The2008Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 39th season in theNational Football League (NFL), the 43rd overall and the first under new head coachTony Sparano.[1] During the regular season the Dolphins completed the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history,[2][3] going from a 1–15 regular season record in 2007 to an 11–5 record in 2008. The previous record for most improved team one year after a 1–15 season belonged to the 1997 New York Jets, who went 9–7. The 2008 Dolphins became the second team to accomplish a 10-game turnaround, first done by the1999 Indianapolis Colts and then later matched by the2025 New England Patriots. Additionally, Miami won theAFC East, becoming the first team in NFL history to win their division after only having one win the previous season. The division title also snapped the Patriots' 5-year streak of winning the AFC East. The Dolphins' season came to an end in the Wild Card round when they were defeated by theBaltimore Ravens which, coincidentally, was also the only team that the Dolphins had beaten the prior season, saving the Dolphins from suffering awinless season. With their rebound 11–5 record and division title, the Dolphins had hopes of achieving their first playoff victory since2000, or to possibly become the first team ever to make the Super Bowl after winning only one game the previous season, similar to how theCarolina Panthers went 1–15 in2001 and madeSuper Bowl XXXVIII justtwo seasons later.[4]
The 2008 season was the last season in which the Miami Dolphins had a winning record and qualified for the playoffs before the2016 team accomplished the feat.[10] This also currently remains the latest season where the Dolphins won a division title.
This season was also notable for the Dolphins wide-spread use of theWildcat offense. Though previously used by other teams in several other seasons, this package was fully installed by the Dolphins by week 3, and led to an upset win over the defending AFC ChampionNew England Patriots.[11][12][13] Until2019, this was the Dolphins' last road win over the Patriots. Additionally, this was the last season that the AFC East was won by a team other than the Patriots until the2020 Buffalo Bills snapped the Patriots' streak of 11 straight AFC East championships.
On December 27, 2007, Dolphins ownerWayne Huizenga hired former NFL head coach andESPN analystBill Parcells as executive vice president of football operations.[5] Parcells signed a four-year deal with the Dolphins less than a day after turning down a similar offer from theAtlanta Falcons.[14]
Just a few days after Parcells' hiring, three men were dismissed from the Dolphins' front office.[15] The most notable of the three was general managerRandy Mueller, who had been hired by the team in 2005.[16] Also dismissed were assistant director of player personnel Mike Baugh and college scouting coordinator Rick Thompson.[15]
Three days after Mueller's dismissal, Parcells hiredJeff Ireland as the team's new general manager.[6] Ireland had worked for theDallas Cowboys the past seven years, including the last three as vice president of college and pro scouting.[6] Ireland had worked with Parcells previously, when the latter was head coach of the Cowboys from 2003 to 2006.[6] Although Ireland was officially given final say on personnel decisions, it was speculated that Parcells was actually in control, and did not hold the title of general manager so that the team could hire a front office executive from another team.[17]
On January 15, the Dolphins reeled in another former Cowboys executive when they hiredBrian Gaine as assistant director of player personnel.[18] Gaine had previously spent the past three seasons as the Cowboys' assistant director of pro scouting, working with both Parcells and Ireland during that time.[18]
One day after hiring ofJeff Ireland as general manager, the Dolphins fired head coachCam Cameron after just one season on the job.[7] Cameron led the Dolphins to an NFL worst 1–15 record in 2007, which was also the worst in franchise history.[20][21] Additionally, all but two members of the coaching staff were dismissed.[7] The only coaches retained were assistant special teams coachSteve Hoffman and linebackers coachGeorge Edwards.[7] Both Hoffman and Edwards were coaches for theDallas Cowboys during Ireland's tenure with the team.[6][22][23]
The first interview scheduled was Sparano, who met with the Dolphins on Saturday, January 11.[29] Sparano had previously met with theAtlanta Falcons andBaltimore Ravens regarding their head coaching vacancies.[30] On January 6, it was reported that Sparano would be offered the Dolphins' head coaching job, and that he would accept.[30] The Dolphins denied the report later that day, saying it was an initial interview only and that the team had interviews with others planned over the next few days.[31] However, the addition of quarterbacks coachDavid Lee, a former Cowboys assistant, fueled speculation that Sparano was indeed going to the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins.[32][33]
The team then proceeded to interview Frazier, Ryan andTennessee Titans defensive coordinatorJim Schwartz.[34][35] After theDallas Cowboys lost to theNew York Giants in the divisional round of the2007 NFL playoffs on January 13,[36] speculation grew that Sparano's hiring was imminent.[37][38] On January 16, the Dolphins ended their search by naming Sparano the eighth head coach in franchise history.[8] He received a four-year contract believed to be worth between $2.5 and $2.7 million per season.[39]
Parcells and Ireland made their first coaching staff addition on January 7, luringOle Miss offensive coordinatorDavid Lee to bequarterbacks coach.[32] Lee, who briefly followedHouston Nutt to Ole Miss after serving as his offensive coordinator atArkansas in 2007, worked with Parcells and Ireland as the Cowboys' quarterbacks coach from 2003 to 2006.[32] The addition fueled speculation that Sparano was indeed going to the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins.[32][33]
Two days after hiring Sparano as their head coach, the Dolphins made their second assistant coach hiring. On January 18,Mike Maser was named the team's new offensive line coach. Maser had previously served in the same capacity for theCarolina Panthers from 2003 to 2006, and worked with Sparano when both were assistants for theJacksonville Jaguars in 2002.
