How Long Has It Been Since the Miami Dolphins Won a Playoff Game?

The Miami Dolphins have just started training camp following a hard fought overachieving 2020 regular season. By the low standards the Dolphins have set over the last two decades, Dolfans have been browbeaten to believe a winning record and just missing the playoffs was a successful year.

But when was the last time the Dolphins accomplished the benchmark most NFL cities would consider a successful season, a playoff victory?

It was December 30, 2000 when the Dolphins beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-17. It was over 20 years ago but let’s take a look at actually how long ago the Dolphins last postseason victory was.

  • Opposing quarterback Peyton Manning at 24 years old was considered a bust for not having a playoff victory in his first three seasons,
  • Current Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores was a 19 year old  sophomore at Boston College.
  • Current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was a two year old toddler still in diapers.
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick was 18 years old and as of yet unable to grow a beard.

Since that glorious December day when the Dolphins last tasted a meaningful win how much time exactly has passed….

  • 7,527 days.
  • Every NFL team but the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals have won a playoff game.
  • 12 NFL teams have won a Super Bowl and 19 teams have played in a Super Bowl.
  • The hated New England Patriots have won 30 playoff games including six Super Bowls.
  • The Miami Heat have won 25 playoff series including three championships.
  • Even the awful Miami Marlins baseball team has won five playoff series including a World Series.
  • The Dolphins have employed ten head coaches since that victory.
  • And they’ve started 21 quarterbacks.

Some more context on how long ago December 30, 2000 was…

  • The World Trade Center was still standing.
  • Bill Clinton was still president.
  • Bob Hope and Ronald Reagan were still alive.
  • Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and the NBA #1 draft pick Cade Cunningham had yet to be born.
  • You could greet an out of town visitor at the gate when their plane arrived.
  • You could have bought $5,000 worth of Amazon stock for under $17.00 a share and been a millionaire in 2021.

So come on Dolphins let’s get a playoff victory this year. Your fans are due!

Support independent Miami stories.

Help keep The Jitney running. It only takes a minute. $5, $10, $25, $100, $500, Bitcoin, SpaceX stock, a suitcase full of unmarked bills. Whatever. The Jitney needs gas, and every donation helps keep independent fiction, arts coverage, and Miami culture alive.

DONATE

David Rolland

David Rolland edits the Jitney blog. He is the author of the novels Yo-Yo & The End of the Century.