers on the season, becoming the first ever expansion team in the Super Bowl era to sweep a division rival, and the last until the Jacksonville Jaguars did it in 1995 against the Cleveland Browns.
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AFL Draft
With the first pick overall, the Dolphins selected running back Jim Grabowski our of the University of Illinois. Grabowski was also drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League's draft. The result was a bidding war between the two franchises to obtain Grabowski's services. The Packers signed Grabowski and he played for them for five seasons.
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.