Over the next week, the Dolphins filled various positions on Sparano's staff. On January 22, formerKansas City Chiefs running backs coachJames Saxon was hired in the same capacity for the Dolphins.[40] Also hired that day was formerAtlanta Falcons strength and conditioning coachEvan Marcus, who took the same job with Miami.[40]
On January 23, the Dolphins added four more assistant coaches to their staff when they namedPaul Pasqualoni as their defensive coordinator,Todd Bowles as assistant head coach/secondary,Kacy Rodgers as defensive line coach andDavid Corrao as defensive quality control coach.[41] Pasqualoni, Bowles and Rodgers all came from theDallas Cowboys' staff, while Corrao was most recently linebackers coach at theUniversity of Mississippi.[41]
A day later, formerUCLA head coachKarl Dorrell was named the team's new wide receivers coach.[42] Five more coaches were added to the staff on January 28 when the Dolphins namedJohn Bonamego as their special teams coordinator,George DeLeone as their tight ends coach,David Puloka as assistant strength and conditioning coach,Jim Reid as outside linebackers coach andSteve Bush as offensive quality control coach.[43]
The Dolphins made their final addition to the staff on February 4, hiringDan Henning as offensive coordinator.[44] Henning, who had most recently served as offensive coordinator for theCarolina Panthers from 2002 to 2006, had previous worked for the Dolphins underDon Shula as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach in 1979–1980.[44]
When the Dolphins' coaching staff was completed with the hiring of offensive coordinatorDan Henning on February 14, only two of the 17 assistant coaches under Sparano (Edwards and Hoffman) were holdovers from the previous season's staff.[45] Three of the new coaches (Bowles, Pasqualoni and Rodgers) had experience with Parcells, Ireland and Sparano in Dallas.[45] The completed staff was as follows:
May 16 – Waived offensive linemanDrew Mormino after he failed a physical.[52] Mormino spent the 2007 season oninjured reserve with a shoulder injury.[52]
February 8 – Signed cornerbackJoey Thomas.[59] He was originally drafted by theGreen Bay Packers in the third round of the2004 NFL draft and had most recently spent training camp with the Cowboys in 2007.[59]
The Dolphins entered free agency $44 million under that year's $116 million salary cap – the highest in the league at the time.[78] The team cleared between $13–15 million by cutting players leading up to free agency.[78]
Made roster * Made at least onePro Bowl during career
Notes
The Dolphins own second-round pick, the first of the round, was the 32nd overall in the draft rather than the 33rd because theNew England Patriots forfeited their first-round pick (31st overall) after theSpygate incident.[89]
On the second day of the draft, the Dolphins acquired theDetroit Lions' third-round pick (66th overall) as well as their sixth-round pick (176th overall) in exchange for the Dolphins' third-round pick (64th overall).[94] The Lions used the pick to select running backKevin Smith,[94] while the Dolphins took defensive endKendall Langford with the third-round pick and running backJalen Parmele with the sixth-rounder.[95]
Later on Day 2, the Dolphins traded the fourth-round pick acquired from the Eagles, along with a seventh-round pick (208th overall), to theChicago Bears in exchange for the 110th overall selection.[95] The Dolphins used this pick to select guardShawn Murphy.[95] The 115th overall pick was eventually dealt by the Bears theTampa Bay Buccaneers, who used it to select defensive tackleDre Moore.[95] The Bears used the seventh-round pick to select defensive endErvin Baldwin.[95]
In the weeks leading up to the draft, the Dolphins began contract negotiations with Jake Long.[96] On April 14,Peter King ofSports Illustrated reported that the Dolphins had given Long a deadline to accept their contract offer (believed to be worth less than2007 No. 1 pickJaMarcus Russell received from theOakland Raiders); otherwise, they would move on to another prospect.[97] On April 22, the Dolphins officially signed Long to a five-year, $57.75 million contract with $30 million guaranteed, assuring they would take him first overall.[98] On May 19, the Dolphins signed sixth-roundersJalen Parmele andLex Hilliard and seventh-rounderLionel Dotson to contacts.[73] On May 23, sixth-round pickDonald Thomas was signed to a multi-year deal.[99] On July 11, the Dolphins signed third-round pick Kendall Langford to a multi-year deal.
