Miami Dolphins Historical Perspective Part 2 - 1967 to 1969

Continuing the Historical Perspective of the Miami Dolphins, the 1967-1969 years would prove pivotal in the development of the young franchise. After completing their inagural year with a 3&11 record, the Dolphins hoped to improve quickly, looking to rise through the AFL, before the looking merger with the NFL in 1970.

However, struggles would plague the team throughout the remained of the decade.

But not everything was doom and gloom for the expansion AFL team. The team began to build through the draft and with a few key trades. Soon the team would be competing - and winning - on a level never seen in the NFL - before or since.

Once again I would like to thank miamidolphins.com, wikipedia.org, pro-football-reference.com, nflteamhistory.com, and any other site I may have fogotten in developing this post. Without knowing it, they have given me access to all of the information in this post, along with the previous one and the many more to come.

1967

The Dolphins struggles as an expansion franchise continues through the 1967 season. However, the draft would prove to get the Dolphins the talent needed to build into a world class organization. On March 14th, the Dolphins made the following picks in the first "Common Draft" between the NFL and the AFL, the first step in the merging of the two leagues:

Following the draft, the next major even for the Miami franchise took place on June 1, 1967, when Joe Robbie and W.H. Keland purchased Danny Thomas' interest in the team, equalizing all present and future holdings between the two men in the Miami Dolphins, Ltd. Organization.

During the preseason, Miami played in the first inter-league game between the NFL and AFL. The Dolphins lost to the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL 27-17 in front of a then record crowd of 50,822.

Miami the opened the season on September 17 against the Denver Broncos in Miami. The game would prove to be fateful for the Dolphins, as starting Quarterback John Stofa broke his ankle, leading to the introduction of Miami's first round pick, rookie Bob Griese. The rookie Quarterback would throw for two touchdowns as he led the team to a 35-21 victory.

Although the Dolphins would finish the 1967 season with a 4&10 record, the team did send four players to the Pro Bowl, rookie QB Bob Griese (1st), SE/WR Jack Clancy (1st), Defensive Back Dick Westmoreland (1st), and Linebacker John Bramlett (1st).

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1968

The Dolphins struggles would continue in 1968. However, as with the year prior, the draft would prove to again provide star talent for the Dolphins. On January 30th, 1968, the Dolphins drafted:

The Dolphins again faced the NFL in inter-league preseason games, beating the NFL teams for the first time with a 23-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Orange Bowl in Miami on August 17th. The Dolphins then set the AFL Single Game Attendance Record with 68,125 fans on hand to watch the Dolphins defeat Coach Don Shula's Baltimore Colts in the Orange Bowl on August 31st.

The Dolphins' 5-8-1 season would be highlighted with Rookie SS Dick Anderson's 96 yard interception return for a touchdown in a 34-10 victory over the Boston Patriots in Fenway Park on November 24th.

Bob Griese would continue to develop as the Dolphins starting Quarterback, setting team records with 2,473 yards passing, 186 completions, and 21 touchdowns - all while not playing the final game of the season against the Patriots in Miami due to a bruised knee.

Quarteback Bob Greise (2nd), Running Back Jim Kiick (1st), and Wide Receiver (Flanker and Split End) Karl Noonan (1st) were all named to the 1968 Pro Bowl.

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1969

The Miami Dolphins would be busy during the offseason between the 1968 and 1969 seasons. The January 28-29, 1969 NFL/AFL Common Draft yielded the following for the Dolphins:

The Dolphins offseason moves continued in March, when they traded QB Kim Hammond and LB John Bramlett to the Boston Patriots for LB Nick Buoniconti.

The NFL announced on May 10th the new alignment that would take effect the following season. As the two leagues merged, the Dolphins would be placed in the newly created American Football Conference Eastern Division, along with the Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and the NFL's Baltimore Colts.

Just six days later, the Dolphins ownership again changed, as Joe Robbie and five Miami area businessmen purchased W.H. Keland's interest in the team. Joe Robbie officially became the majority owner in the team.

The Dolphins continued their personnel moves on July 2nd when they traded CB Mark Lamb to the San Diego Chargers for G Larry Little.

The 1969 season opened on September 14th with a loss at the Cincinnati Bengals 27 to 21. However, QB Bob Greise threw for a record 327 yards during the game, and rookie RB Mercury Morris returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown in the loss.

The season would not get much better for the Dolphins, as the finished the year with a 3-10-1 record, leading to the firing of the Dolphins only head coach up to that point, George Wilson.

Guard Larry Little (1st), Defensive End Bill Stanfill (1st), Linebacker Nick Buoniconti (1st), Running Back Jim Kiick (2nd), and Center/Line Backer Tom Goode (1st) were all named to the Pro Bowl, with Buoniconti also being named 1st Team All-Pro.

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