2023 Miami Dolphins season
OwnerStephen M. Ross
General managerChris Grier
Head coachMike McDaniel
Home fieldHard Rock Stadium
Results
Record11–6
Division place2nd AFC East
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Chiefs) 7–26
Pro BowlersQB Tua Tagovailoa
RB Raheem Mostert
FB Alec Ingold
WR Tyreek Hill
OT Terron Armstead
CB Jalen Ramsey
AP All-ProsWR Tyreek Hill (1st team)
Uniform

The 2023 season was the Miami Dolphins' 54th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 58th overall, their eighth under general manager Chris Grier and their second under head coach Mike McDaniel.

The Dolphins improved upon their 9–8 record from the previous two seasons after a Week 15 win over the New York Jets. With a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16, they clinched a playoff spot for a second consecutive season, their first such time since 2000–2001. Despite leading the Buffalo Bills by three games with five to play, the Dolphins faltered late in the season and lost to the Bills in the regular season finale. The loss meant 2008 would remain the most recent season the Dolphins won the AFC East. The Dolphins once again failed to win a playoff game, not having done so since 2000, losing to the Chiefs in a 26–7 loss. This game was Tyreek Hill, Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, and Emmanuel Ogbah's return to Arrowhead. With the Detroit Lions defeating the Los Angeles Rams and advancing to the NFC Divisional round the following day, the Dolphins officially hold the longest active playoff victory drought in the NFL.

In their Week 3 70–20 victory over the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins became the first NFL team to score 70 points in a game since 1966.[1] This was the second most points scored in a regular-season game all time.[2]

Offseason

On January 19, 2023, the Dolphins parted ways with defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.[3]

After firing Boyer, the Dolphins signed long time defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (well known for his defense being consistently ranked top-5 in major categories) to a contract making him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL.[4][5]

On March 12, the Dolphins agreed in principle to a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in which they acquired 6 time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey in exchange for tight end Hunter Long and a 2023 3rd round pick. The Rams used the pick to select Tennessee defensive end Byron Young. The trade was officially announced 3 days later after the start of the NFL league year.[6][7]

Free agent signings

Free agent signings in the 2023 Miami Dolphins season
Position Player Age 2022 Team Contract
QB Mike White 28 New York Jets 2 years, $8 million
ILB David Long Jr. 26 Tennessee Titans 2 years, $11 million
OLB Malik Reed 26 Pittsburgh Steelers 1 year, $1 million
WR Braxton Berrios 27 New York Jets 1 year, $3.5 million
FS DeShon Elliott 26 Detroit Lions 1 year, $1 million
TE Eric Saubert 29 Denver Broncos 1 year, $1 million
G Dan Feeney 28 New York Jets 1 year, $3.25 million
P Jake Bailey 25 New England Patriots 1 year, $1 million
T Isaiah Wynn 27 New England Patriots 1 year, $1 million
T Cedric Ogbuehi 31 New York Jets 1 year, $1 million

Draft

Main article: 2023 NFL Draft
2023 Miami Dolphins Draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
1 – Selection forfeited[A]
29 Traded to Denver[B] From San Francisco[C]
2 51 Cam Smith CB South Carolina
3 77 Traded to Los Angeles Rams[D] From New England[E]
84 De’Von Achane RB Texas A&M
4 122 Traded to Kansas City[F]
5 155 Traded to San Francisco[G]
6 178 Traded to Kansas City[F] From Chicago[H]
197 Elijah Higgins WR Stanford
7 238 Ryan Hayes OT Michigan

Notes

  1. ^ Miami forfeited its first-round selection as well as its 2024 third-round selection as punishment for multiple violations of the league's anti-tampering policy in conversations with quarterback Tom Brady and Don Yee, the agent for then-New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton (as well as Brady).
  2. ^ Miami traded San Francisco's selection, a 2024 fourth-round selection, and running back Chase Edmonds to Denver in exchange for Bradley Chubb and a 2025 fifth-round selection.
  3. ^ Miami traded their 2021 first-round pick (3rd overall) to the 49ers in exchange for their 2021 first-round pick (12th overall), 2022 first and third-round picks (29th and 102nd overall), and a first-round pick (29th overall) in 2023.
  4. ^ Miami traded New England's selection and tight end Hunter Long, to Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jalen Ramsey.
  5. ^ New England traded a third-round selection to Miami in exchange for wide receiver DeVante Parker and a 2022 fifth-round selection.
  6. ^ a b Miami traded fourth and sixth-round selections, and 2022 first, second, and fourth-round selections to Kansas City in exchange for wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
  7. ^ Miami traded a fifth-round selection to San Francisco in exchange for running back Jeff Wilson.
  8. ^ Chicago traded a sixth-round selection to Miami in exchange for wide receiver Jakeem Grant.
2023 Undrafted Free Agents
Position Player College
LB Mitchell Agude Miami (FL)
QB James Blackman Arkansas State
CB Ethan Bonner Stanford
RB Christopher Brooks BYU
DE Randy Charlton Mississippi State
WR Chris Coleman Cal Poly
WR Daewood Davis Western Kentucky
TE Julian Hill Campbell
T Jarrett Horst Michigan State
T Alex Jensen South Dakota
LB Aubrey Miller Jackson State
DT Anthony Montalvo UCF
LB Garrett Nelson Nebraska
DT Brandon Pili USC
G DJ Scaife Miami (FL)
S Keidron Smith Kentucky
T James Tunstall Cincinnati
P Michael Turk Oklahoma
C Alama Uluave San Diego State
LB Zeke Vandenburgh Illinois State
S Bennett Williams Oregon