Two failed to survive a week with the team, as the Dolphins released Lane and Reece on May 5.[51] Less than a month after being signed, Robertson decided to retire.[102] On June 9, the Dolphins signed wide receiver John Dunlap (NC State) after he attended a minicamp on a tryout basis.[103]
After losing their preseason opener to theTampa Bay Buccaneers,[109] the Dolphins won their final three contests to finish the preseason 3–1.[109]
QuarterbackChad Pennington was the Dolphins' most efficient passer of the preseason, leading the team in completion percentage (72.0) and passer rating (104.8).[110] Rookie quarterbackChad Henne led the team in passing yards (351) but also in interceptions (2) while matching Pennington in passing touchdowns (1).[110]
On special teams, rookieplacekickerDan Carpenter converted 7-of-8 field-goal attempts and all six extra-point attempts.[110]PunterBrandon Fields punted 21 times for a 44.1-yard average and two touchbacks.[110] Meanwhile, Davone Bess led the team in punt returns (6) but Ted Ginn Jr. was the only Dolphins player to return a kick or punt for a touchdown.[110] Patrick Cobbs led the team in kick return yards with 106.[110]
The Dolphins headed to Foxboro to face the Division rival New England Patriots. Little did New England know that they would be a test for an offensive formation concocted as the Dolphins coaching staff wanted to put running backsRicky Williams andRonnie Brown onto the field at the same time. David Lee thus revealed theWildcat to the NFL.Ronnie Brown would take direct snaps and keep it himself or hand it of to another back. The Patriots came in with a 21 game regular season winning streak, and had the home field advantage against a Dolphins team which sported a 1-17 record since the start of the previous season. As such, the Pats were 12.5 point favorites.[113] In an absolute shocker, the Dolphins decimated the Patriots all day with the Wildcat offense for a 38–13 victory as they put a dent in the Patriots' 21-game regular season winning streak and went on their bye week at 1–2. This was the last time the Dolphins beat the Patriots on the road until2019.
With the win, the Dolphins improved to 5–4 and snapped their 5-game losing streak to NFC Opponents. They also posted a record above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2005 season.
A week after a 400-yard passing game against the Jets,Matt Cassel threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns for New England, whileChad Pennington threw for 345 yards and two scores; both quarterbacks also ran in a touchdown. The DolphinsWildcat offense was limited to 27 yards as the Patriots broke open a tight game in the fourth quarter, winning 48–28.
The Dolphins clinched theAFC East title as they intercepted Jets quarterbackBrett Favre three times (Philip Merling ran in a 25-yard touchdown on a Favre pick) whileCharlie Anderson andPatrick Cobbs blocked a Jets punt. The win put the Dolphins into the playoffs for the first time since 2001 as they finished the season with an 11–5 record and locked up the AFC's No. 3 seed. As of2025, this remains the last time the Dolphins had clinched the AFC East.
The Dolphins landed two players – running backRonnie Brown and linebackerJoey Porter – on theAFC'sPro Bowl team.[122] Porter recorded 17.5 sacks during the 2008 season and was named as a starter on the AFC's squad.[122] In his first career Pro Bowl season, Brown led the Dolphins with 214 carries, 916 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.[123] He also ranked fourth on the team with 33 catches and sixth with 254 receiving yards.[123]
Additionally, Porter was nominated for the GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year Award and was a second-team APAll-Pro selection.[124][125] QuarterbackChad Pennington, guardJustin Smiley and cornerbackWill Allen also received votes for the All-Pro team but were not selected.[125]
However, Pennington did earn theNFL Comeback Player of the Year Award for the second time in his career.[126] Pennington led the NFL with a 67.4 completion percentage and was second in the NFL with a 97.4 passer rating.[126] He threw for a career-high 3,653 yards, 19 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.[126]
The first overall pick in the2008 NFL draft, Long started all 16 games for the Dolphins at left tackle.[127] A third-round pick out ofHampton, Langford started 14 of the 16 games in which he played as a rookie and recorded 31 tackles and two sacks.[127] Undrafted out ofMontana, Carpenter went 21-for-25 (84 percent) on field goals and made all 40 extra-point attempts.[127]
Entering the postseason as the AFC's No. 3 seed, the Dolphins began their playoff run at home in the AFC Wild Card Round, with a Week 7 rematch against the No. 6Baltimore Ravens. Miami would deliver the game's first points with rookie kickerDan Carpenter's 19-yard field goal. The Ravens would later respond with a 23-yard field goal from kickerMatt Stover. Baltimore would take the lead with safetyEd Reed returning aChad Pennington interception 64 yards for a touchdown. The Ravens would then close out the half with Stover's 31-yard field goal.
Baltimore would increase their lead in the third quarter with running backLe'Ron McClain's 8-yard touchdown run. The Dolphins tried to come back in the fourth quarter as Pennington completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to running backRonnie Brown (with a failed PAT), but the Ravens would pull away as quarterbackJoe Flacco got a 5-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, Miami's impressive turnaround season ended with an overall record of 11–6.
Despite having only 16 turnovers throughout the entire regular season, the Dolphins committed 5 turnovers (4 interceptions and a lost fumble).
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