1969 Miami Dolphins season

1969 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach	George Wilson
Home field	Miami Orange Bowl
Results
Record	3–10–1
Division place	5th AFL Eastern
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	5 DE Bill Stanfill G Larry Little RB Jim Kiick C Tom Goode LB Nick Buoniconti

The 1969 Miami Dolphins season was the team's fourth season, and their final season in the American Football League (AFL). This was the final season for George Wilson as head coach, as Don Shula was hired next season and coached the team for the next 25 seasons until 1995. The team looked to improve on their 5–8–1 record from 1968. However, the Dolphins struggled from the season's start, losing their first 3 games before tying the Oakland Raiders and losing their next 2 games to start the season 0–5–1. After their week 7 win over the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins would end the season with a 3–10–1 record. Their week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills would be the last time the Dolphins lost to the Bills until 1980, as the Dolphins won 20 straight against Buffalo from 1970–1979. This became known as "The Streak", as it set an NFL record for the longest winning streak for one team against one opponent, which, as of 2023, is still an NFL record that has not been seriously threatened.

The Dolphins would not have another losing season until the 1976 Season.

Offseason

Common draft

Main article: 1969 NFL draft

1969 Miami Dolphins draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	11	Bill Stanfill *	Defensive end	Georgia
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1969 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office President – Joe Robbie Director of player personnel – Joe Thomas Head coaches Head coach – George Wilson Offensive coaches Offensive backs – John Idzik Offensive line – Ernie Hefferle

Defensive coaches Defensive line – Les Bingaman Defensive backs – Tom Keane

Roster

1969 Miami Dolphins roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 12 Bob Griese 11 Rick Norton Running backs (RB) 39 Larry Csonka FB 21 Jim Kiick 35 Stan Mitchell 22 Mercury Morris 31 Barry Pryor Wide receivers (WR) 16 Tommy Boutwell 42 Bill Darnall 99 Jim Hines 28 Gene Milton 89 Karl Noonan 81 Howard Twilley Tight ends (TE) 87 Jim Mertens 82 Doug Moreau

Offensive linemen (OL) 71 John Boynton T 77 Doug Crusan T 73 Norm Evans T 58 Tom Goode C 63 Billy Neighbors G 78 Maxie Williams G Defensive linemen (DL) 75 Manny Fernandez DT 80 Bob Joswick DE 72 Bob Heinz DT 74 John Richardson DT 70 Jim Riley DE 84 Bill Stanfill DE

Linebackers (LB) 85 Nick Buoniconti 55 Randy Edmunds 50 Frank Emanuel 56 Jesse Powell 51 Ed Weisacosky Defensive backs (DB) 40 Dick Anderson SS 47 Tom Beier S 48 Bob Petrella S 49 Jimmy Warren CB 25 Dick Westmoreland CB Special teams 52 Jimmy Keyes K 15 Karl Kremser K 20 Larry Seiple

Reserve 24 Jack Clancy WR (IR) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 14	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 21–27	0–1	Nippert Stadium	24,487	Recap
2	September 20	at Oakland Raiders	L 17–20	0–2	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum	48,477	Recap
3	September 28	at Houston Oilers	L 10–20	0–3	Houston Astrodome	40,387	Recap
4	October 4	Oakland Raiders	T 20–20	0–3–1	Miami Orange Bowl	32,668	Recap
5	October 11	San Diego Chargers	L 14–21	0–4–1	Miami Orange Bowl	33,073	Recap
6	October 19	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 10–17	0–5–1	Municipal Stadium	47,038	Recap
7	October 26	Buffalo Bills	W 24–6	1–5–1	Miami Orange Bowl	39,194	Recap
8	November 2	at New York Jets	L 31–34	1–6–1	Shea Stadium	60,793	Recap
9	November 9	at Boston Patriots	W 17–16	2–6–1	Alumni Stadium	10,665	Recap
10	November 16	at Buffalo Bills	L 3–28	2–7–1	War Memorial Stadium	32,334	Recap
11	November 23	Houston Oilers	L 7–32	2–8–1	Miami Orange Bowl	27,114	Recap
12	November 30	Boston Patriots	L 23–38	2–9–1	Tampa Stadium	27,179	Recap
13	December 7	Denver Broncos	W 27–24	3–9–1	Miami Orange Bowl	24,972	Recap
14	December 14	New York Jets	L 9–27	3–10–1	Miami Orange Bowl	42,148	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFL Eastern Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
New York Jets	10	4	0	.714	8–0	353	269	W2
Houston Oilers	6	6	2	.500	5–3	278	279	W1
Boston Patriots	4	10	0	.286	3–5	266	316	L2
Buffalo Bills	4	10	0	.286	2–6	230	359	L2
Miami Dolphins	3	10	1	.231	2–6	233	332	L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings of the AFL.

External links

• 1969 Miami Dolphins at Pro-Football-Reference.com