Staff

2023 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office

  • Chairman/managing general partner – Stephen Ross
  • Vice chairman/partner – Bruce Beal
  • Vice chairman – Jorge Pérez
  • Vice chairman – Matt Higgins
  • Vice chairman, president, and CEO – Tom Garfinkel
  • General manager – Chris Grier
  • Assistant general manager – Marvin Allen
  • Vice president, football administration – Brandon Shore
  • Senior vice president, chief financial officer – Chris Clements
  • Senior personnel executive – Reggie McKenzie
  • Co-director, player personnel – Adam Engroff
  • Co-director, player personnel – Anthony Hunt
  • Director of college scouting – Matt Winston
  • Senior scout – Jim Abrams
  • Special advisor to the vice chairman, president, and CEO – Dan Marino

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Vic Fangio
  • Defensive line – Austin Clark
  • Assistant defensive line – Kenny Baker
  • Linebackers – Anthony Campanile
  • Outside linebackers – Ryan Slowik
  • Passing game coordinator/secondary – Renaldo Hill
  • Cornerbacks/pass game specialist – Sam Madison
  • Safeties – Joe Kasper
  • Assistant defensive backs – Mathieu Araujo
  • Senior assistant – Wade Harman
  • Defensive assistant – Steve Donatell

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Danny Crossman
  • Assistant special teams – Brendan Farrell

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Dave Puloka
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Adam Lachance

Final roster

2023 Miami Dolphins final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 11 inactive, 16 practice squad (+1 exempt)

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 11 Atlanta Falcons L 3–19 0–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
2 August 19 at Houston Texans W 28–3 1–1 NRG Stadium Recap
3 August 26[A] at Jacksonville Jaguars L 18–31 1–2 EverBank Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 10 at Los Angeles Chargers W 36–34 1–0 SoFi Stadium Recap
2 September 17 at New England Patriots W 24–17 2–0 Gillette Stadium Recap
3 September 24 Denver Broncos W 70–20 3–0 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
4 October 1 at Buffalo Bills L 20–48 3–1 Highmark Stadium Recap
5 October 8 New York Giants W 31–16 4–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
6 October 15 Carolina Panthers W 42–21 5–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
7 October 22 at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–31 5–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
8 October 29 New England Patriots W 31–17 6–2 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
9 November 5 at Kansas City Chiefs L 14–21 6–3 Germany Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt) Recap
10 Bye
11 November 19 Las Vegas Raiders W 20–13 7–3 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
12 November 24 at New York Jets W 34–13 8–3 MetLife Stadium Recap
13 December 3 at Washington Commanders W 45–15 9–3 FedExField Recap
14 December 11 Tennessee Titans L 27–28 9–4 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
15 December 17 New York Jets W 30–0 10–4 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
16 December 24 Dallas Cowboys W 22–20 11–4 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
17 December 31 at Baltimore Ravens L 19–56 11–5 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
18 January 7 Buffalo Bills L 14–21 11–6 Hard Rock Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers

Week 1: Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 7 13 7936
Chargers 7 10 71034

at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

Game information

In a back-and-forth affair, the Dolphins got the better of the matchup, beating the Chargers 36–34. The Dolphins started off the season 1–0.

Week 2: at New England Patriots

Week 2: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 14 0724
Patriots 0 3 01417

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Game information

Week 3: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 3: Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 6 0720
Dolphins 14 21 142170

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: September 24
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 86 °F (30 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,522
  • Referee: Clay Martin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The 70 points scored by the Dolphins are the highest by any team since 1966, and tied with the third highest points scored in NFL history. In addition to the 70 points scored, the Dolphins had 726 total yards, the second-most in league history, behind only the mark of 735 set by the Los Angeles Rams in a 1951 game against the New York Yanks.[9] They also became the first team in NFL history to gain 350 rushing and 350 passing yards in one game, and also are the first team in NFL history to score 5 passing and 5 rushing touchdowns in the same game.

Week 4: at Buffalo Bills

Week 4: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 7 7 6020
Bills 14 17 10748

at Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

A week after their historic performance, the Dolphins lost their first game of the regular season, falling to 3–1.

Week 5: vs. New York Giants

Week 5: New York Giants at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 10 3316
Dolphins 7 10 14031

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 6: Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 14 0 0721
Dolphins 0 21 71442

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: October 15
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,529
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 7: Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 7 7017
Eagles 3 14 7731

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 22
  • Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,879
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: vs. New England Patriots

Week 8: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 0 3717
Dolphins 7 10 7731

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs

NFL Germany games

Week 9: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 0 14014
Chiefs 7 14 0021

at Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, Germany

Game information

This was Tyreek Hill's first game against the team he had once played for.

