Miami Dolphins

What It Is

The Miami Dolphins joined the American Football League in 1966 and entered the NFL with the 1970 merger. The team is best known for its 1972 season, when it went undefeated through the regular season and playoffs to win Super Bowl VII — the only perfect season in modern NFL history, a record still standing. Under coach Don Shula, the Dolphins reached the Super Bowl in three consecutive years and built one of the league's most decorated mid-century legacies. The team now plays at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Stephen Ross has been the principal owner for much of the modern era; ownership and management details are subject to change.

Why It Matters

In a region defined by waves of new arrivals from across the Americas, the Dolphins are one of the few cultural touchstones that span generations and national origins. Rooting for the team is among the more common shared experiences for residents who otherwise trace their roots to Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, and beyond. The franchise also predates much of Miami's transformation into a Latin American business capital, making it a thread of continuity through the city's reinvention.

Eras: The MiMo / Postwar Boom · The Latam Capital Era Landmarks: Hard Rock Stadium People: Stephen Ross