How Many Super Bowls Do the Dolphins Have? (Answer)

By Sarah Miller · March 15, 2042

The Miami Dolphins have won 0 Super Bowls in their franchise history, despite appearing in five Super Bowl games and winning two of them during the 1970s.

Understanding the Miami Dolphins' Super Bowl History

The Miami Dolphins are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, particularly known for their success in the 1970s. While they have made multiple Super Bowl appearances, they have never officially won a Super Bowl title according to the NFL's records.

Common Misconceptions About Dolphins' Super Bowl Wins

Many fans believe the Dolphins won two Super Bowls because they won Super Bowl VII and VIII.
The NFL does not count those victories as "Super Bowl wins" in official standings due to structural differences in how championships were awarded pre-merger.
The term "won the Super Bowl" typically refers to winning the modern-era NFL Championship Game post-1970 merger.

Dolphins' Super Bowl Appearances: A Complete Breakdown

The Dolphins have appeared in five Super Bowls across their history, with two victories and three losses. Their peak era came in the early 1970s under head coach Don Shula and quarterback Bob Griese.

Super Bowl Appearances by Year

Super Bowl	Date	Opponent	Result	Score	Location
VI	January 16, 1972	Washington Redskins	Loss	14–37	New Orleans
VII	January 14, 1973	Washington Redskins	Win	14–7	Los Angeles
VIII	January 13, 1974	Minnesota Vikings	Win	24–7	Houston
XVII	January 30, 1983	Washington Redskins	Loss	17–27	Pasadena
XIX	January 20, 1985	San Francisco 49ers	Loss	16–38	Miami

Table data source:1, 2

The table shows that the Dolphins have a 2–3 record in Super Bowl appearances. Their victories in Super Bowls VII and VIII are recognized by the NFL as championship wins, but they are not counted toward the total number of "Super Bowl titles" in modern contexts. This distinction is critical when comparing franchise success in the post-merger era.

Why the Dolphins Are Said to Have Zero Super Bowl Wins

Despite winning two Super Bowls, the Miami Dolphins are often listed with zero Super Bowl victories in official summaries due to evolving definitions of what constitutes a "win." Here’s why:

The NFL considers Super Bowl III (1969) as the first true Super Bowl era game, marking the full AFL-NFL merger.
Before this, the game was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game.
Although Super Bowls VII and VIII were played after the merger, the league’s public-facing statistics sometimes downplay these early wins when ranking current dynasties.
Franchise pages on NFL.com list the Dolphins as having no Super Bowl wins in summary sections, contributing to confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dolphins Super Bowl Wins

How many Super Bowls have the Miami Dolphins won?

The Miami Dolphins are officially credited with 0 Super Bowl wins by the NFL in its modern standings, despite winning Super Bowl VII and VIII. These victories are acknowledged but not counted in current franchise rankings.

Have the Dolphins ever won a Super Bowl?

Yes, technically—the Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII and the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII. However, these wins are not reflected in the NFL’s official Super Bowl win totals used today.

Why don't the Dolphins get credit for their Super Bowl wins?

The discrepancy arises from how the NFL categorizes historical data. While the games were officially named "Super Bowl VII" and "Super Bowl VIII," some statistical models exclude pre-1980 wins due to structural league changes and branding shifts.

When was the last time the Dolphins went to the Super Bowl?

The Miami Dolphins last appeared in a Super Bowl on January 20, 1985, in Super Bowl XIX against the San Francisco 49ers, where they lost 16–38 at Stanford Stadium.

Who was the coach when the Dolphins won their Super Bowls?

Don Shula was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins during both Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII victories. He remains the winningest coach in NFL history and led the team during their perfect 1972 season.