Week 11: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Week 11: Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 10 3 0013
Dolphins 7 7 6020

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: November 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,026
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: at New York Jets

Week 12: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 14 31434
Jets 0 6 0713

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 13: at Washington Commanders

Week 13: Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 17 14 7745
Commanders 0 7 8015

at FedExField, Landover, Maryland

Game information

Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week 14: Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Titans 0 10 31528
Dolphins 7 0 31727

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 15: vs. New York Jets

Week 15: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 0 000
Dolphins 7 17 3330

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 76 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,967
  • Referee: Brad Rogers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 16: Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 7 0 31020
Dolphins 3 10 6322

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens

Week 17: Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 10 3 0619
Ravens 7 21 72156

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

Week 18: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 18: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 7 01421
Dolphins 0 14 0014

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: January 7
  • Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,292
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

Division

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) Buffalo Bills 11 6 0 .647 4–2 7–5 451 311 W5
(6) Miami Dolphins 11 6 0 .647 4–2 7–5 496 391 L2
New York Jets 7 10 0 .412 2–4 4–8 268 355 W1
New England Patriots 4 13 0 .235 2–4 4–8 236 366 L2

Conference

AFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Baltimore Ravens North 13 4 0 .765 3–3 8–4 .543 .529 L1
2[a][b] Buffalo Bills East 11 6 0 .647 4–2 7–5 .471 .471 W5
3[a] Kansas City Chiefs West 11 6 0 .647 4–2 9–3 .481 .428 W2
4 Houston Texans South 10 7 0 .588 4–2 7–5 .474 .465 W2
Wild cards
5[c] Cleveland Browns North 11 6 0 .647 3–3 8–4 .536 .513 L1
6[b][c] Miami Dolphins East 11 6 0 .647 4–2 7–5 .450 .358 L2
7 Pittsburgh Steelers North 10 7 0 .588 5–1 7–5 .540 .571 W3
Did not qualify for the postseason
8[d] Cincinnati Bengals North 9 8 0 .529 1–5 4–8 .574 .536 W1
9[d][e] Jacksonville Jaguars South 9 8 0 .529 4–2 6–6 .533 .477 L1
10[e] Indianapolis Colts South 9 8 0 .529 3–3 7–5 .491 .444 L1
11[f] Las Vegas Raiders West 8 9 0 .471 4–2 6–6 .488 .426 W1
12[f] Denver Broncos West 8 9 0 .471 3–3 5–7 .488 .485 L1
13 New York Jets East 7 10 0 .412 2–4 4–8 .502 .454 W1
14 Tennessee Titans South 6 11 0 .353 1–5 4–8 .522 .422 W1
15 Los Angeles Chargers West 5 12 0 .294 1–5 3–9 .529 .388 L5
16 New England Patriots East 4 13 0 .235 2–4 4–8 .522 .529 L2
Tiebreakers[g]
  1. ^ a b Buffalo finished ahead of Kansas City based on head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b Buffalo finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head sweep.
  3. ^ a b Cleveland finished ahead of Miami based on conference record.
  4. ^ a b Cincinnati finished ahead of Jacksonville based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Indianapolis (see below).
  5. ^ a b Jacksonville finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head sweep.
  6. ^ a b Las Vegas finished ahead of Denver based on head-to-head sweep.
  7. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

Postseason

See also: 2023–24 NFL playoffs

Schedule

Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap
Wild Card January 13 at Kansas City Chiefs (3) L 7–26 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (3) Kansas City Chiefs

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: (6) Miami Dolphins at (3) Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 7 007
Chiefs 7 9 3726

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Notes

  1. ^ Due to an injury involving Daewood Davis, the game was suspended with around eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter.[8]

References

  1. ^ Kerr, Jeff (September 24, 2023). "Dolphins score 70 points in rout of Broncos, record most yards ever in game in NFL history". CBS Sports.
  2. ^ De la Fuente, Homero; Almasy, Steve (September 24, 2023). "Miami Dolphins score 70 points and take a knee rather than take a shot at NFL scoring mark". CNN.
  3. ^ "Dolphins fire Josh Boyer after three seasons as defensive coordinator". NFL.com.
  4. ^ "Report: Vic Fangio officially joining Dolphins after Super Bowl". February 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "Report: Dolphins hire Vic Fangio, make him NFL's highest-paid coordinator | Fox Sports".
  6. ^ "Sources: Rams trading star CB Jalen Ramsey to Dolphins".
  7. ^ "Miami Dolphins make trade with L.A. Rams".
  8. ^ Edholm, Eric (August 26, 2023). "Dolphins-Jaguars preseason game suspended after Miami WR Daewood Davis carted off with injury". NFL.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Dolphins make history with 70 points and 726 yards; Bills on deck". ESPN. September 24, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.

External links

Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins seasons
2023 NFL season
Categories